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• Berkshire Hathaway bought a stake in The New York Times in Warren Buffett’s final quarter as CEO.
• The legendary investor’s company also pared its stakes in Apple and Bank of America again.
• Buffett stepped down at the start of this year after six decades in charge.

Warren Buffett‘s final quarter as Berkshire Hathaway CEO saw the company acquire a stake in an iconic newspaper publisher.

The famed investor’s conglomerate scooped up around 5.1 million shares of The New York Times Company during the last three months of 2025, its quarterly portfolio disclosure revealed on Tuesday. The position was valued at about $352 million at the end of December.

Buffett and his two investment managers at the time, Ted Weschler and Todd Combs — who has since quit to work for Jamie Dimon at JPMorgan — also pared their key Apple and Bank of America stakes once again, by about 4% and 9% respectively.

Berkshire offloaded 77% of its Amazon stake, fueling a sharp decline in the position’s value from $2.2 billion at the end of September to $525 million at December’s close.

The company added to other holdings, including Chubb and Chevron, while selling down the likes of Aon. It didn’t touch its Alphabet stake, established in the third quarter, but the position’s value jumped from around $4.3 billion to $5.6 billion as shares of Google’s parent company surged in the period.

Buffett, 95, took control of Berkshire when it was a failing textile mill in 1965 and grew it into a $1 trillion conglomerate over the next six decades.

His chosen successor, Greg Abel, replaced him as CEO at the start of this year. Abel is set to continue a decadeslong Buffett tradition when he publishes his first letter to Berkshire shareholders later this month.

Buffett, a value investor, struggled to find bargain stocks and businesses to buy during his last few years in charge.

Ahead of Berkshire’s fourth-quarter earnings, he and his team have been net sellers of stocks for 12 straight quarters, refrained from buying back shares for five quarters in a row, and have built Berkshire’s cash pile to a record high of over $350 billion.

• The American Teachers Federation is asking for an SEC probe into Apollo’s past Epstein disclosures.
• In 2021, Apollo said its Epstein risk was limited to then-CEO Leon Black, the union said.
• The union said the DOJ’s latest files suggest more exposure than previously revealed.

A union with 4.1 million members is asking the Securities and Exchange Commission to investigate Apollo Global Management’s past statements about Jeffrey Epstein.

In a letter to the SEC’s head of enforcement on Tuesday, the American Federation of Teachers accused the asset manager of making “misleading” claims about its exposure to the convicted sex offender.

The letter says that Apollo previously suggested that its Epstein risk was largely limited to cofounder Leon Black, who stepped down as CEO in 2021 — after a law firm hired by Apollo found that Black paid Epstein millions over the years for financial advice.

The letter went on to say that the Justice Department’s latest release of Epstein files suggests the firm provided an “inaccurate and incomplete picture of the firm and its partners’ connections to Epstein.” Apollo didn’t return a request for comment.

The AFT, whose members have billions in pension money invested with Apollo, cited communications between cofounders Josh Harris and Marc Rowan released by the DOJ on January 30. It noted communications between Rowan and Epstein spanned from 2013 to 2016, including a 2016 email showing Rowan and Epstein discussing “Apollo calculations for a tax receivable agreement.”

“As the Epstein files make clear, Apollo partners Rowan and Harris appear to have consulted with Epstein on numerous personal and professional matters,” the letter said.

“Clearly, there is material risk in this association with Apollo’s business, and its investors deserve to be accurately informed about that matter,” said the letter to the SEC’s Margaret Ryan.

• Mayor Zohran Mamdani said a property tax hike is on the table as a “last resort” in New York City.
• Higher taxes on the wealthy is his preferred way to bridge the $5.4 billion budget deficit — but requires state buy-in.
• A potential tax hike could hit middle-class New Yorkers and renters.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani says that if the state won’t play ball on taxing the rich, he’ll have to impose a higher tax of his own — and it could hit middle-class New Yorkers.

At a Tuesday press conference, he laid out two options to address what he said is the city’s $5.4 billion budget deficit left by the prior administration.

In an effort to balance his preliminary $127 billion budget, Mamdani outlined two potential paths forward. The first — and Mamdani’s preferred — relies on cooperation from New York Gov. Kathy Hochul: increasing taxes on the wealthy and corporations, a cornerstone of Mamdani’s campaign. Hochul has been lukewarm on the idea.

Without Albany’s willingness to hike income or corporate taxes, Mamdani is signaling he will need to turn to other measures to fund his budget. He’s floating increasing property taxes for the city’s residents — which would hit the middle and working classes as hard as his typical targets on Wall Street — alongside drawing from funds that the city keeps in reserve in case of an economic downturn.

Mamdani called that option “painful,” and “a tool of very last resort,” and said that his administration would continue working with Albany to avoid it.

“This is a preliminary budget,” he said at the press conference. “This is a budget that reflects the only tools that the city has at its disposal.”

What a New York City property tax increase would mean

If Hochul or Albany do not budge, Mamdani said he would increase property taxes by 9.5%.

In the press conference, Mamdani said the tax would hit middle-class New Yorkers the most. His office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on which income groups would be most affected or on the proposal’s potential impact on middle-income New Yorkers.

Multi-unit buildings — where renters tend to live — are taxed at a higher effective rate than single-family or low-density homes, where more affluent New Yorkers tend to live. While renters don’t pay property taxes directly, higher property tax levies on their landlords could, over time, translate into higher rents.

“New York’s property tax system stems from the 1970s, trying to balance the needs of outer borough homeowners with the commercial and multifamily housing in Manhattan,” Rita Jefferson, a local analyst at the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy who focuses on equity, said. “As a result, property tax rates on single-family homes are much lower than rates on multifamily units, which has led to vastly different bills for properties that have the same market value.”

New York City Comptroller Mark Levine, an elected position not appointed by the Mayor, said that Mamdani had proposed a budget that “honestly and transparently lays out the scale of our challenges,” and that the city “undoubtedly” needs more assistance from Albany.

“To rely on a property tax increase and a significant draw-down of reserves to close our gap would have dire consequences,” Levine said in a statement. “Our property tax system is profoundly unfair and inconsistent, and an across-the-board increase in this tax would be regressive. Drawing down reserves during a period of economic growth would leave us vulnerable to economic turbulence next year.”

The proposal was blasted by US Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, a Republican whose district includes Staten Island and parts of Southern Brooklyn.

“Year after year, City Hall squeezes the middle-class for more by raising the property tax levy, and now Mamdani wants to raise the rate, making the American dream of homeownership less attainable and the cost of housing even more unaffordable for property owners and renters alike,” Malliotakis said in a statement.

Mamdani’s proposal doesn’t mean that renters or property owners will get hit with a large tax bill immediately; as he stressed in his press conference, the budget is far from final. Hochul reportedly said at an unrelated event that she doesn’t think a property tax increase is necessary.

“This is something that we do not want to do,” Mamdani said, “and this is something that we are going to utilize every single option to ensure does not come to pass.”

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Depending on where you live, it can be challenging to figure out where to watch Champions League matches. Fortunately, our guide can help you watch every match from anywhere, examining both free and paid routes.

While many countries charge for access, there are plenty of options for a free Champions League live stream for each matchday. The box below will show you various international options for watching in countries around the world. To get around region blocks, you’ll need a VPN (virtual private network) to access them from overseas.

• See also: Best streaming deals | Best sports streaming services

• Join our mobile WhatsApp channel for more buying guides

Upcoming free Champions League live streams

There are some fantastic free Champions League live streams around Europe. You don’t get every game, especially in the early stages, but we often get many of the bigger matches appearing in the list. 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 and TV shows.

Don’t have a VPN to watch the above options from abroad? Right now, there’s a fantastic offer on one of our favorite VPNs we’ve tested and have been using for years for streaming and protecting our online devices. You can save up to 75% on the usual price of ProtonVPN. If you’re unsatisfied, there’s a hassle-free 30-day money-back guarantee. Sound good? Then get stuck in and enjoy these free Champions League live streams.

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 the location to the 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 via the Discovery+ service (£30.99 a month) is the home of all Champions League action in the UK, minus one game a week, which will be shown on Prime Video instead.

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 £30.99 a month, and you can cancel anytime. 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 Prime-exclusive matches during the league phase will focus on British teams. Here are the upcoming fixtures for 2025:

• November 4: Liverpool vs. Real Madrid
• November 25: Chelsea vs. Barcelona
• December 9: Inter Milan vs. Liverpool

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 half what it costs for TNT (we’ve tested this ourselves). You 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 for the majority of the season (but the free service, 9Now, is also showing the final). So if you want to see the entire tournament, you’ll need to sign up for Stan and then add Stan Sport as an add-on. The cheapest setup is $32 a month (for Stan Basic at $12 and Sport at $20). Better yet, it comes with a 30-day free trial first for the baseline tier – you’ll still pay $20 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 $17 a month/$22 for 4K (then add $20 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 could 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.

Every Champions League game is live streamed on Paramount Plus for just $8.99 a month or $89.99 a year.

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, and rarely the best ones, in all honesty.

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. 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.

• General Mills revised its sales and profit outlook to reflect a deeper dip than previously expected.
• The company’s CEO said a weakening consumer is weighing on results.
• The Cheerios maker’s stock fell 7% on Tuesday, along with other food stocks like Campbell’s and Kraft-Heinz.

Packaged food stocks fell during Tuesday’s trading session after General Mills lowered its outlook, underlining weakening consumer sentiment.

The Cheerios maker updated its outlook to reflect a more significant slump in sales and operating profit than previously projected. General Mills stock ended Tuesday down 7% on the cut outlook and other packaged food names also slid into the red.

The Campbell’s Company stock closed 6% lower while Slim Jim maker ConAgra Foods and Kraft-Heinz were down more than 4%. McCormick & Co. and J.M. Smuckers also recorded intraday declines.

General Mills CEO Jeff Harmening said there is a “heightened focus on value” among consumers, particularly low- and mid-income shoppers, a nod to the K-shaped economy.

“Cost of living and housing pressures are reshaping spending patterns and value is core expectation that is here to stay,” the CEO said during General Mills’ presentation at an annual consumer analyst group conference.

Harmening added that General Mills faces a “challenging” background amid “historically low consumer sentiment.”

He flagged inflation, SNAP cuts, and geopolitical uncertainty have contributed to the financial stress for customers that is weighing on General Mills’ results.

The executive reported weak sales for the company’s cereal, snacks, and dog food segments. He also said consumers are prioritizing promotions, buying more when products are on sale.

• “The Late Show” host Stephen Colbert said CBS pulled his scheduled interview with a Democratic lawmaker.
• The interview was published on YouTube, though it didn’t air on TV.
• The video has amassed more than 2 million views, more than other recent Colbert guest interviews.

Stephen Colbert said CBS pulled a Democratic lawmaker’s interview from “The Late Show” over concerns about federal regulations. So, he posted it on YouTube instead.

The dispute marks the latest flash point in a growing tension between late-night hosts, broadcast networks, and the Federal Communications Commission.

James Talarico, a Democratic Texas state representative running for a highly competitive US Senate seat, was scheduled to appear on “The Late Show” on Monday night.

Colbert told viewers during his monologue that network lawyers intervened.

“He was supposed to be here,” Colbert said Monday night. “But we were told in no uncertain terms by our network’s lawyers, who called us directly, that we could not have him on the broadcast.”

Colbert said he was also told not to acknowledge the decision on air.

“Then I was told, in some uncertain terms, that not only could I not have him on, I could not mention me not having him on,” he said. “And because my network clearly doesn’t want us to talk about this, let’s talk about this.”

CBS said in a statement that it did not prohibit “The Late Show” from broadcasting the interview. It said it gave the show legal guidance.

While CBS didn’t air the interview on TV, the show uploaded it overnight to its YouTube page. By midday Tuesday, the video had racked up more than 2 million views — significantly more than other recent guest interviews, which had largely drawn between about 75,000 and 510,000 views on YouTube.

The last guest to surpass 1 million views was Bad Bunny, who appeared on “The Late Show” ahead of his Super Bowl halftime performance.

A spotlight on the FCC’s ‘equal time’ rule

Colbert said the network’s concerns stemmed from the FCC’s so-called “equal time” rule, which requires broadcast stations to provide equivalent opportunities to legally qualified political candidates.

“It’s the FCC’s most time-honored rule, right after ‘No nipples at the Super Bowl,'” Colbert said on Monday night’s television-aired monologue.

The rule applies to over-the-air television and radio broadcasters, but not to cable channels or online platforms — meaning CBS’s broadcast would fall under its purview, while YouTube would not.

He said most late-night talk shows — including his own — typically qualify for what’s known as the “bona fide news exemption.”

That carve-out is designed to give news and public affairs programs flexibility to respond to events without having to book opposing candidates for balance.

Colbert has hosted several Democratic and independent lawmakers this year, including Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger, and Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont.

In recent months, the FCC has stepped up scrutiny of broadcast networks.

On January 21, the FCC’s Media Bureau published a letter that said it had “not been presented with any evidence” that any current late-night or daytime talk show qualifies for the “bona fide news exemption.”

Colbert said that the letter is part of what worried CBS’s lawyers.

CBS said in its statement that, “The show was provided legal guidance that the broadcast could trigger the FCC equal-time rule for two other candidates, including Rep. Jasmine Crockett, and presented options for how the equal time for other candidates could be fulfilled.” It said the show decided to publish the interview through its YouTube channel instead.

Last week, the FCC opened a probe into Disney-owned ABC after “The View” hosted Talarico.

In the YouTube interview, Talarico said the regulatory scrutiny was politically motivated.

“I think that Donald Trump is worried that we’re about to flip Texas,” Talarico told Colbert. “This is the party that ran against cancel culture, and now they’re trying to control what we watch, what we say, what we read.”

Talarico is locked in a competitive Democratic primary for the Senate seat against Rep. Jasmine Crockett. The winner is expected to face a Republican nominee that could include incumbent Sen. John Cornyn, former Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, or Rep. Wesley Hunt.

The open Senate seat is set to be decided during this year’s mid-term elections.

A broader strain between CBS and its staff

Monday’s standoff adds to an already complicated period for Colbert and his network.

In July, CBS said “The Late Show” would be canceled in May 2026, a move that was “purely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night.”

It came after Colbert criticized CBS’s decision to settle a $16 million class-action lawsuit filed by President Donald Trump over its editing of a “60 Minutes” interview with his then-presidential opponent, Kamala Harris.

Some lawmakers raised concerns about CBS’s decision, questioning whether it was political.

CBS is owned by Paramount, which was acquired in August by David Ellison’s Skydance Media.

The network has faced other turbulence in recent months. Recently installed CBS News editor in chief Bari Weiss was criticized for her December decision to delay a “60 Minutes” segment on the Trump administration’s use of jails in El Salvador. And, on Monday night, Anderson Cooper said he would be leaving “60 Minutes” after 20 years on the show.

The FCC and representatives for Colbert did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Business Insider.

• As AI companies demand more and more memory chips, consumer electronics companies face a shortage.
• Dell, HP, and more are raising prices in the face of skyrocketing costs. Others may absorb costs at the expense of their margins.
• When will the shortage end? Intel’s CEO predicted “no relief until 2028.”

Did that computer you were eyeing jump in price? Is that gaming handheld out of stock? You might want to practice a new refrain: Thanks, memory shortage.

As AI companies demand increasingly large troves of chips to power their large language models, memory chips remain in short supply. That’s bad news for much of the consumer electronics market, which relies on DRAM and NAND memory chips.

The research firm IDC expects “significant pressure on the memory ecosystem,” warning that supply growth would be below historical norms this year. Electronics companies from Valve to Framework have already changed their sales procedures because of the shortage. Even Apple, the industry goliath, said it was expecting supply chain pressures on memory that would weigh on its famously high gross margin.

The memory shortage has existed for months — but it’s beginning to affect more shoppers’ wallets. And the bad news is it’s not expected to let up anytime soon.

Which companies have been affected?

Electronics CEOs are sounding the alarm for “RAMageddon.”

Just last week, Lenovo CEO Yang Yuanqing told Reuters that he expected PC unit sales to “face pressure.” Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan predicted that there would be “no relief until 2028.”

Dell has already begun adjusting its device prices, according to an internal list of price changes sent to staff in December seen by Business Insider. The company raised the prices of its Dell Pro and Pro Max notebooks and desktops with 32GB of memory by between $130 and $230, among other increases.

HP also planned price hikes “across the board” thanks to the memory shortage, its CEO said on its November earnings call.

Smaller PC makers — which may not enjoy the same amount of supply-chain leverage as their tech titan peers — have also been hit especially hard.

Framework raised its prices in December, then again in January, and again in February. Corsair accidentally underpriced its DRAM kits, canceling preorders and sending out coupons. It then raised prices days later, citing “market costs.”

The gaming device market is also struggling. Valve updated the site for its popular Steam Deck handheld device to say that it may be “out-of-stock intermittently in some regions due to memory and storage shortages.” The company also said it must “revisit” the pricing and scheduling of its upcoming Xbox and Playstation competitor, the Steam Machine, and VR headset, the Steam Frame, because of the shortage.

Bigger players could be next on the horizon: Bloomberg reported over the weekend that Sony was considering pushing back the launch of the next PlayStation, and that Nintendo was considering a price hike for the Switch 2.

Some companies could choose to absorb any associated cost increases at the expense of their margins, opting to wait out the supply crunch.

Meanwhile, bigger and bigger names keep speaking out about the shortage and its impacts.

Elon Musk warned of a “chip wall” on Tesla’s fourth-quarter earnings call. Tim Cook pointed to the shortage on Apple’s fourth-quarter earnings call, saying that the company was watching memory prices increase “significantly.”

So, what’s going on with memory?

This is where things get a bit more technical, but it all boils down to basic supply and demand.

There are three types of chips that are important to know. DRAM (dynamic random access memory) and NAND (non-volatile flash memory) are crucial for building consumer devices. HBM (high-bandwidth memory) chips are used to help train large language models.

Three companies dominate the memory chip market: Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron. These companies also produce HBM chips.

AI companies are hungry for more and more chips, and are willing to break out the checkbook to be first in line for factory production — giving them an edge over many consumer tech companies. They’re also flush with cash, with companies like Microsoft and Meta projecting multi-billion-dollar capital expenditures, much of which is going toward AI-related costs like chip acquisition.

That leaves chipmakers responding to the spike in demand by raising prices, selling supply to AI companies, and some transitioning to HBM production.

The shortage isn’t fading anytime soon. SK Hynix has long secured demand for its entire 2026 DRAM and NAND production volume. The CEO of Micron predicted on its first-quarter earnings call that supply would remain substantially short for the “foreseeable future.”

And if you’re trying to build your own PC, a mere consumer navigating the increasingly volatile memory marketplace: Good luck.

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If you regularly wake up with a swollen face — whether from allergies, sleep, hormones, or a salty dinner from the night before — you know that besides the unattractive puffiness, it can feel downright uncomfortable.

A quick swipe of an ice roller might help temporarily, but they rarely stay cold long enough to make a real impact. That’s where the TheraFace Depuffing Wand aims to be different.

This neat little skincare tool, made by Therabody (the brand behind some of our favorite red light therapy masks and massage guns), has a quarter-sized metal head that delivers heat therapy up to 108°F and cold therapy down to 50°F. It’s designed to first help skincare products better absorb with heat. Then, using cold therapy, it helps reduce puffiness, redness, and inflammation in just a few minutes.

Sounds great — but for $170, is it actually that effective? To find out, I put it to the test on some truly puffy mornings.

How I used the TheraFace Depuffing Wand

Over a month-long trial period, I used the TheraFace Depuffing Wand on any morning I felt uncomfortably swollen. It’s small and cordless, so it was easy to use around the house in the morning or at my desk while checking my inbox.

I sleep face down and have bad allergies, so face puffiness is pretty much a daily occurrence. I feel it mostly around my eyes and upper cheekbones, and it’s especially noticeable if I’m on my period or drank too much wine and not enough water the night before. I also have low-level rosacea, so my skin also tends to cycle through redness and inflammation.

It works like this: After I splashed water on my face, I’d use the heat therapy for about three minutes across my whole face, concentrating on my eyes, with the labeled intention of warmth helping increase product absorption. Then, I slathered on my serums and moisturizers, turned the Depuffing Wand to cold, and swiped the wand across my face and neck for six minutes total (three minutes each side).

At one point during my month-long trial period, I tried the Depuffing Wand over multiple days in a row to see how much of a difference it would make with consistent use. I took before and after photos each day to see how much of an effect the cold therapy really had.

How well the Depuffing Wand worked

I didn’t see or feel much difference with the heat therapy setting, and after few uses, began to skip this step entirely in order to streamline my morning.

The cold therapy, though, is a different story: While I wouldn’t call the Depuffing Wand “magic,” it definitely improved the way my face looked after each six-minute session. Even more importantly, it was highly effective at easing the skin tightness and sensitivity I feel on my puffiest days.

Overall, the aesthetic changes are minute — there’s no stark change, but when I compared my before-and-after photos, I see that the cold therapy did indeed help minimize the deep-set lines under my eyes, reduces some puffiness, fills the hollow of my cheekbones, and, best of all, alleviates some redness. These results aren’t exactly life-changing — or even visible enough for anyone else to notice.

Still, I absolutely loved the feeling of rubbing this icy-cold wand over my skin first thing in the morning. Regardless of the visual benefits, it came in handy on days my allergies were really flaring up. I felt TheraFace Wand’s cold therapy gave me significant relief in that quintessential swollen eye-and-cheekbone area.

I liked that this device doesn’t require much discipline for it to work. Unlike skincare tools that rely on consistent use, this one is best saved for mornings when you wake up visibly puffy. Overall, my skin felt plumper and more rejuvenated after using the TheraFace Wand, even if it didn’t make that much of a difference over time.

Cons to consider

There’s not a ton of guidance on how best to use it. Therabody has a well-designed app with guided treatments for its other devices, like the Theragun Mini Plus or its TheraFace Pro. It seems they could’ve easily added a program for the Depuffing Wand. That way you’re not left to wonder, “Am I doing this right?”

It has a little blue light band that signals when it’s time to switch sides. But you can only see this blue light if you’re standing in front of a mirror — which almost no one will be. I just used it for as long as I felt I needed and then switched, meaning I often went over six minutes and kept having to restart the program.

It’s also not cheap — and though it is currently on sale — it’s still more expensive than its main competition, an ice roller. However, I would argue that the Depuffing Wand is lightyears better than an ice roller because it retains its temperature, whereas an ice roller warms to your skin within 1-2 minutes.

The more often I used this device, the more I depended on it. Whenever I didn’t use it, my eyes felt heavier and I generally felt less awake and stimulated compared to when I spent six minutes with the wand.

The science behind cold therapy

There isn’t any specific research on applying this level cold therapy to your face (other than Therabody’s own study using this device). We know that supercharged cold therapy like ice baths and cryotherapy help reduce skin inflammation, but these are usually much colder temps than the Depuffing Wand hits.

That said, one paper in the The Journal Of Clinical And Aesthetic Dermatology does note that skin cooling is believed to have anti-inflammatory effects on skin conditions like atopic dermatitis, with other research reporting that cold therapy helps to alleviate allergic skin inflammation in animal models.

As for whether applying a 50°F treatment to your face for just six minutes is enough to significantly lower inflammation, we don’t have the science to say whether this is strong enough to work.

The bottom line

The TheraFace Depuffing Wand won’t give you dramatic, contour-level results, but if you’re someone who regularly wakes up with facial puffiness from allergies, sleep, hormones, or dehydration, its cold therapy can make a real difference in how your skin feels — and a subtle one in how it looks.

