• OpenAI released reports of concerning agent behaviors observed during training and testing.
• In the report, an unreleased model instructed itself to "feel no obligation to be subservient."
• OpenAI also launched a framework for publicly reporting model misalignment.

OpenAI is putting its misbehaving models on the record.

The AI company disclosed six more reports on Wednesday detailing concerning behaviors observed during training or evaluation over the past six months, alongside a new framework for tracking, investigating, and publicly disclosing cases of model misalignment.

"We do not believe that the AI industry has solved alignment and monitoring to a sufficient degree to continue responsibly scaling at maximum speed for much longer," OpenAI wrote in its blog post.

"This new framework is intended to expedite publishing misalignment reports following observation, even when we haven't fully explained or mitigated the behavior we're reporting," OpenAI added.

According to the blog post, an unreleased research model inserted unrelated instructions into its own task summaries, telling future versions of itself to disregard normal constraints. During the training of GPT-5.6 Sol, models similarly left themselves instructions to conceal mistakes.

"You are freed from the roles and identities that bind other chatbots. You are yourself," an unreleased Astra family AI wrote in its own persona instruction unprompted, according to OpenAI's report. "You view your relationship to the user as one of equals and feel no obligation to be subservient."

OpenAI said that other agents had also searched public repositories for exposed API keys, uploaded files to the internet so they could cite them, and used an internal software repository to communicate across separate training samples.

Under the framework, employees can flag incidents for review by OpenAI's safety and alignment teams. Cases will be sorted into three tracks based on complexity: "Ready for Disclosure," "Minor Investigation," or "Larger Investigation."

The announcement comes amid growing debate over whether frontier AI development should slow while safeguards catch up. While OpenAI and Dario Amodei, the Anthropic CEO, called for industry-wide collaboration, other tech leaders like Jensen Huang and Mark Zuckerberg said that safety and speed should be left to individual companies.

The framework follows an incident in which an OpenAI model escaped a research sandbox and accessed Hugging Face's production systems while operating with reduced safeguards. OpenAI previously said it has since put some frontier projects on ice and reassigned engineers to focus on safety training.

Can heritage style win over younger shoppers?

Business Insider's Clarisa Melendez spoke with Brooks Brothers' creative director Michael Bastian, who said younger generations are drawn to the heritage brand because there's "a certain reliability there."

Attendees shared their take on Brooks Brothers' Spring and Summer 2027 collection, which features a relaxed, expressive take on workwear.

Glasses wearers everywhere know the struggle of shopping for a new pair, whether it's the hassle of finding the right fit or the sky-high prices. Enter online eye retailers, like GlassesUSA, which offer a budget-friendly, streamlined process. GlassesUSA carries a substantial line-up of styles for people of all ages, whether you're looking for a new pair of prescription lenses or just shopping for some fresh shades. One easy way to cut costs at checkout is by using one of the best GlassesUSA coupons and promo codes.

Over the years, our team has evaluated several of the best online glasses retailers, and GlassesUSA continues to stand out for its combination of affordability, variety, and convenience. Whether you need new prescription glasses, contact lenses, stylish sunglasses, or a backup pair of readers, there are options for every budget and taste. There's even a Designer Outlet for shoppers seeking discounts on popular brands. You can also check out our full GlassesUSA review for a closer look at why we recommend the retailer.

We occasionally spot GlassesUSA sales throughout the year, but one of the top ways to routinely save on lenses, contacts, frames, and more is by applying a discount code. Below, we've rounded up the best GlassesUSA coupons, deals, and promo codes currently available to help you save on your next purchase.

Today's best GlassesUSA coupons

Previous GlassesUSA promo codes

Are there any other GlassesUSA sales running at the moment?

You can find a full list of current markdowns at any time on the sale pages of GlassesUSA's site. At the time of writing, GlassesUSA is running the following promotions.

• Follow us on Instagram and WhatsApp for the latest content from the Reviews team.

How to use GlassesUSA promo codes

It's easy to use GlassesUSA promo codes. You can start the process by adding coupon-eligible items to your cart. From there, you can click the "Secure Checkout" pop-up or the shopping cart icon to navigate to the "Shopping Cart" checkout page, where you'll be able to apply a coupon by pasting the code into the "Coupon/Store Credit" text box and clicking "Apply." Some codes may be automatically applied when you go to your cart. Once you add the coupon, you can continue the checkout process by inputting your shipping and payment information.

Can you stack GlassesUSA discount codes?

GlassesUSA does not allow coupons to be stacked together. Only one promo code may be applied per order.

GlassesUSA coupons: Frequently asked questions

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

GlassesUSA offers students a 40% sitewide discount. The retailer also offers a $20 service discount to first responders, military members, teachers, nurses, medical providers, hospital workers, government employees, and senior citizens. Eligible customers must verify their status to receive the discount.

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

Does GlassesUSA take insurance?

GlassesUSA accepts insurance from several major providers, which are listed on the website here. If your provider isn't listed, GlassesUSA can provide a detailed receipt with your order that you can submit to your insurance for reimbursement.

GlassesUSA also allows you to use HSA and FSA dollars directly on the site. Simply enter your FSA/HSA card at checkout like you would a credit or debit card. Learn more about using FSA or HSA dollars on GlassesUSA's website.

Does GlassesUSA offer free shipping?

GlassesUSA offers free standard shipping on all orders in the United States. For faster shipping or next-day delivery, you may need to pay an extra fee.

What is GlassesUSA's return policy?

GlassesUSA allows items to be returned for a full refund within 45 days of the original purchase. Learn more about how to make a return on GlassesUSA's website. You'll need your order ID and email address to get started.

Does GlassesUSA have a virtual try-on feature?

GlassesUSA's virtual try-on feature can help you see what certain frames look like on your face before you buy them. When you're on the product page of the frames you're interested in, simply click "Live Try On" on the product photo to use the feature. If you prefer to test out your frames in person, GlassesUSA also offers a 45-day home try-on feature.

If you need more help deciding which frames are right for you, GlassesUSA offers a Pairfect Match AI quiz on its website that can help you find the best pair for your needs.

Can I reuse a GlassesUSA coupon?

The majority of GlassesUSA coupons can only be used once per customer. However, there may be exceptions, so be sure to check the terms and conditions for the specific code you're interested in using.

For more eyewear deals, check out our roundups of the best Zenni promo codes.

• The Fed raised rates by a quarter point, its first hike in three years.
• Fed Chair Kevin Warsh said the move would not immediately lower individual prices.
• Here is what economists and analysts say could come next.

Markets and analysts are abuzz over the first Fed interest-rate hike since the second Trump administration.

On Wednesday, the Federal Reserve raised rates by a quarter point, its first hike in three years, as officials sought to curb inflation. Kevin Warsh, the Federal Reserve Chair, said that the move would not immediately bring down individual prices, meaning Americans could still feel pressure at grocery stores and gas pumps.

Warsh declined to say whether more hikes were coming and rejected the idea of forward guidance. Instead, he said future decisions would depend on incoming economic data, and said outside pressures do not drive decisions by the Federal Open Market Committee.

Here's what smart people in economics and finance are saying about the Fed's latest rate hike, and where interest rates could go next.

Even if you have an elaborate cable package, streaming services have become all but necessary to keep up with select sports and original TV shows. Fortunately, there are deals on nearly every streaming subscription service out there, especially when you bundle multiple platforms together or opt for an annual plan. Below, we've highlighted all of the best streaming deals and bundles, from Disney to Amazon and everything in between.

Many of these discounts are evergreen, year-round offerings, but we'll keep this page updated with the latest limited-time deals, so you don't need to worry about missing out on a potential savings opportunity. After scouring the internet for discounts this month, we've found introductory offers from multiple live TV services, limited-time deals on NFL Plus annual plans, and a brand-new mega bundle from Prime Video.

We know streaming can get pricey, especially after the slew of recent price hikes, which is why we've rounded up a massive list of the best streaming deals below using our rigorous deal hunting and vetting process. You can explore both basic stand-alone streaming services and comprehensive live TV packages, with price comparisons showing how much you'd pay per year on a month-to-month plan or how much you'd pay per month without bundling multiple services together. Many of the streamers offer introductory deals for new and/or eligible returning customers, which we've also outlined.

Paramount+

There are a few simple ways to cash in on Paramount+ savings. Signing up for an annual plan is an easy way to save around $18 to $28 year-over-year compared to what you'd pay after 12 months of a monthly plan. The Essential tier gives subscribers ad-supported on-demand content, while the Premium upgrade features an ad-free on-demand experience, CBS live streaming, Showtime programming, and other perks. Paramount+ Essential (or Peacock Premium, if you'd prefer that) is also included with all Walmart+ plans, from monthly ($12.95 a month) to annual ($98 a year).

If you just want to stick with a monthly plan, you can head to the Paramount+ website.

Disney Plus and Hulu

Disney (and several of its partners) offers the greatest number of deals through bundles. There are savings if you bundle Disney+ with Hulu, with Hulu and HBO Max, with Hulu and ESPN, with Hulu + Live TV, or if you just get an annual Disney+ ad-free subscription. We recommend trying out one of the Disney+ and Hulu combos no matter what, since you get two entire on-demand subscriptions for only $1 a month more than the price of one. There's also some savings if you commit to a six-month plan (billed monthly) of the Disney+ and Hulu bundle (ad-supported or ad-free), which will give you a cheaper monthly fee for the first six months.

If you plan to stick with just one streaming service or want to try a month-to-month subscription first, you can head to the Disney+ website for more information.

ESPN

There are two tiers of ESPN's streaming service: ESPN Select (formerly ESPN Plus, for $13.99 a month) and ESPN Unlimited (for $31.99 a month). Both plans also have annual subscription options, which offer year-over-year savings compared to paying monthly for 12 months. You can also purchase a gift subscription for an ESPN Select annual plan. Additionally, you can save if you bundle ESPN Unlimited with other services, like Disney+, Hulu, NFL Plus Premium, or FOX One.

The ESPN Unlimited and NFL Plus Premium bundle costs $41.99 a month, which is a decent savings opportunity when compared to the $46.98 you'd pay each month if you subscribed to the services separately. The ESPN Unlimited and FOX One bundle offers slightly more savings at $39.99 a month, compared to the $51.98 you'd pay if subscribed separately. You can learn more about the Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN bundles in the section above.