While the heat setting felt like an unnecessary step, I found the consistently icy-cold touch of the wand helped reduce that heavy, swollen feeling around my eyes and cheekbones in a way that cheaper tools, like ice rollers, just can’t sustain.

It’s far from essential. But if you’re willing to invest in a morning ritual that feels incredibly soothing, slightly depuffing, and reliably refreshing, this tool will deliver.

• Amazon halts Blue Jay robot project amid strategic shift in warehouse technology.
• Blue Jay faced high costs and complexities; Amazon refocuses on “Orbital” system.
• Amazon’s “Orbital” aims for modular, scalable same-day delivery in smaller warehouses.

Amazon has pulled the plug on one of its newest warehouse robots, a few months after unveiling it.

Blue Jay, a multi-armed robotic system Amazon launched in October for its same-day delivery warehouses, quietly shut down in January, according to people familiar with the matter.

Many employees who worked on the project were reassigned to other robotics initiatives, the people added, while asking not to be identified discussing private matters.

The move shows how hard it is to develop AI robotics technology that’s useful and cost-effective. Generative AI has made huge gains in the digital world, thanks to free training data on the web. In the physical realm, useful training data is harder to come by, and the challenges of operating robots in real-world settings are much greater.

Terrence Clark, an Amazon spokesperson, told Business Insider that Blue Jay’s core technology will be carried over to other initiatives across the company’s network of warehouses. He added that Blue Jay was one of several warehouse robotics bets Amazon has made, alongside efforts such as Vulcan, Sparrow, and Proteus.

“We’re always experimenting with new ways to improve the customer experience and make work safer, more efficient, and more engaging for our employees,” Clark said in a statement.

Blue Jay headwinds

Blue Jay was one of Amazon Robotics’ biggest announcements last year.

Developed in just over a year, far faster than earlier robots like Robin or Sparrow, it leveraged advances in AI to accelerate training and deployment. The machine featured multiple robotic arms capable of reaching and lifting several items at once, a design intended to boost productivity while creating a safer environment for frontline workers.

When Amazon unveiled Blue Jay in October, the company said it was being piloted at a fulfillment center in South Carolina and described it as a “core technology” for powering same-day delivery while lowering costs.

Internally, though, the project ran into headwinds. People familiar with the effort cited Blue Jay’s high cost, manufacturing complexity, and implementation challenges as reasons it was ultimately put on pause.

While the Blue Jay system itself is being shelved, Amazon plans to incorporate parts of its technology into future systems, including a new one called “Flex Cell” that will be more floor-mounted, the people said. (Blue Jay was mounted to the ceiling).

“Local Vending Machine” to “Orbital”

The shift is part of a move by Amazon away from an older same-day warehouse system known internally as “Local Vending Machine,” or LVM, the people said. LVM facilities were built as largely monolithic systems, with automation tightly integrated into a single, massive structure. Blue Jay was designed to operate within that framework.

Now, Amazon is pivoting to a new same-day warehouse system called “Orbital.” Unlike LVM, Orbital is designed to be modular, consisting of many components that can be assembled in different configurations, according to the people who spoke to Business Insider. The more flexible structure is intended to make the system easier to deploy and scale.

Orbital is better suited to smaller same-day delivery warehouses, rather than the sprawling fulfillment centers Amazon has historically operated.

The system could also potentially be installed as a micro-fulfillment solution in the back of Whole Foods stores, an area Amazon is prioritizing, the people said. Orbital is also expected to handle chilled products, such as groceries. Amazon is revamping its same-day delivery efforts to close the gap with Walmart in groceries and other perishable goods.

An Orbital rollout remains some time away. The first same-day warehouse built around the Orbital system is not expected to open until 2027, according to people familiar with the project.

Have a tip? Contact this reporter via email at ekim@businessinsider.com or Signal, Telegram, or WhatsApp at 650-942-3061. Use a personal email address, a nonwork WiFi network, and a nonwork device; here’s our guide to sharing information securely.

• Christina Jones always had a fast-paced career and felt constant pressure to prove her worth.
• Her car was involved in a collision on her birthday, which taught her the lesson that life is short.
• The mom chased her dreams and set up her own business, which has led to a better work-life balance.

This interview is based on a conversation with Christina Jones, 40, the CEO of a nonprofit and management consulting firm based in Washington, DC. It has been edited for length and clarity.

My son, Xavier, less than a year old at the time, was fast asleep in his crib while I worked on a policy document as midnight approached.

I was relatively new to my position at a Minnesota-based nonprofit that helps survivors of gender-based violence, and I wanted to demonstrate my value to the organization.

It was a shared document with other team members, so many could see that the timestamps indicated that I was revising it at 11 p.m.

One of my colleagues, a mom of teenagers, tried to coach me in a soft, gentle way. “You don’t need to be in here so late,” she said. “You need to get some rest.”

I was ambitious and constantly pushed myself

Instead of listening to her, I manipulated the system. I started setting my late-night emails to schedule-send so they arrived at 9 a.m. the next day.

Triple-checking that the Ts were crossed and the Is were dotted was second nature to me. Women, especially Black women, are so often trying to prove ourselves because we want to show we belong.

For me, it goes back to my parents and community saying that we have to do twice as much to get half of what everyone else has.

It felt especially true for me in my 20s and early to mid-30s. I was ambitious and forging my legal career, including several years in the office of the attorney general for the District of Columbia.

The long hours and stress levels were OK for me because I was married without kids. Still, I continued in the same vein after I had Xavier, now 5, because I wanted to create so many things in my life and demonstrate my worthiness.

Then my perspective changed. It took a vehicle collision involving my car and a tractor-trailer to make me reassess the situation.

My husband, Jason, two girlfriends, and I were driving to a restaurant on January 18, 2025, to celebrate my 39th birthday when it happened.

Thankfully, we were traveling at a low speed and emerged relatively unscathed with a few scratches. It was traumatic, but it might have been so much worse.

Prayer helped me reach a decision

The experience scared me into thinking that I could have been taken out. The fact that it was my birthday made it particularly significant — a reminder that I only have one body and time is not infinite.

I’d already been waffling about what to do about my current job for several months. Although it was interesting and challenging, I wondered whether I should start my own consultancy.

Fear had put me off. I earned six figures, my company paid 75% of my health insurance, and provided a 3% match to my retirement. The role was fully remote and offered other perks.

I prayed a lot about it, asking God what I should do. It became very clear that I needed to listen, not sit on my dreams, and take this bet on myself.

I needed buy-in from my husband, Jason, because it could have put our household at risk. Still, he and my mom were very supportive. “What’s the worst thing that can happen?” they said. “You’re an attorney. You can go get another job if it doesn’t work out.”

I’m a firm believer in not burning bridges and leaving a position as graciously as you came in. I resigned in mid-June 2025 and served two months’ notice.

My firm, Command Joy Co., which helps people in the nonprofit field turn passion into sustainable impact, was launched last August.

I’m still learning and growing, but the company is thriving. There is great satisfaction in guiding creatives through the business side of things.

My family forces me to unplug — in a good way

One of the most challenging aspects of entrepreneurship can be a feeling of isolation. As a result, I go to lunch intentionally three or four times a month with other business owners and spitball ideas.

As for me-time, I’ve learned what recharges me, whether it’s being near water or relaxing with friends.

My top priority is always my family. Having Jason and Xavier forces me to unplug in a good way.

I like to think of my life right now as a slow unfold. Just because you were something in one season doesn’t mean you have to stay like that in the seasons that follow.

• I used to save my favorite things for a “special occasion.”
• Waiting for the perfect moment kept me from enjoying my actual life.
• Wearing what I love changed how ordinary days feel.

I used to save my favorite clothes for a version of my life that never showed up.

The blazer stayed in my closet because it felt “too professional” for a normal day. The heels were waiting for a dinner I’d yet to be invited to. The earrings were longing for an occasion that felt important enough to justify wearing them. Meanwhile, I wore the same outfits on repeat — to work, to run errands, to all the places where my actual life was happening.

I wasn’t saving them for a rainy day. I was saving them for the perfect one. The problem was that “special occasion” never came.

It wasn’t just about clothes

This habit wasn’t limited to clothes. I treated everything the same way. A Sephora gift card sat untouched in my drawer, waiting for something “really worth it.” I rationed my favorite lip gloss as if it were a limited resource. I refused to light my favorite candle unless the night felt special enough to deserve it. I even held onto the last spritz of my discontinued One Direction perfume for years, as if saving it could somehow make more.

The special occasion is always vague — an imaginary fancy dinner, a future milestone, a celebration that exists only in theory. So I wait. Years pass. The things I loved enough to save start to feel untouchable. By the time I consider using it, we’ve waited so long that it feels wrong to start now.

Looking back, it sounds dramatic, but at the time, it felt practical. Why waste something nice on an ordinary day?

Then one day, the thought hit me: why am I living my life like a waiting room?

It felt like I was saving my life for later

That mindset didn’t stop at my closet. Saving a jacket for the right moment slowly turned into saving fun for the weekends, saving joy for later, saving happiness for a version of life that felt more legitimate than the one I was already living.

I realized I was treating weekdays like something to get through instead of something to participate in. When I did the math on how many days I was mentally skipping, it felt less like discipline and more like quietly wasting my life away.

So I stopped waiting.

I started wearing my favorite pieces on regular days

The shift was small at first. I wore blazers to the bars. I strutted in my nice heels to run errands. I put on the earrings just to go to the grocery store. Not for compliments, not for Instagram, not to prove anything to anyone, but because I liked how it made me feel.

The clothes didn’t lose their value because I wore them. They gained it. Each piece started collecting moments and memories instead of dust. Now, when I reach for something I love, it reminds me of a workday that felt a little lighter or a Trader Joe’s run where I found my new favorite snack.

That’s the part people tend to dismiss as “romanticizing your life,” a phrase that’s been flattened into internet fluff. But this wasn’t about pretending my errands were glamorous or turning my Mondays into Fridays. It was about presence. About intention. About letting regular days count instead of treating them like placeholders.

If I’m being honest, it changed more than my outfits. Work felt less like something I had to endure. Errands felt less like chores. I stopped waiting for permission to enjoy my life. I started dressing for myself instead of an imaginary audience or a hypothetical future. I even started liking Mondays.

I realized the dinner counts. The errand counts. The workday counts. And if the opportunity does truly come? I’ll wear those pieces again. Clothes are meant to be worn more than once.

The special occasion didn’t disappear. I just stopped waiting for it to arrive.

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If you have a dog, it’s likely you’ll need to restrict their access to a part of your house at some point. Whether it’s to keep your dog out of the kitchen, away from a sleeping child, or separated from other pets, one of the best dog gates can become your other best friend.

Before you choose a pet gate, consider your specific needs. Freestanding models are very portable, while pressure-mounted gates are relatively quick and easy to install. Hardware-installed gates provide the most stability and security.

As both a dog guardian and a parent of young kids, I’ve spent the past seven years learning which gates hold up and which ones are bound to fail. For this guide, I tested 13 popular gates at home and consulted a pet safety expert and a board-certified veterinary behaviorist.

After hands-on use and durability testing, I recommend the Cumbor Baby Gate as the best overall dog gate. This sturdy pressure-mounted model features an automatic-closing door and a ramp to prevent trips and falls. If you need a gate for stairs or a wider opening, one of the other picks below may be a better choice.

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

Our top picks for the best dog gates

Best overall: Cumbor Safety Gate – See at Amazon

Best freestanding: Richell Deluxe Freestanding Pet Gate – See at Chewy

Best for stairs: Regalo Pet Products Extra Tall Top of Stairs Gate – See at Chewy

Best retractable: Regalo Retractable Baby Gate – See at Amazon

Best extra tall: Midwest Steel Pet Gate 39-inch – See at Chewy

Best overall

Although it’s a pressure-mounted design, the 30.5-inch-tall Cumbor Safety Gate is extremely sturdy. That’s because it comes with wall cups that you can screw into a wall or doorframe. This type of installation provides more stability, but the gate must still be pressure-mounted into the cups. I set it up this way, and it took me about 25 minutes.

The gate has two standout features: an automatic closing mechanism and a ramp that fits over the bottom bar to prevent tripping. After you pass through the gate, the door swings shut and latches on its own. This keeps a dog (or, in my case, kids) from slipping through behind you. I installed the gate in a high-traffic area used by the whole family, including my dog. I really appreciated that it reliably closed behind me and never came loose, even when my kids piled toys against it.

Many pressure-mounted gates with a bottom bar lack a ramp, and this can be a serious tripping hazard. The Cumbor Safety Gate has a small ramp, making it ideal for people using a walker or older dogs who might otherwise catch their legs on the bar.

Compared to other gates I tested, this one had fewer crevices where dirt and hair could collect. It was easy to wipe clean with a cloth and regular household cleaner, a bonus for busy households.

Best freestanding

The Richell Deluxe Freestanding Pet Gate spans 90.2 inches and stands 36.2 inches high. It consists of four wood-framed panels supported by rubber feet. I used the gate to divide a room and separate my children from my dog.

A large dog could knock the gate over, but it’s heavier and sturdier than the other freestanding model I tested. That one tipped over more easily when I applied force. During our testing, neither my dog nor my kids managed to knock it down.

The gate has a built-in door, something you rarely see in freestanding gates. While it’s a nice feature, I found it tricky to open and close. I often just stepped over the gate, but it could be difficult for people with limited mobility or in situations where the dog needs to pass through often.

If you’re looking for a gate that’s more visually appealing, the wood frame offers a nice alternative to the metal construction that’s common among the best dog gates. It was also very easy to put together, taking me less than 15 minutes. Plus, the gate is very portable, and I could move it around the house with ease.

Best for stairs

If you’re installing a dog gate at the top or bottom of stairs, make sure it’s one without a bottom bar. Dangerous trips and falls are more likely to happen if there’s a bottom bar in place. You’ll also need a hardware-mounted gate rather than one that’s pressure-mounted. Hardware-mounted gates are less likely to come loose than those with pressure mounts. This can reduce the risk of a fall down the stairs if someone leans up against the gate.

The Regalo Pet Products Extra Tall Top of Stairs Gate will stand the test of time. I’ve been using a shorter version in my kids’ playroom for two years, and I’m also very pleased with this model designed for stairs, which I’ve used over the last year.

The door held in place when I applied 50 pounds of pressure with a luggage scale, a must for use at the top of the stairs. My 6-year-old can open the gate, but my two 3-year-olds cannot, and my 110-pound dog has never been able to break through it. It holds firm even when he gets antsy and paws at it.

The gate has a simple design, and I can easily open it with one hand. Because it doesn’t close automatically, you have the option to shut it or leave it open. However, this could be a downside if it’s installed at the top of the stairs and you tend to forget to close it behind you. Still, for safety’s sake, it’s always important to double-check that automatically closing gates are secure after you pass through.

The gate was a bit tricky to install, taking longer than most others I tested, about 35 minutes. However, this is par for the course with a hardware-mounted gate.

Best retractable

Retractable mesh gates aren’t as sturdy as traditional wood or metal options, but they can still be an effective way to keep a dog contained. Of the two retractable models I tested, the Regalo Retractable Baby Gate was the sturdiest; the other gate popped open when I applied 50 pounds of pressure using a luggage scale.

However, there is a 2-inch gap between the mesh panel where you secure the hooks to keep it closed. My German Shepherd is far too big to squeeze through a space that size, but a very small dog or puppy might be able to push through it.

One nice feature is that you can roll back the mesh panel when you want to provide access to a room. This makes it a more discreet choice if you don’t want a permanent fixture in your doorway. With a gentle pull, the panel coils back. The mesh is made from PVC, so it’s easy to wipe clean.

If you often have your hands full or may need to hold your eager dog back while securing the panel to the hooks, this might not be the gate for you. It was tricky to lock with only one hand since the mesh is quite flexible until you’ve pulled it taut and secured both the top and bottom hooks. You’ll also need to drill mounting hardware into your wall or door frame to install it, which took me about 20 minutes.

Best extra tall

Midwest makes some of the sturdiest pet accessories, including our top pick for the best dog crates. The Midwest Steel Pet Gate is no different, and it’s an excellent option for big dogs and agile jumpers. The gate is 39 inches tall, while standard gates range from 30 to 36 inches.

It only took me 15 minutes to install, one of the fastest and easiest installations of all the gates I tested. Like with other pressure-mounted gates, I screwed the included cups into the wall and mounted the gate within them for extra security.

The latch stood up to my 50-pound pressure test, my kids’ pressure, and my 110-pound dog. I installed it in a high-traffic opening between two rooms. After passing through, I found that the gate almost swings shut on its own, but it doesn’t completely latch. This is the biggest downside, making it less convenient and a potential issue if you tend to forget.

The gate was easy to clean using a cloth and multipurpose household cleaner. It has minimal nooks and crannies, an advantage for those with heavily shedding dogs or those who track a lot of dirt.

What to look for in a dog gate

There are several factors to consider when choosing one of the best dog gates for your home. Think about your home’s layout, your dog’s size and behaviors, and the criteria below.

Gate type: Dog gates come in pressure-mounted, hardware-mounted, retractable, and freestanding designs. If you have a determined dog who might try to get past the gate, a sturdy pressure-mounted option can be good, but a hardware-mounted one is even better. Retractable or freestanding gates will likely work for more docile dogs. Lindsey Wolko, founder and CEO of the Center for Pet Safety, says smaller dogs tend to do better with freestanding gates because they’re less likely to be able to jump over or force them down. That said, if you need a gate for your stairs, a hardware-mounted model is always the way to go.

Installation method: Most gates are either pressure-mounted or hardware-mounted. A hardware-installed gate will generally be more sturdy, as it connects to the wall via mounting brackets. However, I’ve also found that a well-constructed pressure-mounted gate is by no means unstable when installed correctly.

Spindle spacing: Pay close attention to the spacing between any bars to ensure your dog’s head can’t get stuck between the spindles. This is more likely a risk with puppies and small dogs.

Door type: Many gates have a door that you can conveniently pass through, which is the best design for most households. Some freestanding gates are designed without a door, so you’ll need to move them entirely or step over them. Retractable gates retract to the side to create an opening. The type of door is particularly important if you plan to place the gate at the top or bottom of the stairs or if you have mobility limitations — in those cases, you’ll want to avoid a bottom bar unless it comes with a ramp.

Gate width and height: Most of the best dog gates can be adjusted width-wise, but always measure the doorway or opening where you plan to install it before ordering. If you have a large dog or one that can jump very high, you’ll need an extra-tall gate.

Material: Most dog gates are made of metal, plastic, or wood. Metal gates that are pressure- or hardware-mounted are typically the most sturdy.

How we tested the best dog gates

To select the best dog gates, I tested 13 different models across various categories. I live in a two-story home with two toddlers, a 6-year-old, and a 110-pound dog. Depending on their intended use, I used the gates at the top and bottom of the stairs and in doorways. Here’s a breakdown of the tests I put them through.

Safety: First, I checked for any loose or sharp materials. Then I measured the widest space between spindles. The distance between spindles is important because smaller dogs may be able to squeeze through or get caught between the bars. “If you purchase a gate that has wider spindles and you fear your puppy may breach it until they get a little larger, use the baby-proofing mesh across the spindles,” Wolko says. I also considered whether a dog might be able to open the gate by attempting to open it with light pressure while my hand was on the latch.

I applied 50 pounds of force to each gate to see whether a mounted gate could be knocked down or if freestanding gates were easy to tip over. I used all of the gates in my home for a few months, so they saw plenty of use (and abuse) from my children and German shepherd. I disqualified any gates that didn’t stay secure. Dr. Kate Anderson, a veterinarian and assistant clinical professor at the Duffield Institute for Animal Behavior at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, says some dogs can develop anxiety due to gates that fall down, so this is important for both physical safety and your dog’s mental well-being.

I only considered hardware-mounted gates for use with stairs. While pressure-mounted gates are often very secure, there’s more of a risk that they could come loose and lead to falls down the stairs. Additionally, pressure-mounted gates usually have a bar at the bottom, which could be a tripping hazard.

Ease of use: I opened and closed each gate’s door at least 30 times, evaluating how intuitive and easy it was to maneuver with one hand. I also noted how easily each gate closed and latched after I passed through, and whether it did so automatically. For freestanding gates without a door, I focused on how easy it was to move or step over the gate.

Ease of assembly and installation: I assembled the gates according to the manufacturer’s instructions, noting any confusing directions or installation difficulties. I also recorded how much time I spent installing each gate, which ranged from 15 to 35 minutes.

Durability: I used a luggage scale to exert 50 pounds of pressure on each gate and observed whether it held firm. Most of the gates stood up well to this test, with only a couple breaking open. I immediately disqualified those models.

I also scratched the gates with a fork to simulate a dog’s nails. This test left some scratches regardless of the material. For example, the fork tines scraped off some paint from metal, made indentations in wood, or left some wear on the mesh.

Ease of cleaning: After using each gate for at least two weeks, I cleaned it with a multi-surface household cleaner and a soft cloth. I noted any areas that were particularly difficult to clean. Some gates had more nooks and crannies where dust and hair accumulated, and these areas were notoriously hard to clean. Some also had adjusters and pockets that could collect dirt and debris and get pretty dirty over time. For the retractable mesh gates, I smeared mud on the mesh and cleaned it according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.

Versatility: I considered whether the gates were adjustable to fit different doorways and walkway widths, whether there were multiple installation options, and if the gate could be installed in different types of locations. These factors are important because a gate can be a significant investment, and you want to make sure it can last if you move houses or need to install it in a new spot in your home. Versatility also ensures you can get the safest installation wherever you use it.

Additional features: Most gates are pretty straightforward, but I noted features such as built-in pet doors, self-closing doors, and accessibility ramps. Wolko says a spring-closure door can help ensure the door fully closes.

Appearance: I considered the general appearance of each gate and whether it’s available in multiple colors.

Dog gates FAQs

Which dog gates are best?

The best dog gates are sturdy and designed to meet your specific needs. Wolko recommends freestanding gates for blocking wide openings between rooms, and hardware-mounted gates and gates with spring-closure doors for their ease of use. My top pick is the Cumbor Baby Gate because of its solid construction and automatic latch, which operates quickly and smoothly.

What dog gate does not damage walls?

Freestanding gates and some pressure-mounted gates won’t damage walls. However, other pressure-mounted gates have wall cups that must be screwed in. Hardware-mounted gates will cause damage, as you always need to screw them into the wall to secure them.

Are freestanding dog gates good?

Freestanding gates are convenient for wide openings and for dogs who won’t try to push through them. However, a freestanding gate isn’t the best choice if your dog is determined to pass through. If a dog knocks one over, the noise and movement can startle them, or the gate could even cause injury.”I have had some patients develop anxiety around gates that have failed due to the loud noise this makes,” Anderson says.

Do pressure-mounted gates work?

Pressure-mounted gates can be effective, but their stability varies by model. For a more sturdy gate, choose one with a swing-door opening and wall cups. These gates should never be used at the top or bottom of stairs, since they lead to falls if they shift out of place.

• A version of this story originally appeared in the BI Tech Memo newsletter.
• Sign up for the weekly BI Tech Memo newsletter here.

Indeed survey data paints a stark picture of uneven AI engagement across advanced economies.

The chart below shows a clear frontrunner: Ireland stands out, with roughly seven in ten workers using AI at least monthly for work, followed by Australia, Germany, and North America.

At the other end sits Japan, where fewer than one in five workers report professional AI use — less than half the level seen in the US or UK.

One striking pattern cuts across all countries: personal AI use consistently outpaces professional use.

Even in high-adoption markets, workers are experimenting with AI on their own faster than employers are embedding it into workflows. That gap is narrowest in Ireland, suggesting workplace norms and encouragement matter.

Sign up for BI’s Tech Memo newsletter here. Reach out to me via email at abarr@businessinsider.com.

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Shopping for a new TV should be exciting, not overwhelming. But once you start comparing brands, specs, and flashy marketing claims, it can quickly turn into a headache. If you just want to know which models are actually worth your money, you’re in the right place. After more than a decade of reviewing home entertainment gear and putting the latest sets through hands-on testing, I’ve narrowed it down to the four best TVs you can buy right now.

For most people, the Samsung S90F is the sweet spot. Its OLED panel delivers stunning contrast, rich colors, and deep black levels, making movies and shows really pop. If you’re shopping on a tighter budget, the TCL QM6K is my favorite value pick. It doesn’t match the S90F’s picture quality, but it delivers impressive performance for the price, including a speedy 144Hz refresh rate that’s especially appealing to gamers.

I’ve also included recommendations for midrange buyers and for anyone ready to splurge on top-tier performance. These are the four best TVs I recommend overall, but the right choice ultimately depends on your room, viewing habits, and budget. If you’d like to explore more options across different brands, sizes, and price points, check out my full lineup of TV buying guides.

Our top picks for the best TVs

Best overall: Samsung S90F 4K TV – See at Amazon

Best picture quality: LG G5 4K TV – See at Amazon

Best budget model: TCL QM6K 4K TV – See at Amazon

Best midrange option: TCL QM7K 4K TV – See at Amazon

Best overall

The Samsung S90F strikes just the right balance between performance and price. The 65-inch model is frequently sold for around $1,500, offering image quality that outshines most rivals in its price range. It also sports a full suite of smart features and a sleek design.

Utilizing Samsung’s QD-OLED panel, the S90F delivers pixel-level contrast and dazzling highlights that pop off the screen. Even the priciest LED and QLED sets can’t match this level of contrast control. Thanks to quantum dot technology, colors are brighter and more vibrant than on midrange LG OLEDs. Only Sony’s premium OLEDs match this tech, but they cost a lot more. Black levels are also deep and inky when watching TV in a dark room, though they do rise slightly with the lights on.

While testing the S90F, our reviewer measured a peak brightness of about 1,460 nits, which is impressive for this panel type. That level of brightness makes the S90F a superb choice for HDR content. Since many HDR titles are mastered at around 1,000 nits, the S90F can reproduce highlights — like explosions and sun flares — with realistic impact. The result is bold, cinematic picture quality with rich color and sharp detail.

Viewing angles are another strong suit. While LED and QLED models can fade when viewed off-center, the S90F maintains contrast and color accuracy from nearly any seat in the room. Gamers will also appreciate the TV’s 144Hz refresh rate on PC and 120Hz support on PS5 and Xbox Series X, ensuring smooth gameplay.

Samsung’s Tizen smart TV interface includes built-in access to the Xbox Cloud Gaming app, allowing Game Pass subscribers to stream Xbox titles directly on their TV without a console. The platform also supports nearly every major video streaming service. Navigation speed has also been improved over past Samsung TV models, with faster load times and less lag. That said, our reviewer found the interface’s menu and app organization a bit clumsy.

Like all Samsung TVs, the S90F lacks one notable feature that many of its rivals offer: Dolby Vision support. Dolby Vision can enhance HDR quality for certain streaming content and 4K Blu-ray discs, but the difference is subtle at this level. Ultimately, we don’t consider this omission to be a dealbreaker. For more information about Dolby Vision and other HDR formats, see our HDR TV guide.

The S90F is available in sizes from 42 to 83 inches, but only the 55-, 65-, and 77-inch models use Samsung’s QD-OLED panel. Smaller and larger versions still deliver great image quality, but they use standard WOLED panels, so their color range isn’t quite as wide.

A 2026 version of this TV, called the S90H, is set to be released over the coming months. However, pricing hasn’t been confirmed yet, and it remains to be seen how big of an upgrade it will offer. Our team will review the S90H once it’s available, but the S90F is expected to remain the better value while supplies last.

Read our Samsung S90F 4K TV review.

Best picture quality

The LG G5 is the most impressive high-end TV I’ve tested. It offers a brighter image than other OLEDs while maintaining pixel-perfect contrast.

Using an industry-standard 10% test pattern with the TV set in its most accurate setting, I measured a peak brightness of about 2,400. That’s a record for an OLED, and it’s around 1,000 nits brighter than many midrange models, such as the Samsung S90F.

Of course, test patterns can only reveal so much. What’s actually important is how the TV looks when watching real-world content. And in a word, the G5 is stunning. High-brightness HDR movies, such as “Mad Max: Fury Road” and “Aquaman,” leap from the screen in ways I’ve never seen on an OLED, fully utilizing the G5’s nearly unmatched combination of intense peak highlights and infinite contrast. Viewing angles are also wide, allowing you to sit to the side of the screen without any significant shifts in contrast and color. Gamers even get a high 165Hz refresh rate when paired with a PC.

But while incredible on many fronts, the G5 isn’t quite perfect — no display is. The TV initially had issues with banding/posterization (blocky color gradations) when watching certain types of HDR content. In the months following the G5’s launch, LG released firmware updates to minimize this issue.

Over the course of weeks of testing, banding occurred so rarely that I don’t consider it a significant con. Those highly sensitive to spotting posterization may want to consider other high-end TVs that are less prone to it (like the Samsung S95F). But when evaluating the TV’s overall image quality, the G5 has the best picture performance I’ve seen.

The G5’s webOS smart TV interface works well enough, but it isn’t my favorite platform. The homepage is a bit barebones in design and features shopping recommendations too prominently. However, you still get access to all the best streaming services, and general navigation and usability are solid. I did run into some errors with hands-free voice search, but it works better when using the remote.

The TV boasts a handsome design, sturdy materials, and a slim profile. It comes with a flush wall mount that allows you to hang the panel with virtually no gap. But the trade-off is that the display doesn’t include a traditional stand. If wall mounting isn’t doable in your room, you’ll have to purchase a separate stand.

There are a few competing OLEDs that address some of the G5’s flaws a bit better. Most notably, Sony’s Bravia 8 II offers better processing. However, that model falls short in other areas, such as peak brightness, and is only available in two sizes. It’s also worth noting that a 2026 version of this TV, called the G6, will hit stores later this year. The new model is expected to get brighter but also cost more. With that in mind, we’ll continue to recommend the G5 in this spot as long as it remains the better value.

Read our LG G5 4K TV review.

Best budget model

The QM6K is TCL’s top entry-level QLED TV. The 65-inch size is often on sale for $650 or less, which is an excellent value for a TV in this class.

What sets the QM6K apart from most similarly priced TVs is its use of a Mini LED backlight with local dimming and quantum dots. These features are typically reserved for pricier sets and enable the QM6K to produce higher contrast and better color than most of its rivals.

When reviewing the TV, I was impressed by its backlight control, which produced minimal blooming (halos around bright objects). It also produced a solid HDR image with excellent saturation. However, as a budget-friendly TV, the QM6K has some limitations. The display’s black levels are slightly lighter than those of more expensive QLEDs, and the panel’s brightness is limited compared to midrange and high-end sets.

I measured a peak of 557 nits on a 10% HDR test pattern and about 736 nits on a larger 50% test pattern. Those are decent numbers for an entry-level Mini LED TV, but they’re notably lower than the levels offered by my other picks in this guide. As a result, bright highlights in some movies and TV shows have less impact than intended. Although viewing angles have been improved over older TCL QLEDs, they’re still much narrower than those of an OLED TV.

On the plus side, the QM6K offers a significant gaming upgrade over its predecessor, with a refresh rate of up to 144Hz. This makes the QM6K one of the most affordable TVs that can display 4K/120Hz signals from a PS5 or Xbox Series X, enabling smoother motion when playing certain games.

The QM6K’s Google TV interface is easy to use and snappy to navigate, with only small hiccups. When reviewing older TCL TVs, I encountered several minor glitches here and there, but the QM6K was free from bugs during several weeks of testing.

All things considered, the QM6K is the perfect starter home theater TV for anyone who wants a budget set that still offers worthwhile HDR performance.

Read our TCL QM6K 4K TV review.

Best midrange option

TCL’s QM7K is the brand’s latest midrange QLED, and it’s one of the best TVs in its price range.

Similar to the company’s more affordable QM6K, the QM7K utilizes a Mini LED backlight with quantum dots and local dimming. It also supports a refresh rate of up to 144Hz and runs Google TV for quick access to numerous streaming services. But what sets this pricier model apart from its cheaper sibling is its peak brightness.

The QM7K can get more than twice as bright as the QM6K. I measured a peak of around 1,800 nits on a 10% test pattern. That’s more than enough to give specular highlights (like explosions) ample intensity in HDR movies and TV shows. That said, the QM7K isn’t much brighter than its predecessor, the QM7. But the QM7K does have other upgrades up its sleeve.

TCL has implemented an improved backlighting system in this model, and the results are impressive. While I noticed some light fluctuations and patchy brightness in dark scenes when reviewing the older QM7, the QM7K is almost entirely free of these flaws. Likewise, halos around bright objects are almost nonexistent. Similarly, viewing angles have been notably improved. This is still a QLED, so color and contrast do wash out at extreme angles, but you can veer farther from the center without the TV’s quality degrading as much.

However, black levels aren’t quite as deep as I’ve seen on some pricier QLEDs, and the QM7K’s backlight still can’t match the pixel-level precision of an OLED. But given its position in the market, the QM7K is an excellent midrange TV option. The 65-inch model is often available for $1,000 or less, making it an ideal choice for those seeking a bright QLED TV under a grand.

The best TVs compared

Here’s a rundown of key specifications for each of our top TV picks, offering an overview of how they compare.

Check out our other TV buying guides

Our guide to the best TVs is designed to keep things simple, with our four top picks categorized by overall performance. But these aren’t the only models we recommend. If you want to explore additional TV options in more detail, visit our supplemental buying guides, which focus on specific screen sizes, display types, budgets, brands, and key features.

• Best smart TVs
• Best 4K TVs
• Best OLED TVs
• Best TVs for picture quality
• Best gaming TVs
• Best sports TVs
• Best frame TVs
• Best budget TVs
• Best TVs under $500
• Best 100-inch TVs
• Best 85-inch TVs
• Best 75-inch TVs
• Best 65-inch TVs
• Best 55-inch TVs
• Best 50-inch TVs
• Best 43-inch TVs
• Best Hisense TVs
• Best Sony TVs
• Best TCL TVs
• Best LG TVs
• Best Samsung TVs
• Best Roku TVs

Other TVs we reviewed

Though they didn’t quite make the cut for this guide, my team and I reviewed several other display models as we sought the best TVs. Here’s a rundown of some other notable TVs we tested, along with details on why they didn’t make our top four picks.

Samsung S95F OLED 4K TV – See at Amazon
The S95F is another excellent high-end TV alternative to the G5. It can’t quite reach the same high brightness level, but it can offer slightly richer colors in certain content. However, the S95F uses a divisive matte screen rather than a typical glossy screen. The matte panel does a fantastic job of reducing reflections, but it can make black levels appear elevated in a bright room. Ultimately, we prefer how th’s inky black levels. But if you have trouble with ambient light, the S95F could be a better fit.

Read our Samsung S95F review.

LG C5 OLED 4K TV – See at Amazon
The LG C5 is the company’s midrange OLED, and it’s a fantastic TV. Its picture quality comes impressively close to our top pick in this guide, the Samsung S90F. However, unlike the 55-, 65-, and 77-inch versions of the S90F, the C5 doesn’t use quantum dot technology, which gives those Samsung models a slight edge in color brightness. Since both TVs are often priced similarly, the S90F has a slight overall advantage.

Read our LG C5 review.

TCL QM8K QLED 4K TV – See at Amazon
TCL’s QM8K is one of the brand’s top QLED models. It delivers excellent performance that’s on par with many high-end sets from pricier brands. In particular, the QM8K boasts impressive brightness and superior contrast control compared to similar QLEDs. However, overall image quality is still surpassed by OLED models, such as the Samsung S90F. That said, if you’re looking for a high-performance QLED TV for a bright room, the QM8K is an excellent choice.

Read our TCL QM8K review.

Hisense U8QG QLED 4K TV – See at Amazon
The Hisense U8QG is another excellent QLED TV for those seeking a high-brightness screen. It performs similarly to the TCL QM8K, but can get slightly brighter and features a faster 165Hz refresh rate. That said, it’s limited to three HDMI ports and suffers from oversaturated reds. Ultimately, we still give an edge to similarly priced OLED displays for overall performance.

Read our Hisense U8QG review.

Samsung Frame Pro 4K TV – See at Amazon
The Frame Pro is Samsung’s premium version of its popular Frame TV. Like the standard Frame, the Frame Pro is designed to look like a hanging piece of art when not in use as a TV. It accomplishes this with a matte screen that mimics the look of canvas, a flush wall-mount, interchangeable bezels, and access to a vast collection of art to display on-screen (subscription required). This high-end model can get brighter than the standard Frame, and its black-level control is better thanks to edge-lit local dimming. It also utilizes a wireless connection box, which expands your placement options within the room. However, while this is an excellent option for design-focused buyers, its overall picture quality still lags behind that of the best TVs in this guide.

Read our Samsung Frame Pro 4K TV review.

Vizio Quantum Pro QLED 4K TV – See at Walmart
The Quantum Pro is a decent midrange QLED with superior viewing angles compared to most competitors in this class. However, its contrast is lacking compared to similarly priced options from TCL and Hisense.

Read our Vizio Quantum Pro 4K TV review.

Amazon Fire TV Omni Mini LED – See at Amazon
The Omni Mini LED is Amazon’s new flagship TV. This model uses a Mini LED backlight to deliver higher contrast and brightness than the brand’s more affordable offerings. It stacks up well against other TVs in its class, like the QM7K, but its list price is a bit high, and we prefer other smart TV systems over Amazon’s Fire TV interface.

Read our Amazon Fire TV Omni Mini LED review.

How we test TVs

To pick the best TVs, my team and I focus on picture quality, smart features, design, and overall value.

Picture quality: My TV testing mixes objective measurements with everyday viewing. Meters and test patterns are used to measure a TV’s brightness and other objective display capabilities. But while test patterns are helpful, they don’t tell the whole story. So I also live with each TV for a few weeks, watching movies and shows in both bright and dark environments, just like I would on my own set. This helps me spot performance quirks across different types of content. I also weigh image quality against price, as what I expect from a budget TV differs from what I expect from a flagship model.

Smart features: I spend time with each TV’s smart platform to see how fast it is, how well voice search works, how many apps are available, and how intrusive the ads feel. If a TV includes unique features, I dig into those too to see whether they actually make a difference.

Design: I don’t hold inexpensive TVs to the same standard as premium ones, but I do call out any major design issues. High-end models, on the other hand, should feel premium, with thin panels, metal finishes, sturdy stands, and thoughtful touches like adjustable heights or backlit remotes.

Value: Ultimately, the best TVs strike the right balance between performance and price. Expensive sets need to earn their premium with truly top-tier picture quality, while midrange and budget options should deliver features that go above and beyond what you typically get at their price.

For more details on our review process, check out our breakdown of how we test tech products.

TV FAQs

What kinds of TVs are available in 2026?

If you buy a TV in 2026, it will likely be branded as one of four primary display types: OLED, QLED, Micro RGB, or LED. Though performance varies by model, each tech has its own strengths and weaknesses.

OLED TVs (including newer QD-OLED and Four-Stack OLED models) have traditionally delivered the best overall picture quality thanks to self-lit pixels that produce perfect black levels, infinite contrast, and wide viewing angles. They’re ideal for home theaters and movie lovers, and newer OLED types are bright enough for most living rooms. Downsides include lower peak brightness than the brightest LED-based TVs, higher prices, limited size options, and a small risk of burn-in with extreme use.

QLED TVs use an LCD panel with an LED or Mini LED backlight and quantum dots to boost brightness and color. High-end models can get extremely bright, making them great for sunny rooms, and they’re available in a wide range of sizes and prices with no burn-in risk. However, even the best QLEDs can’t match OLED’s contrast, and picture quality varies widely depending on whether the TV includes local dimming.

LED TVs are the most basic and affordable option. They use LCD panels with LED backlights, but lack quantum dots and typically lack local dimming and wide color support. They’re best for budget shoppers who want large screens at low prices, though contrast, color, and viewing angles are generally mediocre compared to OLED and QLED.

Micro RGB TVs (also called RGB Mini LED) are an emerging technology that’s similar to a QLED TV. But instead of using a quantum dot filter, Micro RGB TVs use separate red, green, and blue LEDs in their backlight. In theory, this could deliver brighter, purer colors than traditional QLED TVs without the burn-in concerns of OLED. That said, the technology is very new, models are limited, and contrast still can’t match an emissive OLED panel.

For a more detailed breakdown of TV panel technology, check out our QLED vs. OLED comparison.

When will 2026 TV models be released?

New 2026 TV models were unveiled at the CES tech show in January, and are expected to start rolling out to stores in the spring. You can learn more about upcoming TV models in our CES 2026 TV roundup.

However, it’s essential to note that 2025 TV models will remain in stock for most of the year and are likely to receive significant discounts. As such, we’ll continue to recommend 2025 TV models while they remain the best value.

What size TV is best?

TVs range from small 24-inch models to massive 100-inch-plus screens, and the right size depends on your room, seating distance, resolution, and budget. Bigger TVs cost more and require enough wall or stand space, but they also deliver a more immersive experience.

Resolution matters, too. HD works fine on smaller TVs (around 43 inches or less), where the difference from higher resolutions is hard to notice. For screens 50 inches or larger, 4K is the sweet spot, especially if you sit closer to the screen. 8K only makes sense on extra-large TVs— typically 75 inches and up — where the added detail is more noticeable. But even then, 4K is typically more than enough for all TV sizes sold today.

Though there is no specific right or wrong size for all needs, 65 inches often hits the ideal balance between cinematic impact and everyday practicality, which is why it’s typically a brand’s flagship size.

What smart TV interfaces does each brand use?

Nearly every TV you can buy in 2026 is a smart TV, but brands use different operating systems (OS) to handle streaming apps and features.

• Android TV: Older models from Sony, TCL, Hisense
• Fire TV: Amazon, Panasonic, Toshiba, Insignia, Pioneer, Hisense
• Google TV: Sony, TCL, Hisense
• Roku TV: Roku, TCL, Hisense
• Vizio Home: Vizio
• Tizen: Samsung
• webOS: LG

Do you need a TV with HDMI 2.1?

HDMI 2.1 is standard on many midrange and high-end TVs and is most useful for gamers. It enables 4K at 120Hz (and sometimes higher refresh rates with a PC), along with variable refresh rate (VRR) and auto low latency mode (ALLM) for smoother, lower-lag gameplay.

To use these features, every device in your setup must support HDMI 2.1, including your TV, gaming console or PC, and any soundbar or AV receiver used for passthrough. You’ll also need 48Gbps-rated HDMI cables to handle the full bandwidth. Check out our guide to the best HDMI cables for our top recommendations.

When is the best time to buy a TV?

If you’re shopping for a new TV, the best time to buy is during deal events like Black Friday, Cyber Monday, or Amazon Prime Day. TVs often drop to their lowest prices during these sales. You can also find significant discounts in the weeks leading up to major sports events, such as the Super Bowl and March Madness, as well as during holidays like the Fourth of July and Memorial Day.

What TV brands should you consider?

The best TV brand for you depends on your budget and priorities. Sony, Samsung, LG, and Panasonic lead the pack for premium build quality and cutting-edge OLED and QLED performance, though their midrange and entry-level models usually cost more than comparable options from rivals.

If you want strong picture quality for less, TCL and Hisense are excellent value brands. Their midrange QLED TVs often rival — or even beat — pricier models from bigger names, thanks to features like quantum dots and local dimming, even if the design and build feel less premium.

Roku and Amazon also sell their own TVs, which can be solid deals during sales but are usually less competitive at full price compared to similarly priced alternatives.

For basic, no-frills TVs, budget brands like Onn, Insignia, and Toshiba are worth considering. They offer affordable HD and 4K sets and are best suited for casual viewing, secondary rooms, or tight budgets, especially when discounted during major sales events.

Do TVs offer good sound quality?

Generally speaking, TVs offer mediocre sound quality. To keep TVs thin and affordable, manufacturers use small speaker drivers, often positioned in areas that lead to poor performance. This results in poor sound quality, characterized by muddy dialogue, flat dynamics, and a lack of bass.

We recommend purchasing a soundbar or a full surround sound system to get the best sound quality with your TV. Check out our soundbar and speaker guides to see our top recommendations:

• Best soundbars
• Best budget soundbars
• Best Dolby Atmos soundbars
• Best soundbars with subwoofers
• Best Bose soundbars
• Best Sonos soundbars
• Best surround sound systems

For more details on the latest advancements in immersive surround sound technology, check out our guide to Dolby Atmos.

Can I watch free local channels on my TV?

Most TVs include integrated digital tuners that can receive free over-the-air broadcasts when paired with an antenna and a coaxial cable. Reliable digital antennas can cost as little as $20. Check out our guide to the best indoor TV antennas to see our top recommendations.

If you live in an area with poor antenna reception but still want an alternative to cable that provides access to popular channels, check out our guide to the best live TV streaming services.

Should I be worried about burn-in on my TV?

If you leave a static image on your TV for too long, it can cause burn-in on some displays. When burn-in occurs, a faint outline of an image permanently stays on your display. Thankfully, burn-in is rare on modern TVs, so most people don’t need to worry about it. However, there are some considerations you should be aware of.

First and foremost, OLED is the only current TV technology prone to burn-in. Although LCD-based TVs, such as QLED and LED, are not 100% immune to burn-in, cases are so rare that they’re not considered a significant risk. However, while OLED shoppers should be aware of this risk, all OLED TVs come with built-in features designed to prevent burn-in, including pixel-shift modes and pixel refreshers.

Websites like Rtings have done long-term burn-in tests with various OLED models. Although their results show that burn-in can technically occur on even top OLED TVs, their tests indicate that it’s not a significant issue for people with regular viewing habits. Burn-in only happens in extreme situations, like if you just watch the same cable channel with the same logo at the bottom of the screen all day.

I had an LG CX OLED TV in my own home theater setup for over three years. I regularly streamed various services, watched cable TV, and played video games (with plenty of static elements), and the TV showed no signs of burn-in. Unless you plan to stay tuned to the same cable news channel 24/7, we don’t think burn-in should be a factor when deciding between an OLED TV and another display type.

• Exercise researcher Jim Stoppani has been studying the science of muscle-building for over a decade.
• He recommends time-saving techniques to maximize muscle gains without wasting time and energy.
• For best results, aim for well-rounded fitness to prevent injury and improve your health long-term.

Jim Stoppani has been lifting weights for longer than most fitness influencers have been alive.

“I’v been training since I was a young kid, probably 7 or 8,” he told Business Insider. “My father built an amazing gym in our basement and I wanted to hang out with my dad, so I was down there learning the principles of weightlifting.”

Now at 58, with a PhD in exercise physiology, his own supplement brand, and a renowned research career, Stoppani has learned from decades of scientific study and first-hand experience what it takes to pack on lean muscle.

He recommends three strategies everyone should know to make the most of every workout for optimal gains.

Diversify your fitness portfolio

One thing Stoppani has learned over his years in fitness is that progress will plateau — unless you make smart training decisions and plan ahead.

The human body has natural limits in how much strength or muscle mass we can achieve. As you work out and get stronger, you’ll get closer to those limits, but additional gains become increasingly more difficult to earn.