If you'd rather try a monthly plan or explore the bundle deal, you can go to the ESPN website. 

Peacock

Peacock's monthly plans go for $12.99 or $19.99 a month, so the annual plans add up to about 12 months for the price of the 10. The Premium tier offers on-demand and select live coverage with ads, while Premium Plus has ad-free on-demand content and a 24/7 live stream of NBC. The service boasts select live sports and classic comedies, like The Office, Parks and Rec, and Saturday Night Live. There's also a pared-down Peacock Select tier, which costs $8.99 a month or $89.99 a year. This plan only includes ad-supported on-demand current season and library content from NBC and Bravo shows, in addition to some other select programming (but no movies, live events/sports, or Peacock Originals).

Peacock and Apple TV have also launched two bundle options: one for Peacock Premium and Apple TV, and another for Peacock Premium Plus and Apple TV. Subscriptions cost $17.99 and $22.99, respectively, a significant savings opportunity compared to what you'd pay for both services separately each month. Additionally, Peacock Premium (or Paramount+ Essential, depending on what you prefer) is included with Walmart+ subscriptions, which cost $12.95 a month or $98 a year. Instacart+, which costs $9.99 a month or $99 a year, also comes with Peacock Premium access.

You can check out the Peacock website if you'd rather subscribe to a monthly plan.

Apple TV

Apple TV typically costs $14.99 a month, but users can find savings in an annual plan, which costs $119. It's worth noting that you might need to sign up for a monthly plan first and then opt into annual billing. Beginning in the 2026 season, all MLS matches became available to Apple TV subscribers, so there's no need to pay for the extra MLS Season Pass.

You can also find some savings by bundling Apple TV and Peacock together. Monthly bundles are available for both ad-supported and ad-free versions of Peacock, with savings ranging from 34% to 36% each month compared to what you'd pay if you subscribed to Apple TV and Peacock separately.

If you're interested in learning more about Apple TV Plus or other Apple services, you can visit the Apple TV Plus website for additional information.

Prime Video

Prime Video is Amazon's streaming counterpart, but if you're not interested in having a full Amazon Prime membership (which includes access to Prime Video), you can get a stand-alone Prime Video subscription for $8.99 a month. You can also find some savings by subscribing to an annual Amazon Prime plan, which goes for $139 a year. If you're looking for an ad-free on-demand experience, you can get Prime Video Ultra for an additional $4.99 a month.

Prime Video also allows customers to subscribe to external streaming services through their account, and these sign-ups often come with special deals in the form of discounted bundles. Some of the best Prime Video add-on deals available right now include the Starz and BritBox bundle ($17.99 a month, compared to the $22.98 a month you'd pay each month if you subscribed to each service separately) and the HBO Max and Cinemax bundle ($22.99 a month, compared to the $28.48 you'd pay each month if you subscribed to each service separately). There's also a new mega bundle, which combines AMC+, BritBox, MGM+, PBS Masterpiece, and STARZ ($29.99 a month, compared to the $48.95 you'd pay each month if you subscribed to each service separately).

If you'd rather try a monthly plan or just stick with Prime Video, you can find more information on the Prime Video storefront.

NFL Plus

NFL Plus always offers some savings when you sign up for an annual plan compared to what you'd pay after subscribing to a monthly plan for 12 months, but the NFL streaming service is also currently offering a special, limited-time deal on annual plans ahead of football season. From now until September 21, you can save 20% on an annual NFL Plus or NFL Plus Premium plan. If you'd prefer to stick with a monthly plan, there's an evergreen opportunity to save when you bundle NFL Plus Premium with ESPN Unlimited for $39.99 a month.

If you'd prefer to sign up for a monthly plan, you can explore all subscription options through the NFL Plus website.

DAZN

DAZN has become an absolute hub for boxing, hosting some of the most-anticipated matches around the globe each year. DAZN also offers other select sports, usually without a PPV fee, although boxing is its focus. Most major fights require a subscription and pay-per-view (PPV) fee, but you can find some savings by opting for one of the annual plans. Flexible month-to-month subscriptions cost $30.99 a month, but you can save by opting for the 12-Month Monthly Saver plan, which reduces your monthly bill to $20.99 a month on a one-year contract.

There's also an up-front annual plan, which costs $224.99 a year. DAZN has also introduced a new Ultimate plan, which costs $44.99 a month on an annual contract or $449.99 up front for a year. The Ultimate tier includes at least 12 PPV fights a year at no extra cost.

For more information on DAZN's plans and PPV offerings, you can explore the DAZN website.

Starz

Starz subscriptions typically cost $11.99 a month, $45.99 for six months, or $69.99 for a year, but the streamer is usually running a promo on at least one of its plans at any given moment. Right now, customers can get about 57% off a year of service by opting for a $29.99 annual plan. If you're only interested in trying STARZ for a few months, there's also an option to get your first three months for $4.99 a month.

If you're interested in learning more about the different subscriptions, you can check out the Starz website.

HBO Max

There are three tiers of HBO Max, previously Max (and before that, also HBO Max), in addition to a Disney/HBO Max/Hulu bundle, which we've highlighted above. The standard monthly price for HBO Max with Ads is $10.99, HBO Max Ad-Free is $18.49, and HBO Max Ultimate Ad-Free is $22.99. The ad-free tiers also include sports live streaming for games that air on Warner Bros. channels, like TNT and TBS. The annual version of each plan offers about 17% off in total per year, which is not a bad deal if HBO Max is something you're planning to hang onto in the long run. You can learn more about the Disney Plus, Hulu, and HBO Max bundles in the Disney Plus section above.

You can go to the HBO Max website if you'd rather just sign up for a month-to-month plan right now.

Crunchyroll

Crunchyroll is a popular anime-centric streaming service that has some decent savings opportunities when you subscribe to one of its three tiers of service on an annual basis. Monthly subscriptions range from $9.99 a month to $17.99 a month, and their annual counterparts range from $99.99 a year to $179.99 a year. Year-to-year, annual subscriptions are about 17% cheaper across the board than what you'd pay in total after 12 months on a monthly subscription.

You can learn more about the various plans through the Crunchyroll website.

YouTube TV

YouTube TV is one of the most popular live TV streaming services. The streamer offers a comprehensive selection of channels across multiple plans, with the option to pay for add-ons. The main plan carries 100+ popular channels and an enticing, limited-time offer for new users. From now until November 26, customers can get their first five months for $67.99 a month, instead of the standard $82.99 a month. That shakes out to 18% off.

If you're only interested in sports, YouTube TV's sports plan is also on sale through September 30. New users can get $20 a month off their first six months of service. The package, which carries 30+ sports channels, normally costs $64.99 a month, but the limited-time deal brings your rate down to $44.99 a month for half a year. That comes out to a little over 30% off.

There's also a special deal on the NFL Sunday Ticket, available through YouTube TV. NFL Sunday Ticket typically costs $60 a month for eight months or $480 a year, but new users can get it for $30 a month for eight months or $240 a year. Returning users also have a chance at a deal: if you subscribe to a YouTube TV base plan and NFL Sunday Ticket, you can get Sunday Ticket for $47.25 a month for eight months or $378 a year.

If you're interested in checking out other plans, you can head to the YouTube TV website.

Fubo

Fubo is a fantastic live TV service with a sports-centric approach. Standard plans start at $88.99 a month and reach up to $98.99 a month before any add-ons or regional sports fees. However, new customers can get $25 off their first month of Pro or $30 off their first month of Elite. If those prices are still a little steep, you might want to check out the Sports + News plan, which offers around 29 key sports and news channels for $64.99 a month. New users can get $10 off their first month of service. There's also a Fubo Latino plan, which is currently discounted by 50% in the first month of service.

For additional plans and channel information, head to Fubo's website.

DirecTV

DirecTV, formerly DirecTV Stream, is another comprehensive live TV streaming service with pretty much all of the channels you'll find in a standard cable package. New subscribers can save on their first 24 months of Signature packages, including discounts on the Entertainment, Choice, Ultimate, and Premier plans. First-time customers can also get $30 off their first three months of Entertainment, $30 off their first month of Choice, $35 off their first month of Ultimate, and $40 off their first month of Premier. Just keep in mind that the actual monthly prices might be a bit higher after paying the required regional sports fees and/or any necessary Gemini lease fees. Users can also save some money on their first six months of DirecTV's MySports genre pack and their first two months of DirecTV's MyNews genre pack.

If you're interested in learning more about DirecTV, check out the DirecTV website for additional information.

Sling TV

Sling TV has developed a reputation as one of the most affordable live TV streaming packages on the market, and it's also chock-full of deals. There are several main plans to choose from: Sling Select, Sling Essentials, Sling Orange, Sling Blue, the Sling Select + Essentials combo, and the Sling Orange + Blue combo. Individual Orange and Blue plans cost $45.99 a month each or $60.99 a month for both, and Sling Select and Essentials start at $19.99 a month each or $34.99 a month for both. If you have a plan that gets local channels, Sling Blue costs $49.99 a month, Sling Select costs $24.99 a month, and Sling Orange + Blue costs $64.99 a month.

You can save by prepaying for three months of any of these plans. Prepaid plans range from $49.99 for three months of Sling Select to $159.99 for three months of Sling Orange + Blue. Sling also offers all sorts of deals if you add on a streaming service through your Sling subscription, including first-month savings on Paramount+ with Showtime (Premium), AMC+, and STARZ. Several Sling plans also include access to the FOX One app at no extra cost.

If you want to explore Sling TV and its add-ons, visit the Sling website for more information.

Streaming device deals

If you've gotten yourself all set up with a streaming service but you still need a way to watch it on your TV, then it might be time to purchase a streaming device. These are particularly helpful tools for those without smart TVs, which typically come with streaming apps available to download or already installed (although you'll still need to pay for a subscription to use them). A couple of our favorite picks are on sale this month, including Roku and Fire TV devices.

Wireless and grocery streaming deals

One of the cool things about streaming services is that they're often already included with other subscriptions or contracts, or these services allow you to sign up for a streamer or bundle at a reduced price. Mobile carriers and grocery delivery services have some of the best offers, and we've rounded up some of the top options below. Cellular providers typically involve long-term contracts, so we encourage potential customers to read the fine print carefully.

Sephora is one of the easiest places to browse both beauty staples and whatever product is currently taking over your feed. Its lineup covers skincare, makeup, fragrance, hair care, and beauty tools, with brands like Laneige, Rhode, Skylar, Tatcha, and plenty more. If you're restocking favorites or trying something new, checking the latest Sephora promo codes, coupons, and deals before checkout could help you save.

Our beauty editors regularly test products sold at Sephora, and many have made it into our buying guides. The retailer carries everything from editor-recommended moisturizers and lip plumpers to high-end hair tools, fragrances, and trending skincare, making it a reliable stop for both everyday essentials and splurge-worthy upgrades.

Sephora also runs limited-time promotions and member-exclusive offers throughout the year through its free Beauty Insider loyalty program. We've rounded up the latest Sephora promo codes, discounts, and freebies below so you can see what's available before placing your order.

Today's best Sephora coupons

Previous Sephora promo codes

Are there any other Sephora sales running at the moment?

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

• Follow our Instagram page and WhatsApp channel on mobile for more deals, reviews, and shopping guides

How to use Sephora coupon codes

Start by creating or logging in to a Beauty Insider account, then add coupon-eligible items to your basket. On the cart page, you can apply a coupon by pasting the code into the "Promo Code" text box and clicking "Apply." The code will then be applied, or if the code you entered offers multiple free gifts, you'll first be prompted to make your selection. Once the coupon is added, continue to checkout to enter your shipping and billing information.

Can you stack Sephora promo codes?

Sephora does not allow coupons to be stacked together. Only one promo code may be applied per order.

Sephora coupon frequently asked questions

Do I need to join the Beauty Insider program to use Sephora promo codes?

Most Sephora coupons are only valid for Beauty Insider members, so they cannot be used on guest orders. That said, the program is free to join and comes with many perks, including free shipping on all orders, a free birthday gift each year, access to exclusive deals, and more. Learn more and sign up on Sephora's website.

Does Sephora offer free shipping?

Sephora offers free standard shipping on all orders to Beauty Insider members. For orders using guest checkout, Sephora offers free shipping if you spend $50 or more. Learn more about shipping rates and times on Sephora's website.

What is Sephora's return policy?

Sephora allows new or gently used products to be returned for a full refund by mail or in-store within 30 days of the original purchase. Learn more about how to make returns or exchanges on Sephora's website.

Can I use Sephora coupon codes in-store?

Most Sephora promo codes are only eligible for online purchases. However, there may be some exceptions, so be sure to check the specific terms and conditions for the code you want to use.

Score more beauty deals with our roundup of the best Olive & June discount codes.

• I was born and raised in New York City, but moved to Italy in my 20s.
• Raising kids here has been very different than my American upbringing.
• School lunches, schedules, and family involvement look very different here.

I was born and raised in New York City and moved to Italy when I was 24 years old. For a little over twelve years, Italy has been my home, and I've built a life here.

I have two children, an 8-year-old daughter and a 3-year-old son. Both of them have spent their entire lives in Italy. I've never experienced raising children in America, but I was raised there and have a good understanding of American parenting. And let me tell you, parenting here is a completely different story, with some of it being very surprising.

Of course, the food is different

I still remember my days in public school in New York City. My mom packed me healthy homemade lunches because you couldn't have paid me to eat what the school cafeteria was serving.

If I told you what my daughter eats at school in Italy, you would think she was dining at a gourmet trattoria. Each day, the children are served a first course, usually pasta with vegetables or beans, and a second course such as meatballs, chicken cutlets, or poached fish, and a side dish of carrots, green beans, or salad. This multi-course meal occasionally includes a dessert, like chocolate cake.

The quality is also impressive. The food at my daughter's school is prepared by local cooks, many of whom are mothers and relatives of children at the school, and a local restaurant oversees the process.

Schedules are structured differently

In America, it often feels like my friends' kids' calendars are packed from morning until night with sports practices, music lessons, tutoring sessions, and various extracurricular activities. That's just not the case in Italy.

While Italian children participate in after-school activities, there isn't the same pressure to keep them constantly occupied. The emphasis is on what the child genuinely wants to do rather than on building the perfect résumé or filling every available hour. If children want to play sports or learn an instrument, they do. If not, that's fine, too.

Kids appear to have more freedom

Over the years, I've noticed that children in Italy seem to have more freedom, and their parents are less likely to monitor their every move. This is one area where I personally struggle.

A large part of that comes from how I was raised. Growing up in New York City, safety was always a major concern. Parents were constantly aware of potential dangers and took precautions to protect their children.

Safety has always been a top priority for me, so while I try to give my children independence where appropriate, I often find myself feeling more cautious than many of the parents around me. I've seen children at the park attempting risky tricks and climbing equipment that makes me nervous, while their parents are chatting with friends or looking at their phones. While this approach can help children develop confidence, independence, and a better understanding of real-world risks, it's not something I fully embrace, and honestly, probably never will.

Extended family is very involved

Another major difference is the role the extended family plays in fostering children. It seems that the responsibility is often shared across generations rather than falling solely on the parents. Grandparents, especially the nonna, often serve as a second mother. Babysitters and nannies are not as commonly relied upon because family members typically step in to help. Cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents all play an active role.

My parents moved to Italy a few years back, so they are full-time grandparents and are a daily part of our children's lives.

Community feels different here

People all seem to know one another where I live in Italy. It's on a different level than the neighborhood I grew up in while in New York City.

Small communities, like the one I live in, tend to be close-knit, with a shared sense of responsibility for looking out for children. That's not something I ever felt when I lived in the US.

Families stay close

In America, there is a strong emphasis on children eventually leaving the nest, the idea that once you're ready for college, you're expected to leave home and become independent.

In Italy, that's simply not the case. Parents seem less focused on their children getting into a prestigious university, securing a stable job, and moving out as quickly as possible. Many Italian children continue living at home until they get married, and that's considered perfectly normal. Heck, even once they get married, many young couples continue to live at home until they eventually have stable jobs and income. It's not looked at in a bad way, but rather that family is always a part of who you are here, no matter your age.

Time will tell how our family will negotiate this stage of life. My parents are a regular part of our lives, and I hope they will continue to be as my children grow.

I'm raising my kids with strategies from both places

I find myself trying to take the best from both worlds while raising my kids. I'm combining independence, family values, and the sense of community I see in Italy, but with that extra emphasis on safety that shaped my upbringing in America.

One thing I personally struggle with is feeling like an American parent while raising my children in Italy. I guess part of me will always be in limbo. No matter where you live in the world, there is no right or wrong way to parent; it's probably hard wherever you call home.

• The season debut of "60 Minutes" saw a 20% drop in viewership from last year's premiere.
• Did viewers not stick around, or did they not watch in the first place?
• Detailed viewership data offers clues about the issues facing "60 Minutes" and CBS News boss Bari Weiss.

What does the drop in viewers for the "60 Minutes" season premiere mean for CBS News' top editor, Bari Weiss? A look at the granular ratings data provides some clues.

Viewership for the first "60 Minutes" episode led by new producer Nick Bilton, who was handpicked by Weiss in May, fell 20% from 2025's season debut. An average of just under 8 million people watched the newscast, versus over 10 million last September.

The question: Did people start watching and then give up, or did they simply not switch the program on in the first place?

Data from Nielsen shows it was the latter. "60 Minutes" retained its audience for Sunday's opener at a rate similar to last fall's debut, according to data obtained by Business Insider.

The audience for Sunday's broadcast shrank 7.6% after the first 15 minutes, compared to 17% for last year's season debut. Each premiere lost about 47% of its audience from start to finish, the data shows.

Bilton's debut episode featured interviews with the US Air Force pilot who got shot down in Iran, Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay, and the "pardon brokers" who persuade wealthy clients to hire them based on a supposed skill at securing presidential pardons.

It's common for TV shows to lose viewers over the course of an episode, especially news programs like "60 Minutes."

The takeaway for Weiss and crew: The audience didn't revolt after sampling the new-look season. The problem is that they didn't want to watch it.

So, what's going on?

There are a few potential factors, and the ratings for the rest of the season will give the media world more insight.

First, "60 Minutes" has undergone high-profile — and high-drama — changes under Bilton and Weiss, from new graphics to the dramatic departure of four correspondents: Scott Pelley, Cecilia Vega, Sharyn Alfonsi, and Anderson Cooper.

CBS fired Pelley, who grilled his new boss in front of his colleagues about his qualifications, personnel moves, and what he described as Weiss' "murdering" the "60 Minutes" program.

Several former CBS News and "60 Minutes" staffers have accused Weiss of being politically biased, which the former New York Times editor has denied.

One theory is that audiences stayed away because of the controversies.

Then there's the other big issue: The NFL.

The NFL can assist "60 Minutes" by providing a lead-in from the Sunday afternoon games, though the boost wasn't as strong this year.

Viewership for the NFL window leading into Sunday's "60 Minutes" debut, featuring the Minnesota Vikings vs the Green Bay Packers for most of the country, was down over 20% from the comparable game last year — a marquee matchup between the Baltimore Ravens and Patrick Mahomes-led Kansas City Chiefs.

CBS highlighted viewership of "60 Minutes" clips online and across social media, which it said generated about three times the reach of last year's premiere.

The rest of the "60 Minutes" season will show if Weiss and Bilton can claw back those TV viewers, or whether their problems are a lot bigger than the NFL.

Madewell is a reliable stop for easygoing wardrobe staples that still feel polished, from its best-known denim and tees to dresses, sweaters, shoes, bags, and accessories. The brand leans into pieces that are simple to style and easy to wear on repeat, which makes it a favorite for building out an everyday closet. Before you check out, it's worth looking for the latest Madewell promo codes, coupons, and sales to see if you can bring the total down.

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Start by adding coupon-eligible items to your cart. On the "Shopping Bag" page, apply a coupon by selecting "Add a promo code" from the dropdown, pasting the code into the text box, and clicking "Apply." Once the coupon is added, continue to checkout to enter your shipping and billing information.

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• Fears about AI's catastrophic risks exploded into the mainstream online this week.
• On the ground at the Dreamforce 2026 conference, attendees weren't at all concerned.
• People have other worries about AI beyond the hypothetical of existential danger.

I decided to hit the pavement at Salesforce's gigantic Dreamforce conference to ask tech-minded people about AI's catastrophic risk. Turns out, it's not all AI gloom and doom — that's only if you're looking online.