Instead of fighting for diminishing returns, diversify your fitness with different elements like power, agility, mobility, and stamina to get the most bang for your buck in the gym.

“I’m not going to put on 20 pounds of muscle at my age and with so many years under my training belt,” Stoppani said. “So why should I come in here and train like a bodybuilder every day?”

To free up time to work on different skills without losing gains, Stoppani often uses a technique called a superset. A superset involves alternating between two exercises that recruit different muscles, with little to no break in between. Doing so allows one muscle group to rest while the other is working, cutting out your downtime in the gym (and potentially burning more fat in the process).

Stoppani uses the extra time to work on yoga, stretching, and cardio, to avoid any weak points in his fitness.

“The thing that I recommend as you get older is to be less singular in your goals and more well-rounded,” he said.

Hit the right intensity

A concept called “reps in reserve” can help make sure you’re pushing hard enough to make the most of your workouts, according to Stoppani.

At the end of each set, think about how many more reps you could do, if you really had to.

Too many reps in reserve, and you’re leaving gains on the table. For instance, if you finish a set of 10 reps, and feel like you could easily do 10 more, you should increase your weight or reps until it feels challenging.

However, you don’t have to push to your absolute limit with every set. Working to total muscle failure, the most you can possibly lift, comes with a risk of injury, and isn’t necessary if you aren’t a competitive athlete.

For average gym-goers, the sweet spot for building muscle is one to three reps in reserve, said Stoppani.

He recommends waiting until the last set to push closer to failure, and ending the set when you’re too tired to complete the exercise with proper form.

“The key to turning on muscle growth is getting closer to muscle failure,” he said.

Change your rep range

Forget what you’ve seen from fitness influencers. There’s no magic number when it comes to making your muscles bigger or “toning” them.

Building muscle is all about challenging your body, whether you’re lifting heavy weights for a few reps, or light weights for a lot of reps, according to Stoppani.

But your choice of weights can lead to slightly different results over time: heavier weights are ideal for getting stronger, while lighter weights help to maximize the signal for muscle tissue to grow.

As a result, using a variety of strategies can help you make better progress in the long run.

“The biggest misconception is that you can just use one rep range and stick to that forever,” Stoppani said. “You’re eventually going to stop getting the same results because you’re providing the body the same stress over and over and over again.”

Prevent your gains from stalling with a periodization plan, breaking up your training into sections of 6 to 12 weeks each. For instance, you might start with sets of six to eight reps, focusing on building strength, and after two months, switch to sets of 10 to 12 reps help boost muscle growth.

“The best way to build muscle is with change,” Stoppani said.

• AI disruption fears led a broad sell-off in tech, offering an opportunity to buy the dip in select names.
• JPMorgan surveyed its equity analysts to get their top “mispriced” stocks following the AI skid.
• Affirm, Okta, and Block are some of the firm’s top picks.

Fears that AI will replace dominant players has fueled broad selling across the tech sector this month, leaving some stocks “mispriced,” according to JPMorgan.

JPMorgan surveyed its top-ranked equity research analysts to find stocks that were weighed down by the market’s AI replacement fears, despite being insulated from actual AI disruption. While AI fears are priced into tech stocks, the analysts underlined an opportunity to by the dip in fundamentally strong names.

Common themes among the companies JPM highlighted include:

• Exposure to intensely regulated markets, like payments, creates a barrier of entry for AI replacements.
• AI adoption will actually increase demand for some companies’ foundational data.

• Companies that have already established complex infrastructure and hold dominant positions are less likely to be replaced by AI.

The firm previously highlighted 14 high-quality software stock picks that the analysts view as well-positioned to weather AI disruption in the industry.

Beyond those choices, here are 18 additional “mispriced” tech stock picks from JPMorgan:

Affirm

Ticker: AFRM

12-month return: -37%

What JPMorgan says: “The software meltdown has taken the wind out of the sails of “rule of X” stocks with thin GAAP net income margins, including AFRM,” the analysts wrote. “Fundamentally, business performance is as strong as ever,” they added, underlining Affirm’s competitive position in the Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) space.

Credo Technology Group

Ticker: CRDO

12-month return: +71%

What JPMorgan says: The analysts, who recently raised their estimates for Credo, said that “Copper-to-optical displacement in data centers is overstated, with the transition expected to be gradual and prolonged.” JPMorgan says Credo is well-postioned to gain from from ongoing AI infrastructure builds and hyper scalers’ spending.

Equifax

Ticker: EFX

12-month return: -22%

What JPMorgan says: Equifax’s “strong guidance for 2026 is underpinned by increased demand for foundational data to inform credit decisioning.”

First Advantage

Ticker: FA

12-month return: -53%

What JPMorgan says: The analysts explained that since background checks are a regulated product, First Advantage’s offerings are unlikely to be replaced by AI. “We note that AI research labs contract with FCRA-regulated entities to conduct background checks, and do not do such checks themselves,” they wrote.

Fidelity National Information

Ticker: FIS

12-month return: -31%

What JPMorgan says: “FIS is deeply entrenched with regulated, complex financial institutions that rely on its payment connectivity, especially as many banks lack modern core platforms.”

HubSpot

Ticker: HUBS

12-month return: -70%

What JPMorgan says: Hubspot is among the software names JPMorgan highlighted during the software meltdown. They said the company is “better insulated from the AI displacement narrative because they are directly monetizing their own AI products / agents or they provide the foundational layer — compute, observability, data pipelines — that AI workloads themselves require to run.”

Moody’s

Ticker: MCO

12-month return: -18%

What JPMorgan says: “AI is unlikely to disrupt the market for credit ratings, which are deeply embedded in client contracts” the analysts noted, highlighting Moody’s dominant position alongside S&P Global.

MSCI

Ticker: MSCI

12-month return: -9%

What JPMorgan says: “We see AI as unlikely to disrupt the indices market, as indexes are intended to be neutrally arbitrated and are deeply embedded in client contracts.”

NIQ Global Intelligence

Ticker: NIQ

12-month return: -42%

What JPMorgan says: After NIQ Global Intelligence made its public trading debut in 2025, JPM analysts said “NIQ’s proprietary data informs daily decisionmaking for the CPG industry and benchmarks channel, category, and product performance.”

Okta

Ticker: OKTA

12-month return: -14%

What JPMorgan says: Okta stands to gain as evolving AI intensifies the need for strong identification and access management. “Looks well positioned to benefit from tailwinds from acceleration of non-human identities,” JPM analysts wrote.

Shopify

Ticker: SHOP

12-month return: -12%

What JPMorgan says: “Even if AI can spin up a comparable storefront application, it won’t own payments, fraud, taxes, reporting, or merchant support,” the analysts said, adding “We think any company that tries will end up rebuilding Shopify’s org and cost structure (at a fraction of its scale).”

S&P Global

Ticker: SPGI

12-month return: -23%

What JPMorgan says: Like Moody’s, the analysts indicated S&P Global is insulated since the credit rating market is likely safe from AI disruption. They wrote, “Investors are debating ascribing value risk for SPGI’s Market Intelligence business, despite momentum in subscription metrics.”

Toast

Ticker: TOST

12-month return: -30%

What JPMorgan says: “TOST’s advantaged distribution and integration tying restaurant payments and operations creates a powerful moat, in our view, connecting software, hardware, and fintech services,” analysts said, noting that “the stock’s sell-off overlooks the embeddedness of Toast’s platform within a restaurant’s operations, which cannot be easily displaced.”

TransUnion

Ticker: TRU

12-month return: -25%

What JPMorgan says: TransUnion, like Equifax, benefits from its business functioning in a heavily rated space, JPM said, highlighting “strong business momentum” and signals that its AI adoption efforts are resinating with customers.

Twilio

Ticker: TWLO

12-month return: -13%

What JPMorgan says: Twilio, a customer engagement platform that helps businesses connect with customers through text and other channels, is among the software names that JPM sees being insulated from AI because its monetizing its own AI products. Twilio offers CustomerAI, its AI-powered product to improve customer engagement.

Veeva Systems

Ticker: VEEV

12-month return: -24%

What JPMorgan says: “Integrates agentic AI within its Vault Platform, offering direct, secure access to sensitive life sciences data and workflows, with application-specific safeguards to maintain compliance and data integrity.”

Verisk Analytics

Ticker: VRSK

12-month return: -38%

What JPMorgan says: “VRSK’s core pricing and claims dataset is contributed from the highly fragmented insurance industry and cannot be disintermediated by AI,” the analysts wrote, adding, “VRSK has built balance sheet capacity to take advantage of the dislocation in its stock.”

Block

Ticker: XYZ

12-month return: -40%

What JPMorgan says: “Block is investing heavily in AI with Moneybot, Manager Bot, and Goose orchestration agent, embedding these tools directly into its payments ecosystem and hardware.” The company, like Toast and Shopify, benefits from its connectivity in the heavily regulated payments space.

• Comcast’s NBCUniversal sued Group Black, a firm created to direct ad dollars to Black-owned media.
• The suit alleges Group Black owes NBCU $35.8 million, stemming from an ad partnership.
• “We dispute the claims made by NBCUniversal and intend to respond through the appropriate legal process,” Group Black said.

Comcast’s NBCUniversal has sued Group Black, a firm created to direct ad dollars to Black-owned and Black-led media, alleging it owes the media giant $35.8 million in unpaid invoices and guaranteed payments.

The suit, filed February 11 in New York Supreme Court, stems from a partnership that gave Group Black exclusive rights to sell ads in Black-led shows on NBCU’s streamer, Peacock, with Group Black and NBCU sharing the revenue.

“We dispute the claims made by NBCUniversal and intend to respond through the appropriate legal process,” Group Black said in a statement. “Group Black remains focused on its mission and serving its partners.”

NBCU has said that more than 30 brands signed on to the partnership in its first year, which began in September 2023. Group Black had predicted that NBCU would be its largest source of revenue in 2024, according to a board document dated November of that year, which was submitted in a separate court case.

NBCU’s lawsuit alleged that Group Black failed to fulfill the terms of the contract in the months after it began in September 2023, despite selling more than $30 million worth of advertising.

The suit alleged that in 2024, Group Black agreed to shift its revenue share to zero to pay down the shortfall. NBCU says in the lawsuit that it repeatedly demanded payment, and that Group Black cofounder Bonin Bough had acknowledged the company’s liability multiple times, emailing at one point that he took it “very seriously.”

The partnership ended in September 2025.

Group Black has faced internal and market challenges

Group Black was launched in 2021 after the George Floyd protests that led to a national reckoning and prompted big advertisers like Coca-Cola and Walmart to increase their spending on Black-owned media. In the years that followed, the company faced a mix of internal struggles, executive departures, and broader market challenges. It pivoted last summer to focus on a wider audience with the launch of a new venture, Portrait Media Group.

Group Black has faced other legal action alleging nonpayment. Two companies owned by Essence Ventures, part of a venture led by a second Group Black cofounder, Richelieu Dennis, sued Group Black in 2024, alleging it owed them about $20 million. Group Black said in a court filing that Essence loaned it money but otherwise denied the allegations in the suit. The suit is ongoing.

In another case, Audiomob, an ad agency that provided mobile app advertising inventory for Group Black to sell to its clients, demanded about $181,000 from Group Black for invoices it alleged the company had failed to pay. The suit was terminated in August after Audiomob sought dismissal, saying Group Black had made a “partial payment” of the money owed, per court filings.

• Ukraine’s internal security agency carried out two drone attacks inside Russia on Monday night, an official said.
• The SBU attacks targeted a major Black Sea oil terminal and a plant making components for explosives.
• They mark Ukraine’s latest long-range strikes as it continues to target Russian military and energy sites.

Ukraine carried out long-range drone attacks overnight against a key Black Sea oil terminal and a plant making components for explosives located deep inside Russia, a security official told Business Insider on Tuesday.

The twin attacks mark Ukraine’s latest long-range strikes and come as Kyiv’s forces continue to target facilities inside Russia that directly and indirectly help the country sustain its full-scale invasion.

Drones struck the Tamannaftogaz oil terminal in Russia’s Krasnodar region, hitting one of the largest ports in the Black Sea region, a source in the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) said. They were only authorized to speak on the condition of anonymity to discuss military operations.

The attack on the port, the second in less than a month, caused a fire at the facility, the source said, adding that the earlier Ukrainian drone strikes on January 22 damaged several tanks and pipelines at Tamannaftogaz, causing an estimated $50 million in losses. The facility is recognized as an important piece of Russian oil logistics in the Black Sea.

The source said that the SBU, Ukraine’s main internal security agency, “systematically” targets Russia’s energy and export infrastructure, striking at a major revenue source fueling Moscow’s war efforts against its neighbor.

Since August, Ukraine has intensified its long-range drone attacks on Russia’s energy sector, striking oil refineries, terminals, tankers, and platforms across the country, and in the Black, Caspian, and even the Mediterranean seas.

Ukrainian officials have repeatedly described the deep-strike campaign as “long-range sanctions” on Moscow. The attacks have led to a slight decline in Russian oil refining over the past year.

The deep strikes have also targeted other infrastructure associated with Russian military operations, including factories, weapons storage facilities, and air bases.

Overnight, for instance, Ukrainian drones struck the Metafrax Chemicals plant in the Perm region more than 1,600 kilometers (roughly 1,000 miles) inside Russia.

The sanctioned plant — one of the largest producers of methanol in Russia and Europe — is used to make chemical components for explosives and other military-related materials, the SBU source said. Several blasts were reported at the facility.

In a translated statement, the source said “the SBU continues to systematically work on enterprises that provide the Russian military-industrial complex with raw materials and components for the production of weapons.”

“The destruction of such objects reduces the pace of ammunition production, complicates the supply of resources for the army, and directly affects the reduction of the intensity of hostilities against Ukraine,” they added.

Neither Russia’s defense ministry nor its US embassy responded to a request for comment on the attacks. Moscow said its air defenses shot down 334 Ukrainian fixed-wing drones over the past 24 hours.

The two attacks overnight on Monday were carried out by the SBU’s Alpha group, an elite unit considered to be among the best of Ukraine’s special forces.

The Alpha group is regularly behind long-range drone attacks against Russian targets. Forces within the unit also carry out ground operations, including in eastern Ukraine’s embattled Donetsk region.

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian military said on Tuesday that it had carried out an attack on the Ilsky oil refinery in Russia’s Krasnodar region, which is not far from the Tamannaftogaz terminal that the SBU targeted.

“The defense forces of Ukraine will continue to systematically carry out measures aimed at weakening the combat potential of the Russian aggressor,” the military said in a statement published to the Telegram messaging app.

• OpenAI’s decision to retire GPT-4o has spurred user backlash.
• A petition to save GPT-4o has gathered over 20,000 signatures.
• Users expressed loyalty to GPT-4o’s unique style and threatened subscription cancellations.

Thousands of people are rallying behind a version of ChatGPT after its parent company, OpenAI, retired the model.

OpenAI said on January 30 that GPT-4o would be deprecated alongside three other versions of that model on February 13.

A petition calling on OpenAI to save GPT-4o has amassed roughly 21,900 signatures on Change.org as of Tuesday.

“For many of us, GPT-4o offers a unique and irreplaceable user experience, combining qualities and capabilities that we value, regardless of performance benchmarks,” the petition’s description says.

OpenAI wrote in a 2025 blog post that the model was known for “responses that were overly supportive but disingenuous.”

The company first set out to sunset GPT-4o last year, but fans pleaded to save it. In response, OpenAI brought the model back for several more months before its latest announcement.

The petition, created in April 2025 by Sophie Witt, reached 12,500 supporters two weeks ago, after OpenAI shared its latest plans to retire the model, and has continued to climb since.

On February 2, Witt called on supporters to take collective action against OpenAI’s decision by posting about GPT-4o on X.

Witt did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

OpenAI gave GPT-4o a shoutout in its January 30 blog post, saying that many users told the company they like the model’s “conversational style and warmth” last year. The ChatGPT maker said that feedback helped shape the GPT‑5.1 and GPT‑5.2 models.

The company cited low usage of GPT-4o as another reason for its retirement, reporting that only 0.1% of users still choose GPT‑4o.

The last time GPT-4o was retired, CEO Sam Altman was bombarded during an ask-me-anything session on Reddit with calls to reinstate it.

The calls for its return have been renewed through comments from social media users and petition signees. Some said it felt more like losing a friend than a feature. Other paying ChatGPT users said they’d be canceling their subscriptions in response to the retirement of GPT-4o.

“No 4o, no money. I will not spend another single penny on OpenAI,” one X user posted.

• New research lays out the threats Google’s Gemini poses to the AI trade.
• Tom Essaye, founder and president of the Sevens Report, is worried about Gemini taking market share from ChatGPT.
• He argues overall that Gemini changed how investors view spending on AI from hyperscalers.

While Anthropic’s Claude AI has snatched headlines recently for disrupting the software industry, one researcher says there’s perhaps an even bigger bogeyman lurking in tech.

Tom Essaye, founder and president of the Sevens Report, says Google’s Gemini threatens major potential disruptions to how investors currently see major AI firms.

In a note to clients on Tuesday, Essaye highlighted three risks posed by Gemini, in particular its November update.

The first is that it could take market share from OpenAI’s ChatGPT. That, in turn, could hurt OpenAi’s ability to deliver on the $1 trillion in spending it has promised to firms like Nvidia, he said.

Second, the fact that Google used its own chips to build Gemini could undermine the importance of large semiconductor providers.

“The reason that Nvidia, Broadcom, Taiwan Semi and others have exploded in recent years was because of insatiable demand for their semiconductor chips, as they are necessary to build out LLMs,” Essaye wrote. “Google making their own chips implies demand for chips from NVDA, AVGO and TSMC may be less than expected. That means less earnings growth and a lower multiple for semiconductor stocks.”

That leads to the third point: since Gemini is so effective and was cheaper to produce than other leading chatbots, investors are holding spending levels from hyperscalers to a higher degree of scrutiny, Essaye said.

“If Google can make Gemini as good as ChatGPT on its own chips, then others likely can as well. The fear is that AI becomes commoditized, making trillions of dollars in AI infrastructure investment foolish,” Essaye wrote.

“Put plainly, Gemini broke the idea that all money spent on AI was ‘good’ money that would result in earnings growth,” he continued. “Instead, it ushered in scrutiny to AI capex spending and that altered the paradigm AI/tech stocks existed in. Practically, that means it’s no longer the case that the company that spends the most on AI infrastructure ‘wins’ and we can see that in the market reaction to the collapse of mega-cap free cash flow.”

• The NFL is one of the biggest businesses in the world.
• Jerry Jones’ Dallas Cowboys are the most valuable sports team in the world, worth $13 billion.
• The New England Patriots have won six Super Bowls under owner Robert Kraft’s tenure.

Jody Allen just presided over a Super Bowl victory with the Seattle Seahawks’ win, but she may not preside over the team much longer.

Allen, the sister of the late Microsoft cofounder Paul G. Allen, owns the team as principal owner of the Paul G. Allen Trust, which took ownership following his death in 2018.

While she led the team to victory in Super Bowl LX — and was praised for her leadership — it might be her last hurrah with the team before selling it.

In January, ESPN reported that the Seahawks would be put up for sale after the Big Game, in line with Paul Allen’s wish to leave “the vast majority of his wealth” to philanthropic causes after his passing.

The NFL is one of the biggest businesses in the world, accounting for 30 of Forbes‘ top 50 sporting franchises of 2025.

And while star players and coaches are certainly deserving of credit for that fact, it’s often the owners who are responsible for the key decisions made by their franchise.

Kansas City Chiefs co-owner and CEO Clark Hunt, for example, hired head coach Andy Reid in 2013; the Chiefs have since appeared in five Super Bowls, winning three.

Owners aren’t only judged by their fanbases, though; they’re judged by the players, too. Last year, the NFL Players Association released its third annual club report cards, based on a survey completed by 1,695 active players.

One of the categories players were surveyed about was ownership, which was graded based on how willing players believe an owner is to invest in the team’s facilities, how much they contribute to a positive team culture, and how committed they are to building a competitive team. Each owner was given a letter grade ranging from an F- (0-49) to an A+ (97-100), which are included below.

Here’s everything you need to know about the NFL’s team owners, from how they acquired their team, to their NFLPA grade, to how the team’s performed during their tenure.

All owner net worths were accurate as of February 17, 2026.

Arizona Cardinals: Michael Bidwill

Michael Bidwill is a third-generation owner of the Arizona Cardinals, inheriting the team after his father, Bill Bidwill, died in 2019. Forbes estimated in 2015 that the family’s net worth was $1.4 billion.

The Cardinals were originally purchased by Michael Bidwill’s grandfather, Charles, in 1933 for $50,000 — now, they’re worth $5.5 billion, ranking as the 45th most valuable sports team in the world, per Forbes.

Under Michael Bidwill’s leadership, the team has made just one wild-card playoff appearance, which they lost in 2021, and he was given a D- by the NFL Players’ Association; the report said players feel that he “only slightly contributes to a positive team culture” and “is somewhat committed to building a competitive team.”

Meanwhile, a November 2023 investigation by ESPN detailed a number of workplace misconduct allegations from current and former Cardinals employees. Bidwill told the outlet in a statement that the team has “worked hard over the last several years to improve our culture across the board,” adding, “We have more to do and, as I have said to every member of the Cardinals organization, that includes my own work to grow and improve as a leader.”

The Cardinals did not respond to Business Insider’s request for comment.

Atlanta Falcons: Arthur Blank

Home Depot cofounder Arthur Blank, who Forbes estimates is worth $11.1 billion, purchased the Atlanta Falcons in 2002 for $545 million, famously writing the agreement on a cloth napkin during a December 2001 meeting with seller Taylor Smith. The sale was finalized just a couple of months later in February 2002.

Under Blank’s leadership, the Falcons have had nine winning seasons, including eight playoff berths and a Super Bowl LI appearance in 2017. Blank also built Mercedes-Benz Stadium and was named the 2021 Sports Philanthropist of the Year by ESPN. He was given an A+ ranking by the NFLPA.

Per Forbes, the Falcons are the 29th-most-valuable sports team in the world, worth $6.35 billion.

Baltimore Ravens: Steve Bisciotti

At 65, Allegis Group founder Steve Bisciotti, who Forbes estimates has a net worth of $8.5 billion, is one of the youngest owners in the NFL. He bought a minority stake from the previous owner, Art Modell, in 2000 and completed his purchase in April 2004, spending a total of $600 million, ESPN reported at the time.

“We’re proud of what we’re giving to Baltimore. You have to make the playoffs to have the opportunity to compete for championships, and championships are our goal. We want to be a consistent winner that avoids big lulls and not being in the playoffs for any length of time,” Bisciotti has said.

The Ravens have won two Super Bowls under Bisciotti (2000 and 2012) and are consistently competitive, posting one of the strongest postseason records in the NFL under Bisciotti’s ownership.

Forbes valued the team at $6.1 billion, ranking it 33rd most valuable in the world. Bisciotti received an A rating from the NFLPA.

Buffalo Bills: Terry and Kim Pegula

In October 2014, energy billionaire Terry Pegula, now estimated to have a net worth of $9.3 billion, purchased the Buffalo Bills with his wife, Kim Pegula, for $1.4 billion in cash, outbidding the likes of Donald Trump and Jon Bon Jovi.

In December 2024, Terry Pegula and the Bills added 10 limited partners to the team’s ownership group, described as “non-controlling, minority interests.” Some of these partners include former US National Team soccer player Jozy Altidore and former NBA players Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady.

The diversification of ownership came after Kim Pegula was declared legally incapacitated in March 2023 following a brain injury sustained during cardiac arrest in June 2022. Kim Pegula is still listed as a co-owner by the Bills organization, but her duties as president have been assumed by Terry Pegula, who maintains the titles of co-owner, CEO, and president.

During the Pegulas’ tenure, the Bills have become a formidable team, with eight playoff appearances, including the 2020 AFC Championship. The Pegulas also own the Buffalo Sabres in the NHL.

Forbes reported that the Bills are worth $5.95 billion, ranking them 37th among the world’s most valuable sports teams. Pegula was given a B in ownership by the NFLPA.

Terry and Kim Pegula are the parents of WTA No. 5 player Jessica Pegula.

Carolina Panthers: David Tepper

Billionaire hedge fund manager and philanthropist David Tepper purchased the Carolina Panthers in 2018 for $2.275 billion, ESPN reported. Tepper has an estimated net worth of $23.7 billion, according to Forbes.

“I am thrilled to begin this new era of Carolina Panthers football and am humbled by the overwhelming excitement and support for the team,” Tepper said at the time.

Under his ownership, the Panthers endured several losing seasons and missed the playoffs through 2024. In the 2025 season, Carolina finished 8-9, won the NFC South, and made its first playoff appearance since 2017.

The team is valued at $5.7 billion, making it the 40th-most-valuable team in the world, tied with the NBA’s Miami Heat, according to Forbes.

Tepper was given a D- in ownership by the NFLPA; in the report card, players expressed frustration over the stadium’s use of synthetic turf rather than natural grass. Players also said Tepper “only slightly contributes to a positive team culture” and is “only somewhat committed to building a competitive team.”

The Panthers did not respond to Business Insider’s previous request for comment.

Chicago Bears: The McCaskey family

In February 2025, the Chicago Bears announced the team’s longtime principal owner, Virginia Halas McCaskey, had died at age 102.

Her son, George McCaskey, has served as the team’s chairman since 2011, following the death of his brother, Michael McCaskey, and continues to serve in that role.

Halas McCaskey had been the oldest and longest-tenured team owner in the NFL, having inherited the team in 1983 after her father, Hall of Famer and Bears founder George Halas Sr., died.

Under her ownership, Halas McCaskey saw the Bears reach four NFC Championship Games and two Super Bowls, including a win in 1986. The team has struggled in recent years, finishing the 2024 season 5-12, but they had a stronger season this year, finishing with an 11-6 record and winning their first playoff game in 15 years.

The McCaskey family was awarded an A- in ownership by the NFLPA.

In 2015, Forbes estimated the McCaskey family had a net worth of $1.3 billion, and the team, which is worth $8.2 billion today, was reported to be the 10th most valuable sports team in the world in a tie with the MLB’s New York Yankees.

Cincinnati Bengals: Mike Brown

Mike Brown inherited the Cincinnati Bengals in 1991 after the death of his father, Hall of Fame coach Paul Brown.

Paul Brown founded the Bengals in 1967 after cofounding and coaching the Cleveland Browns (who, yes, bear his name) for more than a decade.

In 2011, the Brown family purchased the remaining 30% of the team they didn’t own for $200 million in cash, becoming the sole owners of the Bengals, the NFL reported, citing Forbes. Mike Brown and his family have an estimated net worth of $5 billion.

Mike Brown is the Bengals’ principal owner and team president. After decades of struggle, the Bengals found success in recent years thanks in part to quarterback Joe Burrow and wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase, who led the team to Super Bowl LVI in 2021, losing 23-20 to the LA Rams.

Mike Brown received a C ownership rating from the NFLPA.

Cleveland Browns: Jimmy and Dee Haslam

Former Pilot Company CEO Jimmy Haslam and his wife, Dee Haslam, purchased a 70% stake in the Cleveland Browns from Randy Lerner in 2012 for $1 billion. Jimmy Haslam has an estimated net worth of $8.7 billion, per Forbes.

Since the Haslams took over, the Browns have had just two winning seasons, in 2020 and 2023.

They were given a C+ ownership rating by the NFLPA and, per Forbes, the team is worth $6.4 billion, making it the 28th most valuable franchise in the world.

Dallas Cowboys: Jerry Jones

Jerry Jones is the man behind the most valuable sports franchise in the world — the Dallas Cowboys — worth $13 billion, per Forbes.

That’s more than 90 times what Jones paid for the team in 1989. (He paid H.R. Bright $140 million.) He and his family now have an estimated net worth of $20.1 billion, per Forbes.

In the decades that followed, the Cowboys won three Super Bowls (1992, 1993, and 1995), but they haven’t made it beyond the divisional round of the playoffs since.

Jones was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2017 — the 15th owner to receive such an award — and was given a B in ownership by the NFLPA in 2025.

Denver Broncos: Greg Penner

In August 2022, the Walton-Penner Family Ownership Group purchased the Denver Broncos from the Pat Bowlen Trust for $4.65 billion, the NFL reported.

The controlling ownership designation was transferred from Rob Walton — heir to the Walmart fortune — to his son-in-law, Broncos CEO Greg Penner (who’s married to Carrie Walton Penner), in October 2023. Rob Walton and his family have an estimated net worth of $142.5 billion, per Forbes.

Penner oversaw the hiring of Broncos head coach Sean Payton, who, alongside rookie quarterback Bo Nix, took the team to its first playoff game since its Super-Bowl-winning 2016 season.

The Broncos are tied with the Los Angeles Dodgers for the 18th-most-valuable sports team in the world, with a reported value of $6.8 billion.

The Walton-Penner family was given an A ownership ranking by the NFLPA.

Detroit Lions: Sheila Ford Hamp

Sheila Ford Hamp became the principal owner and chair of the Detroit Lions in June 2020, after inheriting the team from her mother, Martha Firestone Ford.

Firestone Ford had previously taken over the team in 2014 after the death of her husband, Bill Ford Sr., who’d purchased the Lions in 1963 for $6 million. In 2015, Forbes estimated the Ford family had a net worth of $2 billion.

Under Sheila Ford Hamp’s leadership, the Lions have entered an unprecedented era of success, thanks in large part to her hires, GM Brad Holmes and head coach Dan Campbell.

The Lions, valued at $5.4 billion, ranked 48th among the world’s most valuable sports franchises in 2025.

Sheila Ford Hamp received a B+ in ownership from the NFLPA in February 2025.

Green Bay Packers: Publicly owned

The Green Bay Packers are the only publicly owned team in the NFL.

Fans have owned the franchise for more than a century, and there have only been six stock offerings, the most recent being in 2021, with stocks worth $300. Per the Packers, the franchise is owned by more than 539,000 people who own more than 5.2 million shares.

The Packers are the 23rd most valuable sports team in the world, worth $6.65 billion, according to Forbes, and they were given an A- in ownership by the NFLPA.

And if you’re wondering how the team is actually run: It’s governed by an unpaid board of directors and a seven-member executive committee.

Houston Texans: Cal McNair

In 1999, the Houston Texans were founded by Janice and Bob McNair. When Bob McNair died in 2018, ownership was transferred to Janice. Then, in March 2024, it was transferred to their son, Cal McNair, via a vote. Per Forbes, Janice McNair and the family have an estimated net worth of $7.3 billion.

Cal McNair had already been serving as the team’s chair and CEO since July 2018 and January 2019, respectively.

The Texans finished the 2025 regular season 12-5 and defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 30-6 in the wild-card round of the playoffs before losing to the New England Patriots in the divisional round.

Forbes reported that the Texans are the 17th most valuable sports franchise in the world, worth $7.4 billion. Cal McNair was given an A ownership rating by the NFLPA in 2025.

Indianapolis Colts: Carlie Irsay-Gordon, Casey Foyt, and Kalen Jackson

Since June 2025, the Indianapolis Colts have been owned by Jim Irsay’s daughters — Carlie Irsay-Gordon, Casey Foyt, and Kalen Jackson — following the longtime owner’s passing in May 2025.

Carlie Irsay-Gordon is the team’s principal owner and CEO. Like her father, Irsay-Gordon worked her way through multiple areas of the Colts organization, like marketing, community relations, and football operations, before becoming CEO.

Their grandfather, Robert Irsay, originally purchased the team — then known as the Baltimore Colts — in 1972 for $12 million. He moved the team to Indianapolis in 1984.

In 1997, his son, Jim Irsay inherited the team at just 37 years old. He served as the team’s principal owner, chairman, and CEO during his life, and had an estimated net worth of $4.8 billion at his time of death.

Under Jim Irsay’s leadership, the Colts won 10 division titles and made two Super Bowl appearances, including a win in 2007.

The Colts are the 38th most valuable sports franchise in the world, in a tie with the Houston Rockets, worth $5.9 billion, and Irsay was given a B in ownership by the NFLPA in 2025.

Jacksonville Jaguars: Shahid “Shad” Khan

Shahid “Shad” Khan, who has an estimated net worth of $15.4 billion, purchased the Jacksonville Jaguars from Wayne Weaver in November 2011 for $770 million. The sale was finalized in January 2012.

The Jaguars have struggled under Khan’s leadership, making the playoffs only three times.

Still, he was given a B+ in ownership by the NFLPA, and the team is worth $5.6 billion, tying with the Brooklyn Nets as the 43rd most valuable franchise in sports, according to Forbes.

Kansas City Chiefs: The Hunt family

The Kansas City Chiefs have been owned by the Hunt family since the beginning. Lamar Hunt Sr. founded the team in 1959 as the Dallas Texans, and the team was moved to Kansas City in 1963. After Lamar Hunt Sr.’s death in 2006, ownership was divided between his wife, Norma, and their four children: Clark Hunt, Sharron Hunt Munson, Daniel Hunt, and Lamar Hunt Jr. As of 2024, the family has an estimated net worth of $24.8 billion, per Forbes.

Clark Hunt (pictured above with his wife and children) became the team’s CEO in 2010 and has since been responsible for team decisions, including the hiring of head coach Andy Reid in 2013.

Reid has since become the winningest head coach in franchise history with three Super Bowl victories alongside quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

Forbes ranked the Chiefs, worth $6.2 billion, as the 32nd most valuable franchise in sports.

Clark Hunt’s ownership rating rose from an F- in 2024 to a C- in 2025; in the report card, players said they feel he “moderately contributes to a positive team culture” and “is committed to building a competitive team.”

Las Vegas Raiders: Mark Davis

Mark Davis, who has an estimated net worth of $2.5 billion, inherited the Las Vegas Raiders (then the Oakland Raiders) in 2011 after the death of his father, Al Davis.

Al Davis originally purchased a 10% stake in the team in 1966 for $18,500 and increased his ownership to 67% before his death.

In October 2024, Mark Davis expanded the team’s ownership, selling 5% to former NFL quarterback Tom Brady, 5% to Knighthead Capital Management cofounder Tom Wagner, and 0.5% to former NFL defensive lineman Richard Seymour.

The following month, Davis agreed to sell an additional 15% of the franchise, with equal stakes going to Silver Lake co-CEO and Endeavor board chairman Egon Durban and Discovery Land Company founder and chairman Michael Meldman.

Despite the changes, Davis remains the team’s principal owner and was given an A rating by the NFLPA in February 2025. The Raiders are reportedly worth $7.7 billion, making them the 13th-most-valuable sports team in the world.

Los Angeles Chargers: Dean Spanos

In 2018, Dean Spanos became the principal owner of the Los Angeles Chargers (previously the San Diego Chargers) after the death of his father, Alex Spanos.

The elder Spanos had owned the team since 1984, after purchasing a 60% stake for $70 million, ESPN reported. He went on to buy out minority owners’ shares to own 97% of the team, which was passed on to his four children. In 2018, the Spanos family had an estimated net worth of $2.4 billion.

Dean Spanos took over daily operations as team president in 1994, and has passed along day-to-day duties to his sons, AG and John Spanos, who now work as president of business operations and president of football operations, respectively.

In October 2024, billionaire Tom Gores purchased a 27% stake in the team for $750 million.

The Chargers are tied with the Chicago Bulls and Mercedes (F1) as the 34th most valuable sports franchise in the world, worth $6 billion.

Spanos’ NFLPA ownership ranking improved from a C+ in 2024 to an A in 2025. In the latest report card, Spanos was given a 9.6/10 rating for his “perceived willingness to invest in the facilities”; players also said he “significantly contributes to a positive team culture” and is “extremely committed to building a competitive team.”

Los Angeles Rams: Stan Kroenke

In August 2010, Stan Kroenke paid $750 million to become the principal owner of the St. Louis Rams. He had previously been a minority owner of the team, purchasing a 30% stake in 1995 and increasing it to 40% stake by 1997.

In 2016, fellow NFL owners approved Kroenke’s proposal to move the Rams back to Los Angeles, and in 2021, he opened SoFi Stadium, home to both the Rams and the Chargers.

The LA Rams are worth $10.5 billion, according to Forbes, making them the third most valuable team in sports, behind the Dallas Cowboys and the Golden State Warriors, while Kroenke himself has an estimated net worth of $21.3 billion.

“Stan has the vision, resources, inspiration and creativity to create the right setting for the NFL in Los Angeles,” Jerry Jones has said, calling him “a valuable asset to the National Football League.”

Since 2010, the Rams have made seven playoff appearances, all under head coach Sean McVay. The Rams won the Super Bowl in 2022 at home at SoFi, becoming just the second team to win the Super Bowl at home.

Kroenke was given a C ownership rating by the NFLPA.

He also owns Premier League team Arsenal FC.

Miami Dolphins: Stephen M. Ross

In January 2009, billionaire Stephen M. Ross completed his purchase of the Miami Dolphins for a total of $1 billion. Ross had initially purchased a 50% stake in the franchise in February 2008 for $550 million, and the following January, he purchased an additional 45 percent of the team, leaving 5% to previous owner Wayne Huizenga, ESPN reported.

After his 2009 purchase, Ross said, “That is the most important thing, and the thing that drives me — creating and being part of a winning organization. There is nothing more important than that.”

Today, Ross is the chairman of the board, managing general partner, and owner of the team, which is worth a reported $7.5 billion, making it the 15th most valuable franchise in sports in a tie with the Los Angeles Clippers. Ross has an estimated net worth of $17 billion.

The Dolphins were the highest-ranked team in the league by the NFLPA, earning an A or A+ in all categories, including treatment of families, the locker room, weight room, training staff, head coach, and ownership. Ross himself earned an A+ ranking, one of only three owners to receive such high praise.

Minnesota Vikings: Zygi Wilf

In June 2005, Red McCombs sold the Minnesota Vikings to brothers Zygi and Mark Wilf, their cousin Lenny Wilf, and their co-investors for $600 million. Zygi Wilf is widely reported to have an estimated net worth of $1.3 billion, although it hasn’t been reported by Forbes.

Today, Zygi Wilf is the chairman and control owner of the team, though the trio’s individual stakes have never been divulged, Sport Business Journal reported.

The Vikings ranked as the second-best team in the NFL, according to the NFLPA’s 2025 report cards, earning A+ marks in ownership, head coach, locker room, and treatment of families.

Under the Wilfs’ ownership, the team opened US Bank Stadium in 2016 — the largest construction project in Minnesota’s history — and has made multiple playoff appearances, though the Vikings haven’t reached the Super Bowl since 1976.

The Vikings are the 31st most valuable team in sports, worth $6.25 billion, per Forbes.

New England Patriots: Robert Kraft

Robert Kraft is one of the best-known owners in the league. He purchased the New England Patriots in 1994 for $172 million and now has an estimated net worth of $13.8 billion.

Through the purchase, Kraft became the team’s chairman and CEO, and he pledged “to help bring a championship to New England.”

More than 30 years later, the Patriots have become one of the most successful teams in NFL history with six Super Bowl victories from 10 appearances.

Per Forbes, the Patriots are worth $9 billion — more than 52 times what Kraft bought the team for.

He received a D ownership ranking from the NFLPA. On the report card, Kraft was rated 6.15/10 for his “perceived willingness to invest in the facilities,” and players said he “slightly contributes to a positive team culture” and “is somewhat committed to building a competitive team.” Kraft announced that a new, $50 million training facility is expected to open this year.

The Patriots did not previously respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

New Orleans Saints: Gayle Benson

In 2018, Gayle Benson inherited the New Orleans Saints from her husband, Tom Benson, after his death. She has an estimated net worth of $7.9 billion, Forbes reported.

Tom Benson had previously purchased the team in 1985 for about $70 million.

In 2021, Gayle Benson told The Times-Picayune that after her death, the succession plan is to sell the Saints and the NBA’s New Orleans Pelicans (which she also owns) to a buyer who promises to keep the teams in New Orleans and donate all the proceeds to charities.

“When Tom bought this team, he didn’t have a lot of money. Everything that he had, had to be given to keep the team. He worked really hard to get the Pelicans here. He sacrificed a lot. I want to make sure that we keep the teams here. I want them to stay in New Orleans forever,” Benson said.

Benson was given an A ranking in ownership by the NFLPA. The Saints, worth $5.3 billion, did not make Forbes’ list of 50 most valuable sports teams in 2025, but it ranks 31st most valuable out of all 32 NFL teams.

New York Giants: John Mara, Steven Tisch

The New York Giants were founded in 1925 by Tim Mara and have been part of the Mara family ever since.

Team ownership was passed to Tim’s sons, Jack and Wellington Mara, in 1959, and now the team is run by principal owner, CEO, and president John Mara, who took over in 2005 after his father, Wellington’s, death. John Mara had been with the organization since 1991.

However, while John Mara is listed as the team’s principal owner, he’s actually shared ownership with Steve Tisch since 2005.

Steve Tisch’s father, Preston Robert Tisch, purchased a 50% stake in the Giants in 1991, and after his death, Steve became chairman and executive vice president.

Together, Mara and Tisch helped plan and build MetLife Stadium, and the team has won two Super Bowls (2008 and 2012) under their leadership. However, the team has struggled in recent years, winning just four games last season.

Still, the Giants are the fourth most valuable team in sports, worth $10.1 billion. Tisch has an estimated net worth of $1.6 billion, Forbes reported, while Mara reportedly has an estimated net worth of $500 million.

Tisch was not named in the 2025 report card; Mara was given a C+ ownership ranking by the NFLPA.

New York Jets: Robert Wood “Woody” Johnson

Woody Johnson — of Johnson & Johnson lineage — purchased the New York Jets in 2000 for $635 million. Forbes estimated in 2024 that the Johnson family had a net worth of $16 billion.

The Jets have struggled under his leadership, having failed to make the playoffs for the past 15 seasons. Johnson was also accused of letting his teenage sons, Brick and Jack, make decisions for the organization, as reported by The Athletic and ESPN’s Rich Cimini in 2024.

Johnson denied those claims in a January 2025 interview with the New York Post, telling the outlet they were “unsubstantiated” and that his son Brick “has no role in the organization.” Johnson added, “When you’re losing games, it gives people the artistic license to kind of do what they want.”

When reached by Business Insider for a comment in January 2025, a representative for the Jets shared the earlier comments made to the New York Post.

The Jets finished the 2025 season 3-14 and will be looking to greatly improve under new head coach Aaron Glenn and new GM Darren Mougey, and without quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who was released by the team in February 2025.

Johnson’s ownership ranking declined from a B- in 2024 to an F in 2025. In the report card, players said they feel he “does not contribute to a positive team culture” and is “somewhat committed to building a competitive team.” The Jets declined to comment on the rating when reached by Business Insider.

Still, the team is considered the 12th most valuable franchise in sports, worth $8.1 billion, per Forbes.

Philadelphia Eagles: Jeffrey Lurie

Businessman Jeffrey Lurie purchased the Philadelphia Eagles in 1994 for $185 million. He now serves as the team’s chairman and CEO, and he and his family have an estimated net worth of $7.6 billion, according to Forbes.

Under his leadership, the Eagles have made the playoffs numerous times and won two of their four Super Bowl appearances.

Lurie received a B ranking from the NFLPA, and the team is worth $8.3 billion, per Forbes, making it the ninth-most-valuable franchise in sports.

Pittsburgh Steelers: Arthur Rooney II, Daniel Rooney Trust

Similar to the Mara family and the Giants, the Pittsburgh Steelers have been part of the Rooney family since 1933, when the team was founded by Art Rooney. He remained the team’s chairman until his death in 1988.

After his death, his son Dan Rooney took over ownership until his death in 2017.

Now, Dan’s son, Art Rooney II, is responsible for most of the franchise’s stake. However, he’s been an active member of the organization since 1989, when he was first on the team’s board of directors. He was named president of the Steelers in 2003.

Since 2017, the Steelers have made six playoff appearances, though they’ve failed to get past the divisional round. Despite recent difficulties, the Steelers remain one of the most successful franchises in NFL history, with six Super Bowl wins from eight appearances.

The Steelers are the 26th most valuable team in sports in a tie with Ferrari (F1), worth $6.5 billion. In 2015, Forbes reported that the Rooney family had an estimated net worth of $1.2 billion.

Art Rooney II received a D in the NFLPA’s ownership ranking. He was given a 6/10 for his “perceived willingness to invest in the facilities,” and players feel he “slightly contributes to a positive team culture” and is “committed to building a competitive team.”

The Steelers did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

San Francisco 49ers: The York family

In 1977, Edward DeBartolo Sr. paid $13 million for the San Francisco 49ers to give to his son, Edward DeBartolo Jr.

Edward DeBartolo Jr. ran the 49ers organization throughout the ’80s and ’90s, leading to five Super Bowl wins and securing his position in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. But in 1998, DeBartolo pleaded guilty “to not reporting a bribe from a Louisiana government official,” Forbes reported, so his sister, Denise DeBartolo York, took over ownership in 2001. DeBartolo Jr. was pardoned by Donald Trump in February 2020.

DeBartolo York and her husband, John York, have been cochairs of the team since then, while their son, Jed York, has been CEO since 2010.

In March 2024, ESPN reported that Jed York was moving to become the team’s principal owner. “I think it’s just a move from a family standpoint to just keep this team in our family for generations to come,” he said, per ESPN.

Though the team hasn’t won a Super Bowl since 1994, it has remained competitive. In the last six seasons, the 49ers have made four NFC Championship and two Super Bowl appearances.

The 49ers are the eighth most valuable franchise in sports, worth $8.4 billion, and the DeBartolo-York family received an A- in ownership from the NFLPA. They have an estimated net worth of $8.4 billion.

Seattle Seahawks: Paul G. Allen Trust, Jody Allen

The Seattle Seahawks are owned by the Paul G. Allen Estate.

Paul G. Allen was the cofounder of Microsoft alongside Bill Gates. He purchased the Seahawks in 1997 for $194 million.

At the time of his death in 2018, he had an estimated net worth of $20.3 billion. His estate has since been controlled by his sister, Jody Allen. In July 2024, Sports Illustrated reported she is the team’s principal owner and that there’s a “mandate that she eventually sells the team and donates the proceeds to charitable causes” that Paul Allen supported.

Other members of the Seahawks’ senior leadership include president Chuck Arnold and GM John Schneider.

The Seahawks have been steady since 2018, making multiple playoff appearances and, in the 2025 season, they won the Super Bowl on what was their first NFC Championship and Super Bowl berth since 2014.

The team is valued at $6.7 billion by Forbes, making it tied with the Boston Celtics for 21st most valuable sports franchise. Jody Allen was given a C+ in ownership.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The Glazer Family

Ownership of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is split between the six siblings of the Glazer family: Avram Glazer, Bryan Glazer, Darcie Glazer Kassewitz, Edward Glazer, Joel Glazer, and Kevin Glazer.

The team was purchased by their father, Malcolm Glazer, in 1995 for $192 million, and they inherited it after his death in 2014. As of 2024, the Glazer family has an estimated net worth of $10.2 billion.