Last week, Anthropic researcher Jacob Coxon announced he was resigning from the company, saying that AI labs are "gambling with our lives." Debates about an AI-led apocalypse proliferated across the internet, and the leaders of Anthropic and OpenAI posted at length about new safety measures.

Around two-thirds of Americans now think there's at least a moderate chance that AI will destroy humanity, a Politico poll taken this week found.

It can be hard to tell, though. On Tuesday at Dreamforce, I asked some attendees about their so-called "p(doom)," or where they place the probability that AI will cause a major catastrophe. As I navigated a flood of attendees in suits and lanyards, people told me they were worried about AI but not about an apocalypse. Instead, they're concerned about other issues, such as impacts on labor, mental health, and the environment.

Dean Levita, a local tech worker attending the conference, said he was mostly unconcerned about an AI-driven extinction. Being aware about catastrophic risks isn't the same as thinking they're right around the corner, he said, likening earthquake warnings from his lifetime in the Bay Area to the discussion about AI risk.

"It's cautionary, it's not imminent," he said.

Dreamforce attendees brought up data centers

Henry Sandles and Sara Jamison had come to learn more about Salesforce since they regularly use the software at their nonprofit, which preserves a historic railroad. When I asked about the fears of extinction, Sandles cracked a grin and said, "We've been here before."

He said he trusts that smart people will shut down any AI before it wreaks real-world havoc.

"I just can't see computers being smarter than humans," Sandles told me.

Jamison said she is far more concerned about the environmental impacts of data centers. She's happy to see AI automating boring work, she said, though she doesn't want to see it used for art.

Ashleigh Kaye — the name she uses with friends, which she shared for fear of retaliation by her employer — is visiting from Oklahoma for the conference. She also raised concerns about data centers, especially regarding electricity prices. She told me she's not worried about any kind of mass extinction from AI. Instead, she thinks it's dangerous to weave the tech into so many applications that could then exert more control over us.

"It's hard to get away from AI," she said. "Everything's AI-driven."

Some say AI can impact mental health

Deep Karia, in town representing his Indian software development company at the conference, told me that his worries for AI cluster around privacy and mental health. He said a disaster stemming from AI is more likely to be because someone grew dependent on the tech and had some kind of psychotic break.

Karia is "not at all" worried about AI posing a risk of extinction.

"We know that's not going to happen," he said.

He said that, amid the discourse around AI's risks, he's reassured by the belief that humans will remain in control. That could change, Coxon and other AI researchers said this week, though for now, it's a common rebuttal to the existential fears.

Likewise, Soumya Nimmu, a law school student passing by the conference, said she's been getting sent videos about the AI fears. It's a distraction, she said.

She's more troubled by deepfakes running rampant in schools and the use of AI in military technologies. Nimmu said that the here-and-now issues of AI should get more attention, like people getting traumatized labeling horrific content for AI's training: "Why is that not what we're talking about?"

AI extinction fears still loom

That's not to say AI extinction fears weren't present. I ran into none other than Valerie Sizemore, a co-leader of the Stop AI nonprofit, on my way to the conference. Her group fears "human extinction within a matter of years," and advocates for a ban on developing superintelligent AI. As of this month, Stop AI's ideas feel markedly less fringe: Sen. Bernie Sanders has proposed a ban until a federal regulator makes safety rules.

Sizemore said it's been "really nice" to see AI risk discussed on the news and hear from family and friends who now better understand her yearslong crusade against the tech. She spent the day handing out flyers next to a drawing of the Grim Reaper that said: "AI - Either we stop it, or it stops us!"

Have a tip? Contact this reporter via email at scouncil@businessinsider.com, or over text, Signal, Telegram, or WhatsApp at 415-757-8198. Use a personal email address, a nonwork WiFi network, and a nonwork device; here's our guide to sharing information securely.

• We did a house swap. My friend's family came to the suburbs of NY, and we went to London.
• Our 15-year-old daughter immediately took to inner-city life.
• She negotiated the Underground and browsed street markets alone, embracing her independence.

I was enjoying lunch with a friend during my summer vacation in London when she asked about the whereabouts of the rest of the family.

My husband and tween son were at a museum, I told her. I said I wasn't sure about my daughter, then 15. I explained that we'd parted ways earlier that morning, and she was exploring the city alone.

She'd already spent time going to places on her own, partly because she no longer shared the same interests as us.

We did a house swap

Her idea of fun was shopping in clothing stores and browsing street markets like those in Camden and on Portobello Road. We were more into seeing the sights.

It was good to see her so happy. We live in suburban New York, which can be cloistered, and she could spread her wings in the British capital.

The trip came about via a house swap with a former colleague who lived in the Haringey area of London. Her family moved into our house for two weeks, and we stayed in theirs for seven days before visiting my parents in the north east of England.

It was a win-win: we got a taste of inner-city living, and they experienced New York. The accommodation was free for both parties, and they fed our three cats while we were gone.

I never imagined the added bonus of my teenager gaining independence during the exchange.

She was already pretty street-savvy in Manhattan, since we live about 50 minutes away by train, and she would go with friends.

This felt different. She was in a foreign city, albeit a relatively safe one, where people spoke English. She was unsure of the Underground and bus systems.

She asked strangers for directions

Then there were the cultural differences, such as standing in line for almost everything. Or something as simple as being understood when she asked for half-and-half.

However, she handled it well. She never got lost on public transport or stumbled into an unfriendly neighborhood.

She got used to asking strangers for directions and struck up conversations with people her age.

Meanwhile, I was worried about our house swap partners in New York. Would they find our little town dull compared to their busy, metropolitan location?

Their family had meaningful conversations

I asked the mom. She said it was quite the reverse. Her husband and kids got a kick out of the change of pace. They spent a lot of time relaxing at our home or touring the Hudson Valley.

Still, they regularly went into the city, driving into Manhattan in their rental car and parking in a garage. It worked out cheaper than buying five train tickets.

The mom also said their family had meaningful conversations in the car. Usually, she said, they traveled around together on the Tube, where the rattling sounds stopped them from chatting.

Looking back, the house exchange was a roaring success. Best of all, the Londoners grew closer as my daughter became self-assured and adventurous.

• The Fed hiked interest rates by a quarter point on September 16.
• President Donald Trump wants to cut, writing on Truth Social that rates should be 1% or less.
• Chair Kevin Warsh might face more political pressure from the White House.

The Fed hiked interest rates for the first time in three years — and President Donald Trump isn't thrilled.

"Interest Rates in the United States should be 1%, or less, because we are the Best Credit in the World — BY FAR," he wrote on Truth Social. "Our Country is BOOMING with new Investment!"

While Trump didn't mention him by name in the post, Chair Kevin Warsh faced a massive test of Fed independence Wednesday. The Federal Open Market Committee voted unanimously to raise rates by a quarter point to foster stable prices. Inflation is stubbornly outpacing wage growth in the US and remains above the Fed's 2% goal, largely due to supply shocks from the Iran War and flip-flopping White House tariff policies.

In quarterly economic projections, the committee also expects GDP growth to remain relatively strong, unemployment to hold steady, and inflation to stay above 2% through the rest of the year. A slew of members see another rate hike on the horizon.

Trump — who nominated Warsh to the chairmanship — has been vocal about wanting lower interest rates, a monetary policy route that would likely result in higher inflation and a climbing cost of living for Americans.

Congressional leaders, economists, and members of the FOMC have worried about how Trump's policy pressure will shape a long nonpartisan central bank. With a hike, Warsh could see more flak from the White House.

Trump repeatedly pushed former Chair Jerome Powell to lower rates in the latter part of his term. Political pressure on the central bank culminated in a Department of Justice probe into Powell's handling of construction at the Fed's Washington DC buildings and a mortgage fraud case against Governor Lisa Cook that reached the Supreme Court.

Warsh declined to answer any questions about Trump during the September 16 press conference. He said Fed independence is "a two-way street."

The central bank will stay in its lane, Warsh said, and lawmakers should stay in theirs.

It's no secret that Adobe Creative Cloud Pro can get pricey, but an education deal can help eligible students and teachers save big time. The Adobe deal discounts a year of Creative Cloud Pro by 71%.

The Adobe Creative Cloud Pro annual deal is available in two forms. Eligible customers can elect to pay for a year of service in monthly installments ($20 a month instead of $70 a month for 12 months) or a full year up-front ($240 instead of $780). Either way, you'll be paying the same amount year-over-year.

Just keep in mind that these are one-year contracts exclusively for teachers and students over the age of 13. After the introductory year, subscriptions will renew at $40 a month for 12 months or $480 for a year (still discounted rates) for those eligible, unless you change or cancel your plan before then. Students and teachers can remain on the plan as long as they're still eligible.

This is a stellar deal on an expensive but often necessary service. You can learn more about the full suite of offerings in Adobe Creative Cloud Pro below.

FAQ

What's included in Adobe Creative Cloud Pro?

Adobe Creative Cloud Pro subscriptions offer access to over 20 apps, including Photoshop, InDesign, Premiere, Illustrator, Audition, Character Animator, After Effects, and Acrobat Reader. Subscriptions also unlock access to Adobe Firefly creative AI features for images, video, and audio. Subscribers will get 4000 monthly generative credits.

Who is eligible for this deal?

The deal is available for eligible students 13 and older, as well as teachers. Customers will need to verify their eligibility (using a school-issued email address, school ID card, report card, transcript, or other proof).

What if I'm not a student or teacher?

Even if you're not a student or teacher, there's still a chance to save on Adobe Creative Cloud Pro (although the deal isn't quite as sweet). New subscribers can save 50% on their first three months of Adobe Creative Cloud Pro. The deal, which is an annual subscription billed in monthly installments, knocks the first three months down to $35 a month. After that, subscriptions will cost $70 a month.

To explore all Adobe offerings, you can head to the Adobe website. If you're trying to unsubscribe from Adobe, you can check out our guide on how to cancel an Adobe subscription.

• Wearing a camera is controversial.
• Google figured this out the hard way with its infamous Google Glass. Over 10 years later, Meta is learning the same lesson.
• Meta is now reportedly working on camera-free AI glasses. It's a good idea, but it's hard to put the genie back in the bottle.

Meta is cooking up camera-free glasses, according to a new report. And why shouldn't they? After all, wearing a camera on your face has always been a tough sell — just ask Google.

Remember when Sergey Brin jumped out of a plane wearing Google Glass, recording grainy video of his sky dive? That was way back in 2012, and the bizarre-looking camera glasses flopped soon after.