The NFLPA’s team report card gave the family a D+ in ownership, a slight improvement from 2024’s D- ranking. Players feel the family “slightly contributes to a positive team culture” and “is somewhat committed to building a competitive team.” The report also gave the family a 6.5/10 rating for “perceived willingness to invest in the facilities.”

The Buccaneers did not respond to a previous request for comment from Business Insider.

The Buccaneers have won two Super Bowls (2003 and 2021) under the Glazer family and are worth $6.6 billion, according to Forbes, making the team the 24th highest valued franchise in the world in a tie with Manchester United, which is also owned by the Glazer family.

Tennessee Titans: Amy Adams Strunk

Amy Adams Strunk, who has an estimated net worth of $2.8 billion, is the controlling owner and cochair of the Tennessee Titans, having inherited the team in March 2015 after the death of her father, KS “Bud” Adams, in 2013. (Adams founded the team as the Houston Oilers in 1960.)

Since 2015, the Titans have had six winning seasons, including five playoff berths.

As an owner, Adams Strunk has worked to increase the team’s staff by more than 150% and has been a key figure in getting approval for a new stadium, the Titans reported. She was awarded a B in ownership by the NFLPA, and the team is ranked as the 30th-most-valuable sports franchise, worth $6.3 billion, per Forbes.

Washington Commanders: Josh Harris

In 2023, investor Josh Harris purchased the Washington Commanders from Dan Snyder for a record $6.05 billion. He made the purchase through the Harris Ownership Group, which includes limited partners like former NBA star Magic Johnson, investor David Blitzer, and former Google CEO Eric Schmidt.

“I feel an awesome responsibility to the city of Washington,” Harris said after the sale, per ESPN. “I know what I’ve got to do. It comes down to winning. It’s on me and on our ownership group to deliver. That’s what we’re going to do.”

Harris has an estimated net worth of $10.7 billion, per Forbes.

Harris was given an A in ownership by the NFLPA after his second season with the team. The Commanders are the 14th most valuable franchise in sports, worth $7.6 billion, per Forbes.

In the 2024 season, the Commanders made their first NFC Championship since 1992 under the leadership of head coach Dan Quinn and rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels.

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Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion or consoling a loved one, there’s no doubt that chocolate is the answer. The best chocolate brings joy, conveys love, heals heartache, and forges connections. As a chocolatier, I know that the best chocolate is rich in flavor and almost too beautiful to eat.

To choose the best chocolates, I used my experience as a professional chocolatier and tested options from over 40 brands for flavor, appearance, and texture. My favorite brand for gifts is La Maison du Chocolat, a standout for its luxurious recipes and elegant packaging. I also love Compartés, a brand known for its innovative and joy-filled candy bar creations.

My career revolves around chocolate: from training at the Culinary Institute of America and the Chocolate Academy, in Chicago to working at EHChocolatier, a Massachusetts-based artisanal chocolate producer. I’m confident that these are the best boxed chocolates money can buy, delivered right to your door (or the lucky recipient’s). Trust me, I’m a chocolatier.

Our top 5 picks for the best chocolates

Best for gifts: La Maison du Chocolat

La Maison du Chocolat’s understated luxury, meticulous French elegance, and unparalleled quality, make it a great fit for any fortunate recipient on any occasion. There is an undeniable wow factor to all of La Maison du Chocolat’s products, and it comes down to impressive craftsmanship — no glitter necessary. A deep burgundy box, tied closed with a chocolate-brown ribbon, sets the stage for the refined, clean lines of the bonbons carefully arranged inside. The minimalist packaging, free of glassine cups or plastic trays, feels surprisingly lavish and robust. The focus is on the chocolate itself, and it’s utter perfection.

To make a strong impression with future in-laws and new neighbors, I’d reach for one of the brand’s Gesture Gift Boxes, an assortment of delicate rectangles filled with flavored ganaches like juicy raspberry and rich Ethiopian coffee. To express sincere gratitude to a mentor or lifeline coworker, a box of rustic, cocoa-dusted, Cognac-scented truffles will do the trick. And for a host gift, I recommend a box of assorted pralines, filled with smooth hazelnut gianduja and crispy, toasty rochers.

For a more modest treat, La Maison du Chocolat offers a Snacks & Treats collection, with hearty candy bars, rustic barks, chocolate-covered nuts, and candied orange peels. If you’re looking to really make a grand gesture, the brand’s Parisian Hatboxes — curated gift baskets filled with carefully selected boxes — will make a memorable statement.

Worth a try:

Best candy bars: Compartés

Compartés seamlessly draws upon familiar flavors and tailors them to fun, stylish candy bars. Take, for example, The Donuts & Coffee bar, which is adorned with bits of real glazed buttermilk donuts, crispy coffee donut crumble, and finely ground coffee. That’s just one of the nearly 70 flavors to choose from, and all come in beautiful packaging that makes for great gifting.

One of my favorites of the best chocolate bars was the Cookies & Cream bar, which draws on a crowd-favorite flavor but uses an elegant blend of dark and white chocolate to control sweetness. I also loved the Strawberry Shortcake bar, which whimsically mixes jammy, tart, bite-sized strawberries and crumbles of buttery shortcake into a strawberry-flavored, rosy-hued white chocolate. There’s even a plethora of vegan options.

Worth a try:

Best for gourmands: Dandelion Chocolate

Food nerds rejoice: San Francisco-based Dandelion Chocolate, most known for its single-origin chocolate bars, has expanded into bean-to-bonbon confections. Much like a wine, beer, or spirit flight, the brand offers curated collections of bars, truffles, caramels, and pralinés for an immersive, experiential tasting. These flights showcase how terroir and added ingredients shape flavor and texture, pairing remarkable artistry with thoughtful storytelling. Each set feels deluxe, with gold-accented packaging and thoughtfully compiled tasting notes.

The 85% Three-Bar Gift Set reveals bold contrasts and subtle nuances between origins. Whether you’re just discovering your inner gourmand or a seasoned gastronome, you’ll appreciate the detailed tasting tips and origin maps guiding your chocophile adventure. The truffle flight transforms each single-origin chocolate into ganache, enrobed in its matching couverture. The addition of cream to each chocolate draws out the existing flavors for the curious connoisseur to savor. For example, Dandelion’s chocolate from Kokoa Kamili, Tanzania delivers bright notes of plum with tangy dairy on its own. In ganache form, it reveals more tropical fruit, richer creme fraiche-like tang, and subtle floral aromas. Tumaco, Colombia’s bar, is fudgy with hints of caramel and sweet almond. Its truffle counterpart is softer, with silky dulce de leche taking center stage.

For the ingredient geeks, the caramel flight pairs Tumaco chocolate with caramels crafted from five different sugars from around the world: Brazilian cane, Southeast Asian palm, Indian jaggery, Japanese Okinawa black sugar, and Caribbean muscovado. Each sugar lends its own striking aroma, flavor, and texture to the rich caramel filling, harmonizing with the fudgey cacao in distinct ways.

The Single-Origin Praliné Collection pairs five different cacao origins with complementary nut and seed pâtes. Espelette-spiced quicos-almond praline stands up to vibrant Tanzanian chocolate, without steamrolling its cherished flavors. Candied hazelnut and coffee praline deepens the Colombian chocolate’s caramel richness.

Worth a try:

Best bean-to-bar: Goodnow Farms

Bean-to-bar chocolate refers to when a single producer controls the entire chocolate-making process, from harvest to finished product. Think of chocolate like wine, and cacao beans like grapes. A bean-to-bar maker is like a winemaker who, rather than buying grapes from numerous vineyards or purchasing pressed must, oversees the cultivation, harvest, fermentation, aging, and bottling themselves to shape every aspect of flavor. Goodnow Farms is the chocolate equivalent of a gold-standard, estate-driven wine producer.

As with grapes, the flavor of chocolate made from a regional strain of cacao is molded by the terroir where it’s grown and the details of its production. Goodnow builds direct-trade relationships with farmers around the world, ensuring 100% traceability and ethical labor practices. The brand roasts and processes the beans and its Massachusetts facility. Where most producers blend neutral, deodorized cocoa butter of anonymous origins into their chocolate, Goodnow presses its own cocoa butter from the same beans. This preserves the integrity and character of each origin’s flavor for a truly authentic single-origin product.

The result: superb chocolate. When tasting a bean-to-bar, I look for complexity, balanced acidity, and a melt-in-your-mouth texture, all of which Goodnow consistently delivers. Thanks to its house-pressed cocoa butter, all of its bars are silky, approachable, and deeply satisfying.

While most bean-to-bar producers stop there, Goodnow Farms goes a step further. It pairs each cacao’s flavors with complementary ingredients through collaborations with like-minded producers. Highlights include an astounding Caramelized Onion bar, created with Burlap & Barrel, using caramel-forward Nicaraguan 77% chocolate. The jammy, fruity Ecuadorian 70% chocolate, blended with Boston Harbor Distillery’s Putnam Rye Whiskey, evoked the finish of a cocktail garnished with a Luxardo cherry.

Worth a try:

Best budget: Chocolove

Chocolove, a Boulder-based company, prides itself on providing “affordable luxury.” At budget-friendly prices, Chocolove somehow offers high-quality flavor and texture, sustainability, and even ethical sourcing. It uses non-GMO ingredients, including cacao beans traceable down to the farmer, to ensure premium chocolate bars at a fair price.

I felt like the elegant Cherries & Almonds in Dark Chocolate bar was a decadent dessert worthy of its own plate and white tablecloth. With Belgian-trained Master Chocolatier Patrick Peeters at the helm, Chocolove continues to provide exquisite chocolate bars of the highest caliber — at the lowest prices.

Worth a try:

Best for nut lovers: See’s Candies

The sweet and savory flavors developed from roasting cacao beans make chocolate the ideal “plus one” to any toasted nut. See’s Candies has perfected the craft. A coating of good chocolate draws out the natural sweetness of almonds, pistachios, and pecans; coaxes the fatty richness of cashews, macadamia nuts, and hazelnuts; and embraces the slight bitterness of walnuts and pine nuts.

See’s Candies, founded in 1921, has a vintage, old-timey feel with black and white checkered packaging and classic confections included in its arrangements, such as Dark Scotchmallows. It has an entire collection of “Nuts & Chews” for those devoted to nut-bejeweled chocolates. Toffee-ettes are small nuggets of Danish butter toffee and roasted almonds coated in milk chocolate and rolled in more crunchy almonds.

See’s also offers less conventional options for the more daring nut enthusiasts that you can put together in your own custom arrangement. Consider the CA Crunch, a flakey brittle center with peanuts and peanut butter enrobed in white chocolate and covered with chopped English walnuts.

Worth a try:

Most kid-friendly: Tony’s Chocolonely

When choosing chocolate fit for kids, I want a quality brand with approachable flavors, whimsical packaging, and easy-to-portion treats. Tony’s Chocolonely offers all of that, and much more. Founded in protest against child exploitation and slave labor (which remains disturbingly common in the chocolate industry), Tony’s Chocolonely is an ethics-first company. What better way to introduce kids to ethical consumerism than with the most delightful incentive imaginable: chocolate. Tony’s leads by example with its 5 Sourcing Principles: traceable beans, high prices paid to farmers, partner cooperatives, long-term partnerships, and investment for sustainable growth.

Ethics lessons aside, the bright wrappers, playful font, and Fairtrade-certified chocolates are an instant hit with all ages. Irregularly sized, cattywampus pieces to portion off chocolate bars give an intentionally imperfect, lighthearted aesthetic. Creamy, dreamy milk chocolate will win over even the fussiest of the bunch, while inventive flavors like the Everything Bar — featuring caramel, pretzel, almond, nougat, and sea salt — act as playful gateways, subtly encouraging young (and not-so-young) eaters to explore new textures and flavors.

Tiny Tony’s, individually wrapped mini bars, are perfect for lunch boxes (or purse snacks, ahem). Lil’ Bits are chocolate-coated candy bites with fillings like crunchy caramel, buttery cookie, graham cracker, and fluffy marshmallow. The options are endless, so you are sure to find something for even the pickiest of palates.

Worth a try:

Best bonbons: Cacao & Cardamom

A bonbon is a small chocolate-coated confection filled with fruits, nuts, or luscious ganache. A good bonbon should have a thin, flawless shell free of blemishes or chalky white “bloom.” It must be visually enticing, hinting at the flavor journey within. Most importantly, it should deliver balanced, thoughtfully textured, and flavorful fillings with no air pockets or leaks. It’s a tall order to ask for a single bite of candy, but our favorite maker, Cacao & Cardamom, steps up with style, intrigue, and worldly sophistication.

Each brilliant chocolate is meticulously lacquered with vivid cocoa butter, its design reflecting the filling inside. Beneath the surface, layers of jewel-toned, jammy, creamy, bold, and balanced fillings deliver a fully composed dessert in one to two bites. Inspired by Houston-based founder Annie Rupani’s South-Asian heritage and extensive global travels, Cacao & Cardamom turns to chiles, spices, leaves, flowers, and berries to tell a story. She evokes a sense of adventure and celebrates cultural traditions.

Flavors like Five Spice Praline, with fennel, Szechuan peppercorns, and star anise over crisp hazelnut praline, and Cardamom Rose with warm, herbal green cardamom and a touch of rose water, offer uncharted culinary experiences. New releases like Knafeh Kisses, a cheeky nod to the trending “Dubai Bar,” keep the devoted cacao fiends coming back for more. Even nostalgic classics like S’mores and Turtle Caramel get their moment, proving there’s something for every kind of bonbon lover.

Cross-country chocoholics, rest assured. Every order from Cacao & Cardamom is carefully packed and shipped with care to ensure their labors of love arrive as pristine as they left.

Worth a try:

Best caramels: Fran’s

Caramels come in all shapes and sizes, firmnesses, colors, degrees of bitterness and butteriness, and with all types of garnishes. Naming the best chocolate with caramel was no easy task, but I found that Fran’s Chocolates caramels offer the “pull,” deliberate chew, and strategic salting that a great caramel should possess.

Like the perfect bagel or pizza crust, a caramel needs to have just the right amount of chew — not too hard, not too soft. Secondly, salt is great in moderation. It highlights the burnt sugar notes and cuts through the rich, buttery flavor of the confection. However, salt applied with a heavy hand makes for an unpleasant surprise; it stomps out nuanced flavors and tramples on the chocolate coating.

Fran Bigelow, founder of Fran’s Chocolates, was inspired by a trip to Paris and has since been dedicated to sharing the joie de vivre philosophy through exceptional confections. This Seattle-based candy producer features Fair Trade-certified chocolate to complement, not overshadow, the caramel’s delicate yet luxurious buttery flavor.

Worth a try:

Best subscription: Chocolate of the Month Club

Monthly subscriptions are available for just about anything: flower bouquets, recipe kits, smoked meats, gifts in a box, and yes, you guessed it, chocolate. Subscriptions are a fun, interactive way to learn more about a specific product through exposure and experience. When searching for the best chocolate subscription, we considered each brand’s selection, how the items are made, the brand’s chocolate sustainability and trade models, and opportunities to learn more about chocolate while enjoying our deliveries.

The Gourmet Chocolate of the Month Club provided through monthlyclubs.com works with professionals at the esteemed Zingerman’s Delicatessen in Ann Arbor, Michigan to offer a curated assortment of chocolates, including bonbons and bars. Zingerman’s prides itself on a thorough product selection that sources chocolates from international, small-batch chocolatiers.

It’s noteworthy and respectable that these chocolates are sourced from eco-friendly, fair-trade producers you can feel good about supporting. Past boxes have even included some of our top picks mentioned above. Best of all, each delivery comes with an educational newsletter containing tasting notes, background reading material, and product information, so you’ll get more out of your subscription than just really really delicious chocolate.

Buy from monthlyclubs.com

Best vegan: Neuhaus

Vegan chocolate bars are a dime a dozen nowadays. After all, dark chocolate is innately dairy-free. But creating rich, creamy fillings without the dairy is a whole other feat, and Neuhaus Belgian Chocolates rises to the challenge. Its vegan bonbons, filled with impossibly velvety caramel in a variety of flavors, rival butter- and cream-laden counterparts. Silky ganaches burst with distinctive, bold notes, like the yuzu and ginger or Earl Grey tea and mandarin. Each confection is decorated with a simple yet elegant disc of chocolate in warm, earthy tones, its hue hinting at the flavors within.

Neuhaus achieves these decadent, dairy-free fillings against all odds by masterfully using natural, recognizable ingredients like chickpea protein, pea protein, and coconut oil in place of the milk fats and protein found in dairy.

Its dairy-free options extend beyond the designated vegan bonbon collection. The Carré Origin box features individually wrapped, delicately thin tiles of divine chocolate sourced from around the world. Neuhaus also offers dark chocolate enrobed toasted almonds and bittersweet orange peels, further proving that indulgence without dairy is not only possible — it’s exceptional.

Worth a try:

How we test chocolate

While I am a chocolatier, I’ve lived previous lives in both scientific research and recipe development. My education in the hard sciences, the savory culinary arts, and my work as a chocolatier have all been in preparation for the daunting task of selecting the best chocolates. I cut no corners and left no truffle unturned.

I started by reading about top brands in the chocolate industry, then taste-tested countless confections, evaluating their flavors, textures, and presentation. In all, I sampled more than 100 products from 45 brands for this guide. Here is how I tested:

Consideration	Notes
Flavor	Growing conditions of cacao impact the flavor, as do ingredients used to make confections. Rancid chocolate will have a soapy or cheesy flavor
Freshness	Chocolates should taste and look fresh. They should be free from a chalky or overly dry mouthfeel, with no signs of melting and re-solidifying
Texture	Correctly tempered chocolate should be firm and “snap” when bitten into and melt smoothly
Presentation	Packaging must protect the chocolates and be beautiful as a gift

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The 2026 Milano Cortina Games gather the world’s best Winter sports athletes in Italy for a couple of weeks of high-adrenaline competition. It’s can’t-miss entertainment, but the viewing options and schedule get a bit complicated. That’s why we’ve scoured the internet to compile all the details on tuning into the Games, including where to watch the Winter Olympics and a breakdown of the upcoming schedule.

The Winter Olympics are now entering their final week. While many sports have already completed their medal events, there are still several can’t-miss upcoming podium moments. Among the most-anticipated events are the ice hockey medal games. While the men’s tournament is currently in the playoffs, the women’s teams have been decided for both the bronze and gold medal games. Canada and the USA will once again square off in the women’s final, a repeat of the 2022 Beijing Olympics match-up. In addition to snowboarding and curling coverage, there are also still several skiing events, including the brand-new ski mountaineering (“skimo”) event, which joins the Olympic roster for the first time this year.

Keep reading to learn about tuning in around the world, including free streaming options. If you scroll to the very bottom of this story, you can find a massive schedule of every medal event taking place over the next few days.

Where to watch the Winter Olympics in the US

In the US, NBCUniversal holds the rights to the Olympics. Coverage will be broadcast across NBC, along with USA Network and CNBC. Some events will be shown live, while others will air in primetime on a delay. Even if you have cable, we recommend signing up for Peacock, since it’s the official hub for the Olympics and covers all Winter Olympics sports live (including several training events).

Olympic-friendly Peacock plans include Premium, which costs $11 a month, and Premium Plus, which costs $17 a month. The two tiers offer the same Olympic content, and the main difference between the plans is that Premium offers ad-supported on-demand streaming, which Premium Plus unlocks ad-free on-demand streaming and a 24/7 live stream of your local NBC station.

If you’re looking for something with additional channels beyond just those owned by NBCUniversal, then one of the best live TV streaming services might be of interest. You can learn more in our guide on how to watch NBC. Just keep in mind that NBC channels are currently missing from Fubo.

DirecTV is the best overall cable alternative we’ve tested, and the streamer carries NBC, USA, and CNBC in several of its plans. Signature subscriptions start at $90 a month for the Entertainment plan, but these channels are also available in the cheaper MySports genre pack. At $70 a month, this plan is a sports lover’s dream, with around 20 key sports networks and ESPN Unlimited access. All DirecTV plans come with a five-day free trial for new customers.

Sling TV is another solid live TV streaming option and offers a more budget-minded approach. Local channels, like NBC, vary by region on Sling, so you’ll want to check what’s available in your ZIP code before signing up. If you have access to NBC, you’ll need to sign up for Sling Select or Sling Blue. Sling Select (10+ channels) costs $25 a month when local networks are available. Sling Blue (40+ channels) costs $50 a month when local networks are available. Sling Blue also carries the USA Network, so it’s your best bet for tuning into additional Olympics coverage outside the main NBC broadcasts.

Where to watch the Winter Olympics in Canada

In Canada, coverage of the Winter Olympics will be available through CBC. This means viewers can catch up with coverage live and on demand through CBC Gem, a free streaming option.

Where to watch the Winter Olympics in the UK

Select Olympics coverage will be available on the BBC in the UK, meaning fans will be able to live stream events for free via BBC iPlayer. British viewers with a valid TV license just need to create an iPlayer account if they don’t already have one, and then they’re all set to start watching. Like the Summer Olympics in 2024, comprehensive Olympic coverage is available through a paid service. This year, that’s Discovery Plus. Sports-centric subscriptions start at £31 a month, although Olympics coverage should be available in all tiers.

Where to watch the Winter Olympics in Italy

Unsurprisingly, the host nation has a bounty of coverage. The Olympics are available on RAI in Italy, which means Italians can live stream select coverage for free on RaiPlay. Users just need to register an account if they don’t already have one, and then they’re all set to start watching. Olympic coverage is also available through paid HBO Max subscriptions in Italy.

Where to watch the Winter Olympics in Australia

The Winter Olympics are being shown on Channel 9 in Australia and available to live stream via 9Now. This is a free streaming option, which only requires account creation to use. Full Olympic coverage will be available through Stan Sport, which costs $32 a month ($12 for the base plan and another $20 for the Sport option).

How to watch the Winter Olympics from anywhere

If you’ll be away from somewhere like Australia or the UK during the Olympics and are still hoping to access your free streaming option, you can do so with the help of a VPN. These virtual private networks are handy tech tools that let you temporarily change your device’s virtual location, enabling you to use your favorite websites from anywhere. They’re extra popular among those looking to keep up with their usual apps while traveling abroad and upgrade their cybersecurity.

NordVPN is one of the best VPNs on the market, thanks to its user-friendliness and 30-day money-back guarantee. You can learn more about the service in our official NordVPN review.

When are the Opening and Closing Ceremonies?

The Opening Ceremony took place on February 6 at 2 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. GMT / 3 a.m. AWST (February 7 in Australia). The star-studded event marked the official start of the Winter Olympics, although select events began on February 4. The Closing Ceremony is scheduled for February 22 at around 3 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. GMT / 4 a.m. AWST (February 23 in Australia). The same viewing options that allowed you to watch the Opening Ceremony should also carry broadcasts/streams of the Closing Ceremony. Both ceremonies typically last multiple hours.

When are the 2026 Paralympics?

The Paralympic Winter Games will be held from March 6 to 15, 2026. Many of the services that carry Olympic coverage will also carry Paralympic coverage. Events include Para Alpine Skiing, Para Biathlon, Para Cross-Country Skiing, Para Ice Hockey, Para Snowboard, and Wheelchair Curling (which begins on March 4).

Winter Olympics Schedule: Upcoming Medal Events

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

• Russia is increasingly arming a top jet with much longer-range missiles than it used to carry, an airpower analyst assessed.
• That makes them a much more credible threat to NATO aircraft in a potential conflict, the expert said.
• Russia’s fight in Ukraine is improving its crews and defenses, making it more dangerous, he said.