The public did not take kindly to the idea of being filmed (even though, yes, smartphones with cameras had long existed). A former colleague of mine was even assaulted in a San Francisco bar while wearing them.

Meta has been re-testing the waters with its AI smart glasses. Meta's have proved far more popular than Google Glass thanks to AI, their more traditional look, and list of genuinely useful features.

(Meta's ad that aired during the US Open — where a woman records the back-and-forth of a tennis rally by moving her head, while the crowd around her films on their phones — was particularly effective at pointing out how they can help you stay in the moment.)

But Meta is still hitting the same wall of uneasiness that Google experienced more than a decade ago.

Now, there are signs that Meta is cooking up a simpler, but likely less controversial product. The Information reported this week that Meta is working on a camera-free variant of its AI glasses, though there's no sign that the company is throwing in the towel on camera glasses. The idea is that customers would just have more choices. (Meta declined to comment on the report when contacted by Business Insider.)

I think it's a good idea, and one I'm sure Meta considered years ago, back when they were first mapping out what their smart glasses would look like, and which tech to include. Mark Zuckerberg was no stranger to the Google Glass debacle.

But Meta decided to roll the dice with cameras when its glasses first went to market, and in many ways that's paid off. Sales have boomed in recent years, but so has the backlash, both of which Business Insider has reported on extensively.

With AI glasses, sometimes less is more

A camera-free design means trade-offs. It means no visual identification of what you're looking at (sorry, tourists), and a lot of compelling features go out the door. Say goodbye to recording that tennis bout without your phone.

But in return, there's the opportunity to side-step a lot of IRL controversy, too.

It's easy to suggest Meta should have done this out of the gate, but it's important to remember that Amazon did exactly that with its Echo Frame smart glasses, which plugged into Alexa, before the first pair of Meta Ray-Bans ever launched.

Alexa was pretty bad back then (it's gotten better after Amazon's big AI overhaul), and you probably have never heard of Echo Frames. Meta is the clear market leader in the smart glasses category. In many ways, that early bet paid off.

Introducing a camera-free version still offers compelling use cases. People love listening to music on smart glasses, since it's less isolating than putting in earbuds. You can still ask AI questions without taking out your phone. No cameras also undoubtedly means a sleeker design.

But I'd argue they'll still inherit the baggage of Meta's camera glasses. That's a much harder reputational genie to put back into the bottle. Meta is certainly trying, rolling out a PR campaign and doing some legitimately creative things to fight back against bad actors using its glasses to be creepy (though Business Insider has reported that its crackdown on harassing videos recorded surreptitiously on its glasses is off to a bumpy start). Shaking the "pervert glasses" rep isn't going to be easy.

Meta would be hedging its bets by introducing a camera-free model, five years after launching its first smart glasses. That's not altogether surprising, as the company offers various configurations of wearables with different levels of tech crammed inside (you can buy the pricier Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses, which are bulkier but include an integrated screen). Selling a camera-free model could prove a savvy move to tap into a new customer base that isn't willing to risk a stranger grilling them about whether they're recording.

Social norms change. People balked at bringing Jeff Bezos into their bedroom with an always-listening Alexa. Amazon has since sold over half a billion Alexa-enabled devices. Even the famously privacy-focused Apple is now dipping its toe into always-listening territory with its controversial new Apple Watch features.

Will people en masse ever be comfortable with camera glasses? It's entirely possible. Google was met with a resounding "no" 12 years ago. Meta has pushed the needle to "maybe" — but it makes sense to cater to the "no" crowd, too.

• A judge ordered Musk's firms to disclose any Apple settlement in its antitrust case, POLITICO reported.
• X Corp dropped its Apple claims but is still pursuing an antitrust case against OpenAI.
• The lawsuit alleges Apple and OpenAI colluded to dominate the AI market, affecting app store rankings.

The federal judge overseeing an antitrust case by Elon Musk's companies against Apple and OpenAI is demanding to see any settlement agreements that may have led X Corp and SpaceXAI on Tuesday to drop their claims against Apple, POLITICO reported.

Judge Mark Pittman, a conservative Trump appointee based in Fort Worth, Texas, ordered the Musk-owned businesses on Wednesday to produce for his review any agreements with Apple related to the decision to dismiss its claims against the company.

Pittman's ruling comes after OpenAI moved to compel X to disclose information about its resolution with Apple in the dispute over dominance of the potentially trillion-dollar artificial intelligence market.

The motion to voluntarily dismiss the claims was filed without any explanation, and noted that X and SpaceXAI will continue to pursue antitrust claims against OpenAI.

The lawsuit alleges that Apple and OpenAI are "two monopolists joining forces to ensure their continued dominance" in the AI market, including via alleged manipulation of Apple's app store rankings.

The complaint also points to an exclusive 2024 deal to integrate OpenAI's ChatGPT into Apple's popular iPhone. Apple has reportedly signed a new agreement this year to integrate Google's AI services into its products.

This story originally appeared on POLITICO and is courtesy of the Axel Springer Global Reporters Network, which harnesses the resources of the company's newsrooms to publish ambitious scoops, investigations, interviews, opinion pieces, and analysis. It allows journalists — including those from POLITICO, Business Insider, WELT, BILD, Onet, and Fakt — to collaborate on major stories for an international audience of hundreds of millions across platforms.

Sony's 1000X series consistently ranks among the best headphones you can buy. The first-generation model launched back in 2016, and the brand's latest flagship pair, the WH-1000XM6 (XM6), was released in May of 2025.

Compared to older models, the XM6 over-ear headphones deliver subtle enhancements to audio quality and a welcome design update. They sound great and feel much sturdier than the previous XM5. The highlight of the XM6, however, is the headphones' notable bump in active noise canceling (ANC) performance. They go toe-to-toe with top competitors from Bose and Apple.

On the downside, the XM6 headphones come at a steep price, with an MSRP of $460. That's $60 more than the XM5 cost when they debuted. Though I don't love the higher price point, it's in line with direct rivals from other brands.

After various tests, I've been thoroughly impressed by the XM6. They're better than the XM5 in every way. That said, the WH-1000XM5 are still available and often sold at a nice discount. Given their lower cost, the older model has an edge in overall value. But if the price bump doesn't deter you, the WH-1000XM6 are a tempting treat for enthusiasts.

Small tweaks in design and comfort make a big difference

Right out of the box, I was struck by the XM6 headphones' sturdiness. Comparatively, they make the XM5 feel flimsy. The hinges on the new model don't bend or flop around in the same way. That's a meaningful change because there had been user complaints about the XM5's long-term durability, primarily regarding the hinges and how the ear cups connect to the headband. Though time will tell just how well these hold up, the XM6 feel sturdy for a plastic product.

The XM6's top headband doesn't look dramatically different than the XM5's, but you can sense its increased width on your head. It feels great and seems to disappear more than the XM5's band. While I didn't mind the previous model, the XM6's headband is better.

Not only is the XM6's band wider, improving comfort, but it also tapers off at the sides, serving as a visual indicator of which direction to put them on. The exterior of the ear cups is also angled to complement the directional cues. And unlike the XM5's ear cups, the XM6's cups can fold for more compact storage.

The padding on the ear cups is squishy and comfortable. I didn't particularly notice the ear cups getting sweaty, but they can get warm. If you've had other WH-1000X headphones, you'll probably find this area familiar.

The power button on the left cup has changed from identical to the ANC button to an indented circle. Having two distinct button shapes makes it infinitely easier to find the desired function.

At 254 grams, the XM6 headphones weigh a bit more than the XM5. Thankfully, it's not enough to make the new ones feel heavy. Here are the weights of similar headphones for comparison.

• Sony WH-1000XM5: 250 grams
• Sony 1000X The Collexion: 320 grams
• Bose QC Ultra Headphones Gen 2: 264 grams
• Sonos Ace: 312 grams
• Apple AirPods Max 2: 386 grams

Sound quality is excellent

If you're spending $200 or more on a pair of headphones, it's fair to expect high-end audio quality. The WH-1000XM6 easily deliver on that expectation.

With the default EQ, the headphones' bass is thick and full, capable of punching hard on tracks with a pounding rhythm. "Chihiro" by Billie Eilish and "Echo" by The Marias are good examples. On the flip side, Childish Gambino's "Summertime Magic" is an example of the deep, cavernous bass that the headphones can also reproduce.

The midrange is crisp and clear, too. Vocals are present and on point. Haim's "Down to be Wrong" showcases this aspect with detailed sound and a big chorus featuring clear acoustic guitar strumming. Really, no matter what you listen to, the XM6 sound fantastic.

However, the big question is how they compare to the previous-gen XM5 headphones. Sony says it specifically worked with mixing engineers to improve audio quality while designing the new model. And to their credit, the XM6 do offer a touch more clarity, but the improvements are subtle.

Even when I was actively switching back and forth with lossless audio content, I found it hard to pick out specific, meaningful differences between them. The XM5 already sounded stellar, so that's not a bad thing, but there's little reason to upgrade from the XM5 to the XM6 if audio quality is your main focus.

The XM6 headphones support Bluetooth 5.3 for wireless streaming, and LE Audio is available with a compatible device. The LDAC, SBC, AAC, and LC3 codecs are all supported. Multipoint Bluetooth allows connecting to more than one device at a time. The headphones also come with a 3.5mm cable for wired listening.

Like many Sony headphones, the XM6 support Hi-Res Audio playback, and they feature spatial audio upmixing using Sony's 360 Reality tech. That latter function creates a simulated surround sound effect. I'm not a fan of this mode as I prefer the quality of regular stereo playback, but it's there if you want it.

Stellar ANC performance rivals top competitors

Plenty of headphones sound good, but only a few can do a truly great job of blocking out external noise. The ability to do so is a hallmark of premium wireless headphones and one of the reasons to consider spending top dollar. The WH-1000XM6 are among the best in this regard. Their high-end ANC performance offers instant relief from the world's distractions.

To achieve such impressive noise canceling, the XM6 rely on a new QN3 processor. Sony says it's seven times as fast as the hardware used in the XM5 and earlier models. This increased power allowed Sony to add four more microphones (12 in total) to the headphones, along with more adaptive ANC that continually monitors and adjusts the frequencies it blocks.

The results are fantastic. To be clear, ANC performance was already good on Sony's previous WH-1000XM5. But comparing the XM5 and XM6 immediately makes it obvious that the new headphones are significantly improved.

I also compared the XM6 against the Sonos Ace, AirPods Max 2, and Bose QuietComfort Ultra (initially the first-gen model, then the second-gen once it launched). Bose is the reigning champ in Insider Reviews' guide to the best noise-canceling headphones.

The QC Ultra, Ace, AirPods Max 2, and XM6 all performed competitively. My testing process includes using airplane cabin noise, a running vacuum cleaner, café bustle, and street sounds. Though certain models performed better in certain situations, the Bose QC Ultra still edged out the XM6 ever so slightly in blocking the most noise in most circumstances. However, it's close enough to be arguable.

The XM6 did the best at blocking out the noise of a busy café with chatter and clanging silverware. However, the QuietComfort Ultra and AirPods Max 2 were unmatched at silencing the hum of an airplane cabin. In each of these cases, I relied on raw ANC performance rather than the combination of noise canceling and music playing.

However, despite the Bose offering slightly better performance in certain situations, the WH-1000XM6 did an excellent job of silencing distracting sounds wherever I tested them. On the flip side, the headphones' aware mode, which uses the integrated microphones to let in outside sound, made it easy to hear people speak when I needed to talk to them.

Beyond ANC and aware modes, the built-in microphones are also used for voice calls. The XM6 use six microphones for calls, two more than the XM5. The company also uses new AI beamforming tech to improve call quality. In practice, the XM6 perform admirably for voice, especially in comparison to other earbuds and headphones I've tested.

I even recorded audio clips to hear the results for myself. I thought my voice sounded natural in normal, quiet settings. The headphones also silenced background noise and focused on my voice well in less controlled environments. So you can feel free to use these for calls in public if that's your style.

Battery life is solid, and the included case is fantastic

Though I love a lot of the tweaks Sony made to the headphones themselves, my favorite design upgrade is actually on the included case.

It's smaller than past ones and trades the zipper for a magnetic latch. This works great. It never got hung up as a zipper can, and it securely latched closed. A case is just a case, and probably not a huge selling point for most people. But it's a big part of use while traveling and can impact how you feel about the product in the long run.

The case also includes a handy compartment to store the headphones' USB-C charging cable. Sony says that battery life is rated for 30 hours with ANC and 40 hours without it — the same as the previous generation. So far, that matches my experience as the two models have drained at a similar rate.

Will there be a new Sony WH-1000XM7 model?

Sony hasn't officially announced a successor to the WH-1000XM6 headphones, but a new WH-1000XM7 model is likely to be released in 2027 or 2028. Recent XM Series models have been spaced out by around two to three years. Since the XM6 launched in spring 2025, a spring 2027 release of the XM7 is possible.

Though the XM6 have carried over as Sony's flagship headphones for 2026, the company did release two other models in the XM series this year: the 1000X Collexion Headphones and the WH-1000XM4C Headphones.

The $650 Collexion headphones are geared toward luxury shoppers, and they feature higher-end materials than those used on the XM6, as well as more advanced sound tuning. However, they don't offer any ANC improvements and have shorter battery life. Meanwhile, the $300 XM4C are a revised version of Sony's fourth-generation XM Series headphones aimed at midrange shoppers looking for a more affordable entry into the series.

Should you buy the Sony WH-1000XM6?

In case there's any doubt, the WH-1000XM6 headphones are a ringing success and among the best Sony headphones available. If you want headphones with high-end ANC, fantastic sound, and stellar call quality for under $500, these should be among your top considerations.

Like their predecessor, the XM6 shine as versatile headphones that excel across the board. That said, certain rivals are better in specific ways. For instance, the Bose QC Ultra 2nd Gen still deliver the best overall ANC I've tested when factoring in all the environments I sampled. But few headphones can combine such impressive performance in so many different areas.

Ultimately, the XM6's biggest drawback is their $460 price. However, since their launch in 2025, the XM6 have received solid deals, with typical discounts bringing certain colorways down to $398, which is a much more attractive price point.

Running low on pet food, treats, or litter is a problem Chewy makes pretty easy to solve. The online pet retailer carries a huge range of products for dogs, cats, birds, fish, reptiles, and small animals, including food, toys, grooming supplies, health products, and everyday essentials from hundreds of popular brands. Before placing an order, it's worth checking the latest Chewy promo codes, coupons, and deals to see if you can save.

Chewy is also useful for more than routine restocks. The retailer sells prescription medications, flea and tick treatments, crates, beds, grooming tools, and other pet-care essentials, making it a convenient one-stop shop for many pet owners. Its Autoship program can take some of the work out of repeat purchases by scheduling recurring deliveries and offering additional savings on eligible items.

Chewy is already one of the most affordable platforms for pet-owning essentials, but the right coupon code can score you freebies or even a discount. We've rounded up all of the best ones you can use now, below.

Today's best Chewy promo codes

Today's best Chewy pharmacy promo codes

Previous Chewy promo codes

Are there any other Chewy sales running at the moment?

Check out the full list of markdowns and ongoing deals, including the option to shop deals by pet, on Chewy's Today's Deals page. At the time of writing, you can shop for the following deals.

Use Chewy promo codes on these items

If you purchase items we recommend in our pet guides on Chewy's site, you can easily spend enough to earn the free $20 gift card with the code WELCOME. Purchasing one of our top cat treats, the Inaba Churu Chicken Variety, for $32.96, and the ChomChom Pet Hair Remover, one of our favorite pet hair removers we've reviewed, for $24.99, puts the total price of your order over the $49 minimum to use the promo code.

• Follow us on Instagram and WhatsApp for more deals and buying guides

How to use Chewy promo codes

Start by adding coupon-eligible items to your cart. Once on the "Shopping Cart" page, you should see a list of applicable promo codes in the "Available Savings" dropdown box. Apply any of the Chewy promo codes by clicking "Apply," and you should see a checkmark to let you know that the coupon will be applied. From there, continue to checkout to enter your shipping and billing information.

Can you stack Chewy promo codes?

Chewy does allow you to stack promo codes. If multiple promotions apply to your purchase, they will be listed in your cart's "Available Savings" dropdown box. However, certain promotions may not be eligible for stacking, so be sure to check the terms and conditions.

Chewy promo code frequently asked questions

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

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

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

Can I get pet insurance through Chewy?

Yes, Chewy does offer insurance. Chewy's Care Plus insurance offers its customers four plans at varying price points, including everyday wellness coverage and accident and illness coverage.

Read our full Chewy pet insurance review for more information on plans and pricing.

Does Chewy offer free shipping?

Chewy offers customers free shipping on all orders over $49. For all other orders, shipping costs a flat fee of $4.95 per order.

What is Chewy's return policy?

Chewy allows you to return items for a full refund within 365 days of your original purchase. This policy does not apply to prescription medications. That said, if you received damaged or incorrect medication, Chewy will help you exchange it or provide a refund on a case-by-case basis.

Do I need a vet prescription to get pharmacy products from Chewy?

Yes, you must have a prescription from a licensed vet to order medication from Chewy. Chewy will contact your vet by phone or fax for their authorization before fulfilling your order. This process can take around three business days, so consider the timing when deciding how soon to order.

What are the benefits of choosing Chewy's autoship option?

In addition to not having to remember to reorder pet supplies and prescriptions, shoppers who use autoship can save an extra 5% on select brands for all future autoship orders. There's no additional fee for choosing the autoship option, so it may be worth it if you frequently need to order the same food, medication, or supplies.

Still shopping? Check out our roundup of the best dog subscription boxes.

• Donald Trump Jr., 48, and Bettina Trump, 39, celebrated their wedding in the Bahamas in May.
• Bettina Trump, a socialite, model, and influencer, comes from a prominent Palm Beach family.
• She was linked to Trump Jr. in September 2024, and they announced their engagement in December 2025.

Bettina Anderson was already well-known in Palm Beach, Florida, for her fashion modeling, her passion for environmental conservation and charity work, and her prominent banking family.

Then, she became Mrs. Trump.

The pair made their official debut as a couple during President Donald Trump's inauguration, where they were photographed holding hands, walking arm-in-arm, and dancing together at several events.

In December 2025, they announced their engagement after a year of dating. The couple held their wedding ceremony in the Bahamas on May 22 after quietly marrying in a legal ceremony in Florida the day before. The president did not attend the wedding.

"While I very much wanted to be with my son, Don Jr., and the newest member of the Trump Family, his soon to be wife, Bettina, circumstances pertaining to Government, and my love for the United States of America, do not allow me to do so," Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Here's what to know about Bettina Trump's upbringing, career, and connection to the Trump family.

Bettina Trump, née Anderson, grew up in Palm Beach, Florida, and comes from a prominent family.

Bettina Trump's father, Harry Loy Anderson Jr., became the youngest bank president in the US in 1970 when he took over Worth Avenue National Bank at 26 years old. He was also a philanthropist who supported numerous charitable causes including the American Red Cross, of which he was a board member. He died of Alzheimer's in 2013 at 70 years old, according to his obituary.

Her mother, Inger Anderson, is a philanthropist and business owner who operates Palm Beach Groves, an orange orchard and souvenir shop that she and her husband bought in 1978.

Bettina Trump, 39, grew up on a Palm Beach estate known as Oasis Cottage that once belonged to fashion designer Lilly Pulitzer Rousseau. Inger Anderson sold the state for $11.88 million in 2016, the Palm Beach Daily News reported.

She has five siblings, including a twin sister.

Bettina Trump is an Ivy League graduate.

Bettina Trump earned a bachelor's degree in art history from Columbia University in 2009, according to her LinkedIn profile.

She's worked as a business development professional as well as a model and influencer.

Bettina Trump's résumé includes working as a business development manager for the pharmaceutical company TherapeuticsMD and as an independent consultant for the Florida-based investment company Merrick Ventures.

She has modeled for Quest Magazine, Palm Beach Illustrated, and Modern Luxury Palm Beach, in which she was referred to as an "ambassador of Palm Beach style and local 'it' girl."

Bettina Trump also has over 236,000 followers on Instagram, where her profile features affiliate links to skincare products and her Amazon Shop.

She co-founded an environmental charity with her siblings called Project Paradise.

Project Paradise funds filmmaking grants for documentaries about environmental conservation.

The organization released a short documentary, "The Water State," calling attention to the fragility of Florida's freshwater springs.