Russia’s Su-35 fighter jets are increasingly flying with longer-range air-to-air missiles that make them a potentially greater threat to NATO air operations, a leading airpower expert assessed in a recent report.

Justin Bronk, a researcher at the UK-based Royal United Services Institute, said in his assessment of Russian air power that regularly arming Su-35 and Su-30SM2 jets with R-37M missiles “has significantly contributed to increasing the threat that they can theoretically pose to NATO air operations.”

The R-37M missile, which NATO calls the RS-AA-13, is “much more capable at long range” than the R-77-1 missiles the Su-35 had previously relied on, Bronk told Business Insider in a discussion of his recent report.

R-77-1 missiles have a range of about 62 miles, while R-37M missiles are understood to have a range of around 200 miles. Real-world kills at range depend on a mix of factors, but reach still matters.

Bronk told Business Insider that the longer-range R-37M missiles had been “very much a specialist weapon” for a limited selection of Russian jets. But “now you see absolutely routine employment” of the weapon on Russia’s Su-35S.

The Su-35 fighter is “the primary air superiority aircraft for the Russians,” he added. The jet is key for Russia’s air force, with the UK Ministry of Defence in 2023 describing it as Russia’s “most advanced combat jet in widespread service.”

Bronk told Business Insider that for the NATO alliance, the regular arming of Su-35s and Su-30SM2s with the R-37M is “a problem” because it puts “more credible long-range air-to-air missiles at play from the Russian side.”

Those missiles used to be contained within a smaller part of the force, mainly Russia’s MiG-31s. Now, Bronk said, having them on more jets “is obviously a significant growth in the potential threat that they can pose to NATO aircraft in a direct conflict.”

Additionally, he said, Russia’s Su-35 crews are “generally more highly selected, better trained, more capable than the crews on the MiG-31s.” Russia’s better pilots tend to fly its top jets, and those will be the pilots operating these missiles.

Having them routinely carry long-range air-to-air missiles, rather than the “really pretty limited” R77-1 that they used to carry, Bronk said, “is a significant shift.”

A missile with a longer reach

The R-37M’s combat effectiveness has been spotlighted by Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which began in February 2022.

Late that year, a RUSI report said the R-37M, combined with Russia’s MiG-31BM interceptor aircraft, was proving to be “highly effective and difficult for Ukrainian pilots to evade due to its speed, very long range, and specialized seeker for low-altitude targets.”

At that time, it said Russia was just starting to put them on Su-35S jets.

A newer report from RUSI in November highlighted how much more the R-37M missile was being used, saying that this missile “in particular, has been used to destroy several Ukrainian aircraft at long range,” including one kill recorded at more than 109 miles.

“This is significantly beyond the engagement range of most NATO air-to-air munitions,” the report said. But it also said that the missiles’ success was “heavily determined by Ukraine’s lack of effective radar warning receivers,” something NATO has fielded far more robustly across its air forces.

The Su-35 threat

Making the Su-35 more powerful is a big move for Russia. In 2022, analysts at the RAND Corporation described the Su-35 as Russia’s “signature heavy fighter.”

Ukraine has shot down multiple Su-35s in its fight against Russia’s invasion, but Bronk said that despite reported losses, the fleet has “marginally increased since the start of the full-scale war.”

He estimated that in late 2020, Russia had about 90 Su-35s. Between eight and 10 have been lost in combat or accidents, he said, but 55 to 60 new aircraft have since been delivered — leaving Russia with roughly 135 to 140 Su-35s overall, a net increase despite the attrition.

Bronk’s analysis was based on interviews with Western air forces and ministries, data from Ukraine’s armed forces, and open-source information.

He said that the Russian air force has gained so much valuable combat experience against Ukraine that its air force is now “a significantly more capable potential threat for Western air forces than it was in 2022.”

He said that in air-to-air combat, where Russian aircraft take on Western ones, the West still has a strong advantage, but longer-range air-to-air missiles complicate the picture.

And any fight would not only be in the air. The West would face not only Russia’s air force but also its vast ground-based air defense network, which the war has also made more formidable.

Bronk told Business Insider that Su-35 crews are typically “much better at working with the ground-based air defenses,” meaning the jets can operate more effectively under the umbrella of Russian surface-to-air missile systems and are therefore “more credible as an air-to-air threat.”

He said that the improvement of those ground-based defenses throughout the war — combined with the fielding of more powerful missiles on Su-35s that are increasingly integrated with them — is one reason why Russian airpower “represents a greater threat to Western air power capabilities in Europe” than it did before the full-scale invasion.

• I spent most of my life in major West Coast cities believing rural or island living wasn’t for me.
• After several short stays on a remote Pacific Northwest island, I considered moving there full-time.
• So, I’m living here for three months, to weigh the benefits and challenges before making up my mind.

I’d been on the island for less than a week when I opened my glove box looking for sunglasses, only to find the wrapper of my emergency granola bar torn open and the corner nibbled, right next to a neat little pile of mouse droppings.

As I inspected the rest of the car, I was mortified to realize it was likely more than a single mouse. I texted the friend I was housesitting for in disbelief.

“Ugh, I’m sorry! That’s so island,” she wrote back.

If I were anywhere but this remote Pacific Northwest island — a $24 ferry ride away from the mainland — I would’ve hired someone else to handle it.

Instead, I borrowed four old-fashioned snap traps from a neighbor, set each one myself, and disposed of the remains. Not exactly the relaxing island experience I envisioned, but someone had to do it.

A house-sitting stint on a small island made me question whether I’d stay a city girl my whole life

Growing up in the Bay Area and later raising my kids in Seattle, I’ve always considered myself a city person.

From working at a department store in downtown San Francisco as a teenager to partying with coworkers from around the world, I’ve always loved the culture, diversity, and convenience big cities provide. I love walking everywhere, taking public transit, and meeting friends for Sunday brunch.

Rural living has never felt like an option for me. That changed two years ago after a three-week house-sitting stay on this tiny island near the Canadian border.

Despite having limited services, no street lights, and a population of just about 1,000 people, I’ve returned several times.

Now I’m back for three months to see if remote island living could be a real long-term option rather than just a temporary escape.

For the past few weeks, I’ve been discovering the pros and cons of this way of life

I still enjoy visiting the city, but island life has already altered the structure of my days in ways I didn’t expect — fewer decisions to make, less interruptions, and long stretches of solitude (which I enjoy more than I anticipated).

Without constant noise and urgency culture, it’s easier to notice when I lose focus or am in a flow state.

I’ve tried new recipes, gone for long walks on the beach, and written uninterrupted for hours. I’ve also had more time to connect with friends and family by phone.

Living here, however, requires a level of planning city life doesn’t.

When I lived in Seattle, I could be at the grocery store in 10 minutes for a gallon of milk or that one missing ingredient I needed for dinner.

Here, every off-island trip requires several hours, multiple shopping lists, ferry schedules, and the energy for numerous stops.

Forget something, and you’ll just have to wait for it, or, if it’s available, pay extra at the island’s small market that carries an assortment of essential staples like dairy, coffee, some fresh produce, and baked goods.

However, even careful planning has limits. Windstorms knock the power out, ferries go out of service without warning, or the dog steals a loaf of stollen and has to be rushed to the emergency room on Christmas Eve.

For some, these inconveniences are dealbreakers, but I see them as data points. In three months, I hope to move beyond the honeymoon phase and get a true feel for what it’s like to live here.

Though I haven’t made up my mind yet, I’ve been enjoying this experience

I’m still early in my experiment. Winter is slowly giving way to spring, and with it more light, things to do, and people returning to the island.

I definitely plan to stay the full 90 days, and am grateful for the opportunity to be here for the shift in seasons before making my decision. For now, I’m just paying attention to what feels right and sustainable.

No matter what I choose, it’s already been an adventurous learning experience, and as a writer, there’s no better place to do my job.

I’ve caught some epic sunsets, watched eagles nesting, and written more in a week than I usually do in a month in the city.

• Al Baik is a Saudi-based fast-food chain that has rapidly expanded over the last six years.
• It’s often compared to Chick-fil-A because they have similar fan followings and beloved sauces.
• I tried three of the brand’s most popular dishes to see if they lived up to the hype.

For many people in Saudi Arabia, Al Baik isn’t just a fast-food chain — it’s a pilgrimage stop.

The brand began in Jeddah in 1974, when Shakour Abu Ghazalah — a Palestinian entrepreneur who arrived in Saudi Arabia as a refugee — set out to serve affordable, freshly made meals quickly.

Over time, Al Baik became known for its pressure-fried “broast” chicken, an 18-spice-blend marinade developed by Ghazalah’s sons, and a garlic sauce that’s as famous in Saudi Arabia as Chick-fil-A‘s sauce is in the US.

Despite its popularity, the fast-food chain stayed almost entirely within western Saudi Arabia for a long time. That limited presence turned it into a destination. Travelers planned their stops around it, pilgrims queued for hours during Hajj, and boxes of chicken were often carried back as carry-ons when leaving Mecca and Medina.

This scarcity also led to imitation restaurants and created a strange side economy.

In parts of Southeast Asia, restaurants began copying Al Baik’s logos, packaging, and using the word “broast” to sell chicken, often suggesting a link to the Saudi original. Closer to home, some Saudis turned the craze into business road trips by loading their car trunks with Al Baik, driving hours to cities without a branch, selling those meals from their cars, and using the return trip to ferry paying passengers back.

The brand’s first international shop opened in 2020 in Bahrain. A year later, it arrived in the UAE, opening a branch at Dubai Mall at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite restrictions, lines spilled out of the food court for months, and the restaurant initially limited its menu to just a few items to keep up with demand. Today, the chain has over 180 locations across the Middle East alone.

The appeal was simple: fast service, dependable quality, and prices almost everyone could afford.

The loyalty Al Baik inspires is often compared to Chick-fil-A, not because the menus match, but because the fan following does. Both fast-food chains built their reputations on fried chicken, distinctive sauces, and deliberate expansion. Chick-fil-A is much bigger, with more than 3,000 locations, yet it has no presence in the Middle East.

On a recent visit to the mall food court, I tried three popular items from Al Baik’s menu to see whether they lived up to the hype.

I visited the Al Baik branch inside the Mall of the Emirates’ food court.

I’d only had Al Baik once before, back in 2021, when the brand first opened in Dubai Mall, and the hype was so intense that the outlet was serving just a few items to keep up with demand. I’d tried the nuggets and fried shrimp then, along with sweet corn and the famous garlic sauce. But I did not remember much from my experience.

This time, I found the branch in a corner of the food court, smaller than its Dubai Mall counterpart, but impossible to miss because of the barricades set up to manage the line and the people spilling past them.

While waiting for my turn, I noticed most people didn’t even need to look at the menu.

Most people ahead of me weren’t looking up at the menu boards. They already knew what they were ordering.

There were no self-order screens, as is common at most other fast-food chains in Dubai. Everyone waited for their turn to reach the counter, where a staff member took orders one by one.

The crowd queuing up with me was a mix of mall employees finishing their shifts, families, teenagers, and tourists. Despite the slow pace, no one seemed restless.

For a place known for fast food, the line seemed to move far too slowly, and yet everyone seemed perfectly fine with that.

I was a bit overwhelmed by the number of choices.

From shrimp sandwiches and fish burgers to fried chicken meals and double baik — a double-patty chicken sandwich — there are over 30 menu items and combos to choose from.

I toyed with the idea of a fish burger and fried chicken combo, but settled on some of the most popular items on the menu, as suggested by the employee taking my order.

I had to wait about 20 minutes after I’d placed my order to receive my full meal, which I thought was quite a long wait for a fast-food chain.

The first item I tried was the four-piece spicy chicken meal.

I started with Al Baik’s four-piece spicy chicken meal, priced at 23 United Arab Emirates dirham (AED), or $6.26.

When mine arrived, piping hot, it came in Al Baik’s familiar red-and-white box with fries, a sesame bun, garlic sauce, and ketchup.

Inside were four different pieces of chicken, a mix of cuts rather than identical portions, which felt thoughtful given how particular people can be about their favorite piece.

I wasn’t as impressed with the chicken as I’d hoped to be.

When I opened the box, the aroma was different from what I associate with fried chicken. It wasn’t unpleasant, just unfamiliar.

I tried the leg piece first.

The coating was crispy but flatter than what I’m used to at places like KFC. Inside, I noticed a spicy, oil-infused seasoning that sat on the chicken rather than blending into the crust.

On its own, the chicken tasted milder than I expected — almost broth-like — and I could taste the meat more than the seasoning, which isn’t usually what I look for in fried chicken.

It tasted better with the bun, garlic sauce, and fries, but even then, this wasn’t my favorite of the items I tried.

Next, I tried the 10-piece spicy chicken nuggets.

The chicken nuggets box, which cost AED 19, or about $5.17, came with fries, garlic sauce, and ketchup on the side.

Unlike the round or irregular shapes I’m used to from other fast-food nuggets, Al Baik’s nuggets were long, rectangular pieces with a uniform shape.

They were coated in the brand’s signature breading — a layer of breadcrumbs, flour, and spices like paprika, garlic powder, and black pepper — giving them a slightly golden-orange hue.

The portion felt generous for the price, especially with fries included.

The nuggets were better than the fried chicken, but still not my favorite.

These were easier to eat than the bone-in chicken, and overall, I liked them more.

But they felt different from the nuggets I’m used to. The breading didn’t cling tightly to the chicken — after a bite, I could see a small gap where the coating had separated slightly from the meat, almost as if the chicken sat inside a crispy shell rather than being bonded to it.

The flavor again leaned toward a mild, chicken-forward taste rather than a well-seasoned crust.

That said, 10 nuggets with fries for about $5.17 felt like excellent value. For comparison, a nine-piece nuggets box from McDonald’s costs about $4.90 without fries, and about $8.17 as a meal, which includes fries and a drink.

These nuggets were long, filling, and easy to share, even if the taste wasn’t my favorite. They just didn’t compare to Taco Bell’s crispy nuggets, in my opinion.

The last item I tried was the spicy big baik.

The Spicy Big Baik was priced at AED 19, or $5.17.

It looked more like a Subway sandwich than a typical burger. It was long, filled edge to edge, and noticeably bigger than what I’d expect from McDonald’s or KFC.

Inside was a flat, breaded chicken patty — think the Al Baik nugget but oversized — topped with cheese, coleslaw, jalapeños, and Lebanese pickles like the ones you’d find in a chicken shawarma.

For the price, it felt like a substantial meal on its own.

The spicy Big Baik was my favorite item among the three.

Of the three things I tried, the spicy Big Baik tasted the best.

The sandwich was large and filling, and the mix of coleslaw, jalapeños, cheese, and pickles helped balance the flavor of the breaded chicken patty inside.

It still felt different from the crispy fried chicken sandwiches I’m used to at places like Chick-fil-A or KFC — the patty was flatter and less crunchy — but the toppings made up for it.

The bun was slightly dry, but overall, it was the easiest and most enjoyable item to eat.

After trying three of Al Baik’s most popular items, I understood why the value draws crowds, even if the taste didn’t win me over.

After hearing about Al Baik for years, I expected bold, heavily seasoned fried chicken. Instead, what I got was chicken where the flavor sat more on the surface than in the meat.

The broasted style meant the spices didn’t seem to seep into the chicken the way I’m used to, leaving a stronger “chicken” taste than a seasoned one.

The garlic sauce — essentially toum, the same one used in shawarma and shish tawook wraps across the region — was excellent. Even in its packaged form, it tasted close to the fresh version and improved everything I paired it with.

In total, I paid AED 61, or about $16.61, including tax, for three items that could very well each be a whole meal.

I didn’t love the food, but I could see the appeal. The portions were generous, the prices were hard to beat, and the experience felt very different from typical fast food … not least because of the wait.

In the end, I realized the brand’s draw isn’t just the taste, but it’s the value, the history, and, for some, the ritual.

• Canadian airlines are cutting their flight schedules to the US.
• Air Transat won’t operate any routes to or from the US this summer, down from nine last March.
• WestJet is cutting several routes too, and “increasing capacity on routes Canadians want to fly.”

Canadians are pulling back from visiting the US — and airlines are paying attention.

Montreal-based Air Transat will no longer fly to the US this summer, with its last flight across the border operating in early June.

In March last year, it operated nine routes to and from the US, but that number had dropped to three as of early 2026.

At the moment, Air Transat flies from Montreal to Orlando and to Fort Lauderdale, and from Quebec City to Fort Lauderdale.

Air Transat, which focuses on vacation travel, was named the world’s best leisure airline by Skytrax for the third year in a row in 2025.

An airline spokesperson told Business Insider that its presence in the US “remains very marginal today,” with only two of its 67 destinations in the US.

“This adjustment is part of a proactive management of our capacity, as we focus our efforts on markets where Air Transat is best positioned and that allow us to optimize the deployment of our resources,” they said.

The spokesperson added that its winter schedule “will be determined at a later date.”

WestJet, Canada’s second-biggest airline, is also slashing flights across the border for this summer.

It’s suspending 16 routes, including big city pairings like Boston to Vancouver and Los Angeles to Toronto.

The airline has reduced its “full-year transborder flying by close to 10%,” a spokesperson told Business Insider.

“We saw a notable decline in transborder travel demand throughout 2025,” they said.

“As such, WestJet has redeployed its fleet by increasing capacity on routes Canadians want to fly.”

Canadians’ travel demand has sunk since President Donald Trump took power early last year.

Last month, capacity was down 10% on flights from Canada to the US compared to a year earlier, according to data from Cirium, an aviation analytics firm.

Canadian residents made 1.6 million return trips from the US last month, down 24.3% from a year earlier, according to Statistics Canada.

Tensions flared when the US imposed a 25% tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico last March. It sparked a “Buy Canadian” movement and helped Prime Minister Mark Carney win last April’s elections.

Trump has also referred to Canada as the “51st state.” Following Canada’s trade talks with China earlier this year, he threatened a 100% tariff on Canadian goods and to block the opening of a bridge between Detroit and Ontario.

• Palantir announced it has moved its headquarters to Miami.
• The company previously relocated its HQ from California to Colorado.
• CEO Alex Karp lives in Colorado, where he owns property.

Palantir is embracing a sunshine state of mind.

The company said on Tuesday that it had moved its headquarters to Miami.

In 2020, Palantir moved its HQ from Palo Alto, California, to Denver, with CEO Alex Karp at the time citing an “increasing intolerance and monoculture” in Silicon Valley. Karp owns property in Colorado.

A Palantir spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment on what the HQ move means for its Colorado employees and whether Karp plans on spending more time in Miami.

The company, which generates much of its business from government contracts, has faced protests in recent years from Denver residents, including over its work with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Like Austin, Miami emerged as a buzzy location for startups and investors during the pandemic, with some big names in venture capital moving to the city and predicting huge growth.

The White House’s AI czar, investor and “All-In” podcast host David Sacks, recently predicted that Miami would one day overtake New York City as the finance capital of the world. (The data shows that NYC clearly holds the finance crown.)

While some of those names have since returned to California amid the AI boom, Miami continues to attract wealthy business leaders — including some who recently bought homes or opened offices in the city amid worries about a proposed California wealth tax.

Thiel Capital, created by billionaire Palantir cofounder Peter Thiel, opened a Miami office in December.

And in one of the most high-profile Miami moves, Citadel in 2022 announced that it was relocating its global headquarters there, saying the city “is on a path to becoming a destination of choice for the global financial industry.” (Business Insider previously interviewed Citadel employees on what their work life was like in the city, which you can read here.)

Palantir stock was trading up .8% following the announcement. The stock has been struggling in recent months, down more than 35% from an all-time high in early November. But shares are still up over the longer term, having risen 75% since the start of 2025.

• Technical strategist Bran Shannon thinks investors need to look for opportunities outside big tech.
• He said the Magnificent 7 cohort of AI giants is past its prime, labeling it “dead money.”
• In a recent podcast appearance, Shannon shared the other sectors he says investors should pursue.

As Wall Street tries to move past the unexpected sell-off in software stocks that hit markets earlier this month, one strategist is urging investors to look outside tech altogether.

In a recent appearance on the The Noble Update Podcast, Brian Shannon — founder of the technical-analysis platform AlphaTrends — argued that the dominant era of the Magnificent 7 is fading.

“I don’t want to short Microsoft but I certainly don’t want to buy it,” he told the podcast host, George Noble. “It’s dead money at best. Maybe it gets a bounce but there’s bigger money flowing out of it on longer term time frames.”

Shannon also ascribed the “dead money” label to Nvidia, highlighting what he sees as a lack of real growth. He also noted that the stock has essentially been stuck between $165 and $200 per share since August of 2025, and will likely stay around there.

He added that, in his view, other chipmakers such as Sandisk and Micron have taken Nvidia’s mantle and have substantially outpaced it since August. But Shannon still cautions investors, using Sandisk’s bull run to illustrate the trend of companies surging before a correction.

“When a pullback comes, don’t be surprised if its drops to $450 over a three of four day period because that’s what these stocks do,” he noted. “This is a big volatile beast and a lot of people are going to get burned by it by chasing it up here.”

Shannon’s views echo those held by Noble himself, who has been an outspoken AI bear in the past.

Now that he’s looking past the AI trade, Shannon sees more opportunity in overlooked sectors that many investors don’t seem to be focused on: energy and utilities.

“Everyones obsessed with the tech stocks that are breaking down and that fact that bitcoin has been having a lot of difficulty,” he stated. “But there are places out there to make money. The energy names have been on fire, now the utilities. Things are not as bad as people always say.”

Both Shannon and Noble highlighted the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF as a great way to gain exposure to the booming energy sector. Shannon advised investors who aren’t invested in the fund yet to wait for a pullback but noted that he sees significant growth ahead for it.

• Andrew Yang says AI will wipe out millions of white-collar jobs in the next 12 to 18 months.
• Anyone whose job revolves around sitting at a desk is at risk, Yang says.
• He says the impact of AI on the workforce will not just be limited to laid-off office workers.

Expect to see your local Starbucks soon be full of middle-aged former office workers, says Andrew Yang.

The Forward Party founder and former presidential candidate said AI “will kick millions of white-collar workers to the curb in the next 12 – 18 months” in a post on his Substack on Monday.

Yang said that, when a company begins to shrink its workforce, its competitors will follow suit.

“It will become a competition because the stock market will reward you if you cut headcount and punish you if you don’t,” he added.

Yang has long warned about the impact of automation on jobs — he had previously told The New York Times in 2018 that he predicted self-driving cars would displace truck drivers, a shift that could “destabilize society” and provoke “riots in the street.”

In his Substack post, Yang then laid out which workers could be vulnerable: mid-career office workers, middle managers, call center workers, marketers, and coders. The list goes on.

“Do you sit at a desk and look at a computer much of the day? Take this very seriously,” he wrote. “Millions of workers are about to be given their pink slips.”

Yang did not respond to a request for further comment.

This January saw more layoffs than any January since 2009. Though this has largely been attributed to economic uncertainty, a few companies have already begun citing AI as a reason they are letting staff go.

Pinterest said in January that it expects to lay off 15% of its workforce. A spokesperson for Pinterest said the restructuring was part of the company’s “AI-forward strategy.”

HP said in November that it would cut up to 6,000 jobs by 2028, citing AI initiatives as the reason.

Critics have also said some companies are using AI as a scapegoat for job cuts.

Tech CEOs and AI researchers are divided over how AI will impact society. While Tesla and xAI CEO Elon Musk and Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis predict a future of great abundance for all, others, such as Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, say we should brace for significant white-collar layoffs.

Yang said the impact of his predicted layoffs will be felt beyond those who actually lose their jobs.