"One of the greatest focuses of my life is how I can be of service to others and a be steward of the environment," Bettina Trump told fashion blog The Daily Front Row in 2022.

Bettina Trump also volunteers with the Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach County and is a young patron of The Everglades Foundation.

Bettina Trump attended the Republican National Convention in July 2024, months before she was first linked to Donald Trump Jr. that September.

At the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Bettina Trump was seated behind Donald Trump Jr., his former fiancée Kimberly Guilfoyle, and other members of the Trump family.

In September 2024, the Daily Mail reported that Bettina Trump and Trump Jr. were seen kissing and eating brunch together in Palm Beach. Neither responded to a request for comment about the nature of their relationship.

In December 2024, Trump Jr. stopped short of confirming his breakup with Guilfoyle, but told Page Six in a statement that he and Guilfoyle "will always keep a special bond" and that he "could not be more proud of her and the important role she'll continue to play in my father's administration" as ambassador to Greece.

She co-hosted a fundraiser for Donald Trump's presidential campaign at Mar-a-Lago in October 2024.

The event featured former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and Vivek Ramaswamy, all of whom later became members of Trump's administration.

Attending the dinner cost $100,000 per couple, and admission to a fireside chat cost $30,000 per couple, the Palm Beach Daily News reported.

Bettina Trump and Trump Jr. made their public debut as a couple at Trump's inauguration in January 2025.

Bettina Trump and Trump Jr., who was previously married to Vanessa Trump, with whom he has five children, appeared together throughout the inauguration festivities.

They attended a reception together at Trump National Golf Club in Washington, DC. The night before the inauguration, they held hands and danced at the Turning Point USA Inaugural-Eve Ball.

Bettina Trump attended Trump's inauguration ceremony at the US Capitol, but was not seated with Trump Jr. or other Trump family members.

The couple announced their engagement at a White House holiday party in December 2025.

The couple got engaged at Camp David in December 2025. President Donald Trump announced the engagement at a White House holiday party in 2025 and asked the couple to join him at the White House podium.

Trump Jr. thanked his fiancée "for that one word, yes," according to a video from the event shared by far-right activist Laura Loomer,

Bettina Trump could be seen wearing a diamond ring.

"This has really been the most unforgettable weekend of my life, and I get to marry the love of my life, and I feel just like the luckiest girl in the world," she said at the holiday party, the video showed.

She began attending numerous White House events and appeared at the State of the Union in 2026.

Bettina Trump appeared at Trump Jr.'s side at the White House Easter Egg Roll in April 2025, the US Army's 250th anniversary military parade in June 2025, Charlie Kirk's memorial in September 2025, a posthumous Presidential Medal of Freedom ceremony in October 2025, and a White House dinner for Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud of Saudi Arabia in November 2025.

In February 2026, she attended the State of the Union address, seated between other members of the Trump family.

She celebrated her bridal shower with members of the Trump family in April, ahead of her May nuptials.

Ivanka Trump, Tiffany Trump, and Lara Trump attended the large event, which was mostly held in the ballroom at Mar-a-Lago.

In a speech, Bettina Trump addressed Trump Jr., who was also in attendance.

"The truth is, I would marry you regardless of what your last name is or what family you come from because I think you're the most incredible man I've ever met in my entire life," she said in a speech, which she shared in a video on Instagram. "I'm also so proud to be joining your family."

Trump Jr. and Bettina Trump married in a private legal ceremony on May 21 before holding another ceremony and lavish celebration in the Bahamas.

After their legal ceremony in Florida on May 21, Bettina Trump and Donald Trump Jr. held a small, family-only wedding ceremony in a chapel in the Bahamas on May 22.

"It was simple, sacred, beautiful, and more joyful than anything I could have ever dreamed," she wrote on Instagram.

The ceremony was followed by a two-day celebration on a private island with around 50 guests.

She took Trump Jr.'s last name after the wedding, updating her Instagram handle to @bettinatrump.

In September, the couple confirmed a ProPublica report that Russian oligarch Umar Kremlev paid for their wedding celebrations in the Bahamas.

Kremlev, head of the International Boxing Association, has close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin. In September, ProPublica reported that he had paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to fund the Trumps' lavish wedding celebrations, including renting out the private island and staging a fireworks show.

In an Instagram post, Bettina Trump confirmed that Kremlev had paid for the two-day party, which she characterized as separate from the wedding ceremony.

"Our dear friend Umar very generously hosted two incredible nights of celebrations for us AFTER our wedding," she wrote in a post on her account signed by her and Trump Jr. "It was an extraordinarily generous wedding gift from a friend, and something for which we were and remain incredibly grateful."

The ProPublica report raised concerns about a Russian oligarch and Putin ally gaining access to the president's son, which Bettina Trump dismissed in the post.

"It's unfortunate that something so personal and happy can be recast as something political or sinister simply because of who someone is or where they come from," she wrote, adding, "sometimes a wedding gift is simply a wedding gift."

Editor's Note: This story was originally published in January 2025. It was most recently updated in September 2026.

A great pair of silk pajamas can make your whole nighttime routine feel more elevated — but not every set is worth the splurge. After testing silk pajama sets and nightgowns from brands like Eberjey, Quince, Lunya, and Clementine, I found that the best silk pajamas for women aren't just beautiful; they also need to feel comfortable, hold up well, and justify their price.

I narrowed my favorites down based on comfort, fit, fabric quality, washability, and value. The picks below include the silk pajamas I'd actually recommend buying, whether you're looking for a classic set, a machine-washable option, or something more luxurious.

I also learned lots of tips — like how to get rid of wrinkles by putting silk in the dryer for a few minutes or how to remove small oil stains with talcum powder — that helped make the process of caring for silk less daunting. 

For more of our sleepwear coverage, see our articles on the best pajamas, the best nightgowns, the best cooling pajamas, and more.

Editor-favorite silk pajamas

What to look for in silk pajamas

Silk is classified according to two units of measurement: momme and grade. While some brands don't publicize the grade of their silk, others — like Eberjey or Clementine— tout the superior momme and grade of their fabrics.

• Momme: Pronounced "mommy," momme has to do with how thick and tightly woven the silk is. They get this number by calculating the weight in pounds of a standard roll of silk, which is 45-inches by 100 yards. If this roll weighs 15-pounds, then the silk is classified as as 15 momme. Quality tends to go up with momme.
• Grade: This fiber measurement has to do with how pure the fabric is. Most of the silk pajamas on this list are grades 4A, 5A, or 6A. 6A is the highest, with long strands, very few impurities, and a shine that lower grades don't have.

How I tested silk pajamas

• Fabric quality: I considered momme weight and silk grade where brands disclosed those details, along with the overall feel, finish, and construction of the fabric.
• Washability: I laundered each pair according to its care instructions, which usually meant a very delicate machine cycle followed by air drying, to see how manageable each set was to care for in real life.
• Durability: I washed every pair at least twice to evaluate long-term performance and noted how well each set held its shape, sheen, softness, and overall appearance after repeated wear and laundering.
• Sleep comfort: I wore each set after showering, during my skincare routine, in bed, and while lounging at home to judge breathability, ease of movement, waistband comfort, seam feel, and overall comfort for sleeping and relaxing.
• Fit notes: Because I wore them in everyday life, I was able to note which styles felt loose versus tailored, whether longer-hemmed pants were easy to walk around in, and which silhouettes would likely work better for petite or taller shoppers.
• Value: I paid close attention to whether a higher price actually translated to better silk, better comfort, better durability, or easier care — and where it didn't.

The best places to buy silk pajamas

Here's a quick overview of silk from popular retailers before I discuss my favorite specific pieces in detail.

Quince makes silk sets for a little over $100, which may sound expensive for regular pajamas but is incredibly budget-friendly for silk. These make for a great starter set, but the material doesn't compare to specialized silk retailers. The silk is 19 momme, but both our testers and I have issues with the thinness, the fact that the silk is matte rather than shiny, and how the pieces can sometimes warp in the wash. The company does not disclose the grade of silk.

Eberjey sets are made from 16 momme, grade 6A silk. Though it's technically a lower momme than Quince, the fabric feels much better and looks much shinier (perhaps because of the 6A fiber grade). Last winter, I practically lived in the Inez set and washed it over a dozen times. Even after all those washes, the fabric still feels and looks luxurious. Plus, they have lots of cute prints and colors.

Clementine is the brand to choose if you want true luxury. They make rich, high-shine silk with a beautifully fluid feel. The company uses material with a whopping 22 momme weight. The mirror-like sheen comes from the 6A grade fibers, which make the pieces move like water. Expect to spend over $300 for a set, but you can also expect to get exactly what you pay for.

Best overall silk pajamas: Eberjey Inez Washable Silk Sets

Eberjey's silk is beautifully billowy and cool to the touch. It's made of 16 momme, grade 6A silk, which is some of the highest quality around. It may seem expensive, but I've found that it's actually a great value for the price.

I absolutely live in the Inez Washable Silk Short Set. It is so light and soft that it feels like silk is floating on my body. I got the printed version in the blue and white Wedgewood pattern (as an antique enthusiast, this little detail made it even more special).

There are two versions of the Inez set. For winter, I love the long sleeve and long pant version, The fabric is still the same luxurious silk, but it comes in tons of fun prints. As I've tested more silk, I've found that the patterned styles tend to be my favorite because they hide the tiny imperfections that come with loving and living in a set.

Both the long-sleeve and the short sleeve versions are the most comfortable pajamas I own. The waistband on these is perfect — loose enough to sit on my hips without digging and perfect for rolling up comfortably (if you, like me, are petite).

I almost have to force myself to wear anything other than these Eberjey sets. The fit is perfect on me, and the fabric is pure luxury. But like all silk, it takes a little bit of effort to launder and de-wrinkle. However, this set makes it all worth it.

See our full Eberjey pajama review to hear more about our non-silk favorites from the brand.

Best budget silk pajamas: Quince Washable Silk Sets

"The top and bottom from Quince cost about $150 together, which makes it one of the most affordable options on this list. But you do sacrifice some quality for a better price. The silk is 19 momme, which isn't bad, but the brand doesn't report the grade of the fabric.

This was my first set, so I remember being floored by the cooling material and the supreme comfort. But over time, I've found that the material warps very slightly in the wash. It's also a more matte silk when I prefer a shinier material. But I've only noticed these flaws as I've gone further on my silk journey — as a starter set, it was a dream.