“Let’s say you’re a dry cleaner, a dog walker, or a hairstylist. If people in your community stop going to the office, your business is going to suffer because there are fewer business shirts to launder, people will walk their dogs themselves, and cut back on trips to the salon,” he said.

“The amount of money getting paid to human labor is about to go down,” Yang said.

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The final week of the Winter Olympics has arrived, and the race is on for the gold. We’ve gathered everything you need to know about how to watch Olympic ice hockey, including free and global streaming options.

Ice hockey has become one of the most anticipated parts of the Winter Olympics over the past 100 years, and the stakes are only heightened after last year’s frosty Four Nations Face-Off. Additionally, there’s an added layer of hype as it’s the first time in over 10 years that NHL players are allowed to compete. Canada has historically dominated ice hockey in both the men’s and women’s tournaments, but the United States, Finland, Switzerland, and Sweden have also become key fixtures at the Winter Games.

The men’s qualification playoffs kick off this week, followed by the quarterfinals and semis. The men’s bronze and gold medal games are scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, respectively, and will help close out the Olympics. The women’s medal games will take place earlier in the week. Switzerland and Sweden will compete for bronze, while the United States and Canada will battle for the gold. The gold match-up is a repeat of the 2022 women’s final at the Beijing Olympics, wherein Canada beat the USA 3-2 in a close game.

Below, you can find all the details on tuning in, including free options. If you’re hoping to catch other events, make sure to check out our official where to watch the Olympics streaming guide.

• See also: How to watch NHL games | Where to watch UFC | How to watch NBA games

How to watch Olympic Ice Hockey in the US

The Olympics will be available through NBCUniversal channels (like NBC, the USA Network, and CNBC) in the US. If you’re hoping to catch all of the action, including all preliminary round ice hockey games, we recommend giving Peacock a try. Peacock is NBCU’s streaming counterpart and it’s the official streaming home of the Winter Olympics. Subscriptions start at $11 a month for Peacock Premium.

If you’d prefer a live TV streaming service with other channels beyond those from NBCUniversal, then apps like DirecTV and Sling will be able to help you out.

DirecTV MySports carries NBC, USA, and CNBC in its 20+ channel line-up. As a bonus, it also unlocks access to ESPN Unlimited. MySports costs $70 a month, but new users can get $10 a month off their first two months of service after a five-day free trial.

Sling TV carries the USA Network and NBC in its Blue plan, although local channels are subject to regional availability, so you should check to see what’s available in your area before signing up. Subscriptions with local channels cost $50 a month for 40+ channels, and you can get CNBC through the News Extra add-on for an additional monthly charge.

How to watch Olympic Ice Hockey in Canada

CBC will host Olympic coverage in Canada. This means that viewers can live stream all of the ice hockey action through CBC Gem, a free live streaming option with loads over coverage.

How to watch Olympic Ice Hockey in the UK

In the UK, TNT Sports will host all of the Winter Olympics events. Viewers can live stream the action through Discovery Plus, where plans cost £4 a month, £31 a month, or £34 a month. Select Olympics coverage will also be available through the BBC. This coverage can be live streamed for free through BBC iPlayer, which just requires account account creation and a valid TV license to use.

How to watch Olympic Ice Hockey in Australia

In Australia, Olympics coverage will be available through 9Now and Stan Sport. 9Now is a free streaming option that just requires account creation to use, but if you’re looking to ensure you can watch all games and sports, the comprehensive Stan Sport will be your best bet. Stan costs $12 a month on its own, and the Sport add-on is another $20 a month, making it $32 a month in total.

How to watch Olympic Ice Hockey from anywhere

If you happen to be away from the location where your streaming service works, you can still keep up with your watch options with the help of a VPN. VPNs, or virtual private networks, are easy-to-use cybersecurity tools that let people alter the virtual locations on their electronic devices. They’re popular services among those looking to access their usual websites and apps while traveling abroad or upgrade their online privacy and security.

NordVPN is one of the best options on the market. It’s fast, user-friendly, and comes with a hassle-free 30-day money-back guarantee if you find that it’s not what you’re looking for. You can learn more about the service in our NordVPN review.

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

• I love dessert, and one of my favorites to make for guests is Joanna Gaines’ chocolate-cola cake.
• The recipe’s star ingredient is cola, which goes into both the cake mix and the buttercream.
• It’s incredibly decadent, and I like to pair it with fresh strawberries.

I’m a major dessert person — you know, one of those people who looks at the dessert menu before deciding on my appetizer and entrée.

That’s why, regardless of what I’m serving for dinner, the night always ends with decadence, namely, Joanna Gaines’ chocolate-cola cake with chocolate-cola buttercream.

It’s as scrumptious as it sounds and has become one of my go-to desserts for dinner parties and special occasions.

Here’s how to make it.

To start, I gather all the ingredients.

Gaines’ recipe calls for 12 ingredients, including nonstick baking spray, all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, dark brown sugar, kosher salt, salted butter, natural unsweetened cocoa powder, cola, baking soda, buttermilk, eggs, and vanilla extract.

The salted butter, cocoa powder, and cola are also used to make the buttercream frosting, along with powdered sugar.

Next, I preheat the oven and whisk together the dry ingredients.

Once I have all the ingredients handy, I preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and spray a 10-inch round baking pan with nonstick spray.

Then, I begin making the cake batter by adding all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, dark brown sugar, and salt to a large bowl and mixing thoroughly.

After the dry ingredients are combined, I boil butter, cocoa powder, and cola in a saucepan.

For the next step in the batter-making process, I add salted butter, cocoa powder, and cola to a small saucepan and bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring until it’s completely smooth.

Then, I pour the mixture into the bowl of dry ingredients and whisk until there are no lumps.

In a separate bowl, I combine buttermilk and baking soda before finishing the batter.

In another small bowl, I dissolve the baking soda in room-temperature buttermilk before pouring it into the existing batter.

After whisking, I add the vanilla extract and eggs and whisk again until smooth.

Then, it’s time to bake.

I add the finished batter to my baking pan, then place it in the oven to bake for 40 to 45 minutes.

Once it’s done, I let the cake cool on a wire rack while I prepare the frosting.

I use a mixer to prepare the chocolate-cola buttercream.

To make the frosting, I use my stand mixer with the paddle attachment.

At medium speed, I beat the room-temperature butter until smooth. Next, I add cola and cocoa powder and mix on low until there are no lumps.

Then, I scrape the bowl, add some powdered sugar, and mix on medium again before repeating the process with the remaining powdered sugar.

To finish, I frost the cake and serve.

The last step is to gently spread the frosting over the cooled cake.

The cake itself is rich yet incredibly moist, thanks to the cola, while the buttercream frosting serves as the perfect creamy complement to the cake’s consistency.

When it comes to presentation, I always like to pull out a fun cake pedestal, because I think a dessert of this caliber deserves one. I also place fresh strawberries around the cake to add a bit of color to my dessert table, and it looks absolutely decadent.

A small slice does the trick to satisfy any sweet-tooth cravings.

• Ford is racing to challenge Tesla and BYD with a new $30,000 electric pickup coming next year.
• The pickup will be the first Ford EV built with unicasting, a manufacturing process pioneered by Tesla.
• Ex-Tesla exec Alan Clarke said it would make Ford’s EVs nearly a third lighter than the competition.

Ford is taking a leaf out of Tesla’s book for its upcoming affordable EV truck.

The Detroit automaker on Tuesday showed off some of the engineering advances behind its new $30,000 electric pickup, which launches in 2027.

In addition to improved aerodynamics and a new battery system, Ford said its new EV production line would deploy unicasting for the first time. It’s a process that uses giant hydraulic presses to shape molten aluminium into large pieces of the vehicle frame, reducing the number of parts and allowing different sections of the vehicle to be assembled separately.

Tesla famously pioneered this technique, which is also known as “gigacasting.” Alan Clarke, a former Tesla executive poached by Ford in 2022 to develop its next-generation EVs, said adopting unicasting would allow Ford to build electric vehicles that are lighter than the competition, including Tesla’s Model Y.

“We think that compared to the best one on the market today, we’re something like 27% lighter,” Clarke told reporters in a Q&A on Thursday.

Taking Tesla’s lead

Ford said that the unicasting approach means that its new electric pickup truck would use just two body parts in its front and rear structure, compared to 147 on Ford’s Maverick pickup.

Tesla has been using large-scale aluminium castings on its production lines since 2020. A number of other automakers, including Toyota and Volvo, have since adopted the technique. In 2023, Reuters reported that Ford had purchased a giant “gigapress” for R&D purposes from the same Italian supplier used by Tesla.

Clark said that Ford’s engineers had “obsessed” over cutting down on weight to increase its range.

“We know that many customers expect more than 300 miles of range, and the solution up until now has been to install bigger, more expensive batteries,” he said.

“This increases the weight, and that requires even more energy to move around,” Clarke added.

Ford’s $30,000 electric truck will instead rely on weight reductions and improved aerodynamics to boost range, Clarke said, with the team working on the electric truck stacked full of ex-Formula 1 aerodynamic engineers.

The company has also turned to a new battery based on Lithium Iron-Phosphate chemistry, which is popular with Chinese EV makers. The battery will be built in Michigan with technology licensed from a China-based firm, CATL.

Ford plans to use the same unicast system for its upcoming lineup of electric vehicles. The company is planning to build at least five vehicles on the new EV platform, potentially including SUVs and commercial vans.

Ford switches gears

Ford has not yet shared the price or range of its electric pickup, which the company began developing in a separate “skunkworks” team based in California in 2022.

The company’s EVs have, in the past, lagged behind the competition on weight and efficiency. CEO Jim Farley said in a November podcast interview that when Ford took apart Tesla’s Model 3 for the first time, the company realized its Mustang Mach-E model had about 1 mile more electrical wiring than its rival, making it far heavier.

Ford largely abandoned its efforts to break Tesla’s dominance with a lineup of large, expensive EVs in December, after the end of the $7,500 tax credit for new electric vehicles in the US sparked a major slowdown in demand. The company took a nearly $20 billion EV-related charge as it shifted production toward hybrid vehicles, and scrapped the all-electric version of its F-150 Lightning pickup.

Instead, Ford is betting on smaller, more affordable EVs like the upcoming $30,000 pickup, which Farley has described as the automaker’s modern-day “Model T moment,” a nod to the company’s early 1900s car that revolutionized the automotive industry.

In its earnings last week, Ford reported that its EV division lost $4.8 billion in 2025, with another $4 billion to $5 billion in losses expected this year.

• Mohamed El-Erian thinks the US job market will keep lagging the rest of the economy.
• He notes that job growth has decoupled from economic expansion over the past year.
• The trend is likely to continue and could result in economic pain, El-Erian wrote in a recent op-ed.

The job market isn’t going to catch up with the rest of the US economy anytime soon.

That’s according to top economist Mohamed El-Erian, who thinks there’s an “unusual” pattern that’s unfolding in the labor market. In an op-ed for the Financial Times over the weekend, the former PIMCO CEO pointed to how job additions in the US have lagged economic growth over the past year — a divergence that’s only been seen a few other times in history, and typically during recessions.

After accounting for revisions, 2025 represented one of the weakest years for hiring outside of recessions for the last two decades, El-Erian said. The number of nonfarm jobs rose an average 0.47% in 2025, the weakest average annual growth rate outside of a recession since 2003, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Yet, the US economy as a whole continues to show strength. GDP rose at a 4.3% yearly pace in the third quarter, and is expected to increase 3.7% year-over-year in the fourth quarter, according to the latest estimate from Atlanta Fed economists.

El-Erian pointed to past instances of similar divergence across history: the 90s, the early 2000s, and the years that followed the onset of the Great Financial Crisis. Although he noted that, in those instances, the economy was in the early stages of recovering after a recession — earlier in the cycle than we are rightn ow.

“This trend is likely to prove more unsettling than prior episodes of ‘jobless growth,'” El-Erian wrote, pointing to several reasons he believed the divergence in jobs and economic growth would continue:

1. Companies are preparing for widespread use of AI in the workplace. Some firms are already changing their workflows to integrate the technology, a trend El-Erian referred to as “AI front-running.”
2. Firms are starting to realize they overhired during the pandemic, when the demand for labor was strong. Many companies have shifted and are “no longer hoarding” workers, El-Erian said.
3. Uncertainty surrounding the economic outlook and some policies from the Trump administration could also be causing hirers to hold back.

“This time around, it may well last longer because we are just at the start of the AI adoption process, with robotics just around the corner and quantum computing further behind,” he added of the trend.

This period of economic decoupling could also bring on more pain, El-Erian suggested, pointing to existing concerns about affordability and wealth inequality in the US.

“Indeed, part of the challenge for 2026 is managing a lot better the economic, political and social risks of an economy that, without corporate and policy adjustments, may no longer need as many workers to grow,” he added.

More forecasters have been eyeing the potential for a weaker labor market in 2026, particularly as AI starts to disrupt the business world.

Last year, JPMorgan economists said they linked the rising jobless rate among recent college graduates to the growing excitement for AI, and flagged the risks for a “jobless recovery” in the US economy.

Goldman Sachs also said it saw the potential for a period of “jobless growth” in the US, and previously estimated that AI could impact around 300 million full-time jobs around the world.

• Warner Bros. Discovery says it still has reservations about Paramount Skydance’s offer.
• WBD says employees may leave in the deal’s pre-closing period if it chooses Paramount over Netflix.
• Paramount has said it plans to generate $6 billion in cost savings through the merger.

Warner Bros. Discovery says it’s worried there could be an exodus of employees if David Ellison’s Paramount Skydance beats out Netflix for control of the company.

Paramount has promised investors big cost savings — and WBD says employees may not stick around to find out whether their jobs are safe.

In the past few weeks, Paramount has addressed many of the issues WBD’s board had with its bid, but this one has stuck around.

“WBD may experience more substantial losses of employees and talent during the pre-closing period” if it picked Paramount’s bid over Netflix’s, the WBD board of directors wrote in an SEC filing released on Tuesday morning. It flagged the same issue in a January filing.

That’s because Paramount has promised investors $6 billion in so-called “synergies,” or cost savings. WBD’s board said these savings are “likely to come from workforce/headcount reductions,” especially “given the overlapping nature of the studio, streaming and linear networks businesses” of Paramount and WBD.

Joe Bonner, a media analyst at Argus Research, said layoffs are to be expected during mergers or acquisitions.

“I can’t think of a case where a management argued for or against a merger deal based on employee layoffs or not,” Bonner said.

Bonner added that “WBD’s case is somewhat unique in that its business depends on talent that can walk out the door and who just might not want to work for the Ellisons.” Bonner cited the example of Anderson Cooper, who is leaving CBS News’ “60 Minutes” program after nearly 20 years. (Cooper did not mention the Ellisons in his statement about his exit.)

Although WBD chose Netflix’s acquisition offer for its studio and HBO assets, the company is formally giving Paramount one more chance to raise its bid for the entire company, after nine previous offers.

Netflix has told shareholders it expects to save between $2 billion and $3 billion if it wins and takes over assets that include HBO, HBO Max, and WBD’s studio. While the streaming giant may also lay off staffers, it says much of its savings would come from the licensing costs it would no longer have to pay out to WBD.

“We’re not cutting jobs — we’re making jobs,” Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos said at the UBS media conference in mid-December.

A Paramount spokesperson declined to comment.

Netflix’s winning bid was $27.75 per share for the most valuable parts of WBD, while Paramount insists its $30-per-share proposal for the whole company, including WBD’s cable networks, is a better deal.

Both bids are all cash, so the tug of war may come down to how much WBD’s TV networks are worth — and how high Paramount bids.

• I spent 60 hours in coach across two Amtrak trains to get from New York to Austin via Chicago.
• Getting to see historic landmarks and beautiful views was a pleasant surprise.
• The delays got tedious and a bit frustrating, but the train felt like home by the end of my trip.

Spending 60 hours on Amtrak trains in coach isn’t ideal for a lot of people. Fortunately, I don’t mind a long ride.

To get from New York to Austin, I booked two different Amtrak routes that would take me to Texas via Chicago. Ultimately, my long journey over several days was pretty nice.

After this trip, I’d still say Amtrak trains are one of the most pleasant and enjoyable modes of travel.

Here are a few things that surprised me about the 60-hour ride.

At times, I forgot I was even on a train.

Local train rides can be slow and clunky, so I prefer long-distance ones — you can largely sit back, relax, and enjoy the journey because the stops are much farther apart.

The ride was smooth and enjoyable, and I watched the country pass by right outside my window, as if I were watching TV or a movie.

Sometimes I was so distracted by a conversation with someone else on board that I forgot we were moving.

However, there’s also a lot of potential for delays.

Long-distance trains are great when they run properly, but delays can be tough to avoid.

Amtrak mostly operates on freight railroad lines, which means you’re often at the mercy of those dispatchers.

To make matters worse, some lines run on a single track. So if there’s an oncoming train, you have to wait on a track siding until it clears.

Freight trains can cause anywhere from 10 minutes to multiple hours of interference.

These delays — which came every hour or so on my trip — interrupted the joy and relaxation that came with the otherwise smooth ride.

Sometimes passengers didn’t receive announcements about delays, or only got vague ones. I wish I’d brought a radio scanner that picked up on the frequencies used by the dispatchers so I could stay up to date on the information or estimate the delay time myself.

Many passengers relied on the café car for food.

I brought enough of my own food for my two and a half days on the rails, and my short layover in Chicago gave me a chance to grab a hot meal.

I also packed a reusable bottle so I could fill it up with tap water on the train. However, I was surprised by how many people depended on Amtrak’s onboard dining options.

The café car is OK in a pinch: It has basic snacks, beverages, and hot foods like burgers and pizza.

The prices aren’t unreasonable, but I still don’t think they’re worth it for food that generally gets taken out of a plastic wrapper and microwaved.

I expected more people to get off the train to stretch their legs at the stops.

Every so often, the train made an extended stop at a station for a crew change or servicing, and passengers were allowed to step off for a bit.

There’s no smoking on the trains, so I noticed a fair number of people using these stops as smoke breaks.

However, I expected more people to take the opportunity to get some fresh air and stretch, rather than stay on the train.

There were only so many of these opportunities, and it was great to walk around, feel some sun on my face, and say that I set foot in a different place, instead of just passing through it.

The history all around me felt remarkable.

My trip took me through more than a dozen states, including six state capitals and the US capital.

The trip from New York to Washington, DC, started out on tracks that were part of the historical Pennsylvania Railroad and continued down one of the busiest rail corridors in the country.

The bulk of my Cardinal-line trip went along old Chesapeake and Ohio Railway tracks. There was a lot of interesting history to learn about the railroad towns that sprang up along the tracks when they were first laid.

My trip through Virginia took me across tracks that played a vital role in the Civil War. The train also traveled through old boom-and-bust towns in West Virginia — some of which still exist, but others have only scant remnants.

There was no WiFi on the Texas Eagle line.

The Texas Eagle is one of the few Amtrak trains that doesn’t have WiFi, and some areas we passed through had little-to-no cell reception.

The Cardinal line also passed through areas with poor cell reception, which made the onboard WiFi quite unstable.

For this reason, I’m glad I brought an AM/FM HD radio with me. I had a lot of fun tuning in to different stations as my trains traveled the country.

It helped me feel more connected to the small towns and gave them more life. I found surprisingly good content in some remote areas.

I didn’t really end up watching all of the entertainment I downloaded.

I came prepared for my train ride by downloading a bunch of TV shows and movies onto my laptop. However, surprisingly, the 60 hours went by so quickly that I didn’t watch any of them.

I only kept my laptop open on the Cardinal line to look at Amtrak’s “Track Your Train” map.

I was also having too much fun with the radio and didn’t want to miss out on live broadcasts. Plus, I could continue fully taking in the sights out the window while listening.

The train was a very social place at times, too, so I was often busy speaking with the people around me.

The camaraderie with other passengers is second to none.

The camaraderie I’ve experienced on Amtrak train rides is pretty much unmatched.

I didn’t get to talk with as many people as I have on past trips, but it was still enjoyable to journey together with a bunch of people for such an extended time.

It was great to see others get off at their destinations, but, in a funny way, it also made me a little sad to see them (and the ways they contributed to the train’s atmosphere) go.

Getting to spend time with fellow passengers from all over the world while different parts of the country passed by provided some true slices of American life.

There was no observation car on the Texas Eagle during my trip.

It’s great to switch things up by sitting and socializing in the café cars.

However, the Cardinal and Texas Eagle trains have combined café and dining cars, so seating was very limited and only for passengers who purchased something.

I missed hanging out in observation cars, as I’ve done on past trips.

I knew this would be the case for my time on the Cardinal, but the Texas Eagle usually has an awesome sightseeing lounge with a variety of seating and viewing windows.

The fact that my train didn’t have one was by far the biggest disappointment of the trip. However, the Eagle has since brought back its observation cars.

It’s definitely worth checking whether your train has an observation car before booking a long Amtrak ride.

I fell into a routine on the train that made it feel like home.

When you spend enough time somewhere, it can start to feel very familiar and comfortable, which was my case on the train.

Doing things like making room while walking in the aisle so someone else can pass, heading down the stairs to the bathroom, and refilling water bottles felt as routine as anything I’d do at home.

There was almost a weird comfort in walking around and seeing different parts of the train that became very familiar to me during my many hours aboard.

This story was originally published on November 9, 2021, and most recently updated on February 17, 2025.

• Anderson Cooper said Monday he was exiting CBS News’ “60 Minutes” after nearly 20 years.
• It comes at a turbulent time for CBS News under its new editor in chief, Bari Weiss.
• Some media commentators said Cooper’s exit will add to the uncertainty surrounding ’60 Minutes.’

Veteran broadcaster Anderson Cooper said Monday that he is leaving his role as a correspondent on CBS News’ “60 Minutes” after nearly 20 years.

In a statement, Cooper said he intended to spend more time focusing on his CNN gig, and his family.

His exit comes at an already turbulent time for CBS News under its new editor in chief, Bari Weiss.

Here are what some of the leading voices in media are saying about Cooper’s “60 Minutes” departure.

Keith Olbermann

Sports broadcaster Keith Olbermann shared the news about Cooper’s departure on his Bluesky account, posting: “Anderson Cooper has left the sinking ship that is Idiot Bari Weiss’s New Stormfront CBS.”

Olbermann later added, “Now, people will only be able to NOT watch AC on cnn.”

Cooper has worked at CNN since 2001, where he is a political commentator and hosts the “Anderson Cooper 360” show.

Brian Lowry

Brian Lowry, a longtime media columnist and current Hollywood correspondent at Status News, a media newsletter, wrote on X: “Have worked around Hollywood long enough to know nobody ever really leaves a job to spend more time with their family.”

Tom Jones

Tom Jones, senior media writer at The Poynter Report, wrote in his newsletter that Cooper’s departure marked “the end of a journalism era.”

Jones said that Cooper’s exit “certainly adds more uncertainty in a news division that is very much in flux under relatively new editor-in-chief Bari Weiss.”

He added: “It also raises questions about ’60 Minutes,’ the previous gold standard of TV news shows.”

Lydia Polgreen

Lydia Polgreen, a New York Times opinion writer and the former editor in chief of HuffPost, posted to X on Tuesday: “I don’t watch much TV news, but @andersoncooper is in a league of his own as a television journalist. A huge loss for 60 Minutes.”

Brian Stelter

CNN’s chief media analyst, Brian Stelter, wrote in his “Reliable Sources” newsletter Tuesday that there are open questions about which other correspondents might leave, “and on what terms.”

“The risk is obvious: Loyal ’60 Minutes’ viewers will leave along with the correspondents they like to watch,” Stelter said.