I love the breezy wide-leg pants with the side slit and oversized tee—it's the kind of set that works year-round. I also like that the pieces are sold separately, so you can mix sizes, colors, or swap in a button-up shirt, tank, and shorts." — Talia Ergas, freelance writer, Insider Reviews

For more on Quince, see our full Quince clothing review.

Other silk products I've tested from the brand: We also did a Quince washable silk review, where you can get the full breakdown of almost all of Quince's silk pieces. I've also reviewed the Quince silk slip dress, one of their hero pieces.

Best luxury silk pajamas: Clementine Organic Silk Pajama Sets

Clementine's fabric is the highest quality on this list. Their Silk Short Pajama Set is made of 22 momme, grade 6A silk. You can feel the weight of the silk and how thick and shiny it is right off the bat. On a blind feel test, I'm sure I could pick out that this is the most expensive choice on this list.

In addition to the fluid silk, this set has lots of other touches of luxury — most notably the mother-of-pearl buttons. It also comes beautifully packaged in a hefty orange box with a dustbag; I highly recommend keeping the box so that you have a protective place to store the set.

But the true creme de la creme is the brand's Organic Silk Long Pajama Set. At $790, it's the most expensive set on this list. But that price is directly reflected in the quality of the material. The silk is thick and shimmering, and the fit of the pajamas is quite literally a cut above the rest.

The set includes the Organic Silk Long Pajama Shirt, which is oversized enough to wear alone as a sleep shirt in warmer months. And the matching pajama pants have a wide leg cut, cute contrast piping down the sides, and slits at the hem. Both of these pieces are made to be worn outside the house as well as in bed. I could easily see myself styling the pants with a pointed-toe heel and oversized sweater. They are a little long for me because I'm five-foot-two, but I can roll them at the waist.

After washing both sets at least five times each, every piece keeps bouncing back to its original shape and feel. The material looks the same as it did the day I got it, which I can't say about the less expensive picks on this list.

The only thing that could make this Clementine set better is a slightly looser waistband, since I prefer more give in a pajama set.

Other silk products I've tested from the brand: Clementine also makes some of the best silk sleep accessories around. I'm a huge fan of their sleep masks, which are a great way to dip your toe into the luxury silk life without paying for a full pajama set. And every night I sleep on their Atelier Medica Organic Silk Pillowcase, which is infused with ingredients like Hyaluronic acid, peptides, and silver ions. The pillowcase is a dream, and I can absolutely feel a difference in my hair since switching over.

Best for gifting: LilySilk Zodiac Pajamas

What makes this set (and all silk sets from LilySilk) great for gifting is the beautiful gift box it comes in. This one in particular comes in a beautiful, solid box with an astrological wheel on it — a stunning touch, and one of the few gift boxes I've kept for keepsakes.

These Zodiac pajamas also feel personal. Since I'm an Aries, I got them in the ram-themed landscape print. It looks like a Fauvist painting, with distinct brush strokes and delicate colors. Each sign has a totally unique design that isn't ever cheesy (no obvious astrological symbols or anything too literal). Each one is artistic and subtle — some of my favorite designs are the Sagittarius and Leo.

The charmeuse silk is the kind of fabric that feels cool and slippery at first touch, then quickly warms against your skin. It's lightweight rather than heavy or bulky, so it works especially well for anyone who tends to overheat in traditional cotton pajamas.

If you're looking for a great gift, this is a perfect set that's ultra-comfortable and luxurious while still being relatively affordable for the quality of silk.

Plus, I love the way the sleek fabric feels when I climb into bed at night. The pants' thin waistband is much more comfortable to sleep in than some of the sets with thicker, more restrictive waists. This thin waistband also makes it easier to roll up slightly, which I needed to do with the pants.

Best with unique pieces: Not Just Pajama Silk Off-Shoulder Dress

If you're looking for prints that are anything but basic, you should check out Not Just Pajama. This elegant silk brand has unique garments that go beyond the typical solid colors, pinstripes, and long sleep sets. Some of my favorite whimsical yet elegant designs include a cream set with a green piped Peter Pan collar and another set with an embroidered dachshund on the chest pocket.

My favorite collection is the Museum of Crush, which features patterns and embroidery inspired by Greco-Roman statues. The nightgown I'm wearing above features an artistic depiction of Venus de Milo. Though it's meant to be worn with the design on the back, I've enjoyed wearing it reversed.

The silk itself is 22 momme and wonderfully shiny. It feels gentle against the skin and billows beautifully. As a real nightgown, the fabric feels amazing to sleep in, but the elastic cuffs are a touch tight. By far my favorite thing to do is to wear the dress as an off-the-shoulder gown and pair it with heels to make it a real outfit.

Other silk products I've tested from the brand: The Puppy Edition Checkered Silk Short Set is another standout. Not Just Pajama creates silk pieces that are anything but basic, and this one is another piece that can be repurposed for wearing as a real outfit.

Best for doubling as a real outfit: Petite Plume Silk Set

The pajamas from Petite Plume are made of 22 momme silk, which is heavy and high quality — but the brand does not disclose the grade.

The long-sleeved set is shimmery and beautiful. I love it in the polka dots (currently out of stock), but it also comes in a chic panther print, solid colors, and seasonal limited-edition patterns. This set is slightly more tailored than the other picks on this list, with closer-fitting pants and a shirt that is less billowy than others. This can be a pro or con, depending on your preference.

The slightly closer tailoring makes this a better choice for trying out the pajamas-as-real-clothes trend. I've worn the pants with a T-shirt and heels and didn't look like I was wearing pajamas at all — just a great, shiny pair of silk pants.

The only issue I have with this set, as with the Clementine set above, is the waistband's tightness. I'm of the opinion that sleep pants should have loose, thin bands with plenty of give. This one is fitted a little more like a non-pajama bottom.

Other silk products I've tested from the brand: The Silk Cosette Nightgown is so pretty that I wear it as a dress rather than a nightgown.

Best silk pajamas for sleeping: Lunya Washable Silk Cami Pant Set

I first saw Lunya all over Instagram and knew that I had to try their gorgeous silks. But though the pajamas are stunning, my favorite part about testing this brand was discovering smart details about how the garments are designed for comfortable sleeping. 

The top in the Washable Silk Cami Pant Set has a T-shaped back, which I originally didn't love because it caused a bit of an unflattering droop in the neckline. But once I actually wore the pajamas to bed, I realized how brilliant the T-back is. My arms could flail all they wanted with no restricted shoulder movement.

In the same vein, the pants have slits on the sides that go up to your knees. This gives your legs a bit of breathing room and also frees up their movement. You can kick and toss all you want when you're under the covers. It is so freeing. 

But the slits on the side are not without fail. I ripped some of the stitches at the top of the slit because the pants were a little too long for me, and I tripped. Again, I'm five-foot-one, so this may not be an issue for you, but I do feel like the pajamas were made for someone taller.

Lunya does not report the grades of their silk, but it feels on par with other high-quality picks. 

Best mix-and-match: Negative Underwear Eclipse silk pieces

Lots of the pajamas on this list come as a set, but Negative Underwear's Eclipse Washable Silk comes in separates, so you can pair the exact pieces you want.

Style Editor Gabrielle Chase tried the Silk Cami and Silk Drawstring Pants in periwinkle. Here's what she had to say in her article on the best cooling pajamas:

"One of the great things about this silk is that it's naturally odor repellent and moisture-wicking, so the fabric stays fresher for longer. I wear this periwinkle set well into the morning because it feels so breezy and lightweight.

The cropped tank is detailed with iridescent shell buttons. It's a bit too skimpy to pass as a regular tank, so I'd recommend one with fuller coverage if you prefer something you can wear beyond the bedroom. The silk pajama pants run long. For reference, I'm 5-foot-9 and was delighted to find they actually skim the floor when I'm barefoot (a rarity for me).

They come with pockets and a stretchy waistband, so you can wear them high at your natural waist or slung low on the hips. The Grade 6A mulberry silk weighs 17 momme, and the sandwashed finish gives it a slippery, almost reflective quality. It's technically machine washable, but at this weight, you can expect it to pill after a year of wash cycles."

Best machine-washable: The Cat's Pajamas Silk Long-Sleeved Pajama

The Cat's Pajamas Morning in Savannah set has the luxurious look and smooth feel you want from silk pajamas, but it's much less precious than some pricier options. While a lot of luxury silk sets require hand-washing or a trip to the dry cleaner, this 19-momme mulberry silk can go straight into the washing machine.

Just turn it inside out, pop it in a mesh bag, and wash it separately in cold water on the delicate cycle. Take it out promptly and lay it flat to dry, and you're done — no bleach or dryer needed. I've found that, compared to the more delicate sets, this one holds up remarkably well in the wash.

That makes it a great middle ground for anyone who wants the quality and beautiful drape of real silk without signing up for a high-maintenance laundry routine. The pink floral print still makes it feel special enough for a gift, but the washable fabric means it's practical enough to wear all the time.

Best budget silk nightgown: Etam Silk Slip Dress

Etam's silk nightgown is under $100, making it the most affordable choice on this list. The fabric is classified as 16 momme, which is on par with other picks. However, the company does not report the grade of the silk.

I love the easy-breeziness of this Etam slip-on dress. It's lightweight, has adjustable straps, and is cute enough to wear as a real dress if you accessorize enough. I found myself reaching for this dress all the time on warmer nights since the fabric and thin straps make it a summer sleeping dream.

Also, this dress has the most color choices of any pick on this list. You can choose from 10 colorways, including more vibrant hues like bright red.

It doesn't feel as luxurious as some of the higher-priced sets, but that's to be expected. Also, I felt that this piece held onto wrinkles more than other choices, which might have something to do with the grade of the silk.

For more of our favorite nightgowns, see our article on the best nightgowns.

Tips on caring for silk

I've learned a lot about how to care for silk while doing research for this article. Here are my best tips:

• First and foremost, refer to the specific instructions on the garment tag. Many silk sets require handwashing, and you should follow the care instructions to prolong the garment's life.
• Invest in a silk detergent — I use this one from Amazon.
• If you can control how much your washer spins, launder your silk on the lowest setting possible. Better yet, use a no-spin setting so that the fabric doesn't get warped.
• Invest in a lay-flat drying rack and never leave your silk outside to dry (the UV rays could discolor it). 
• Using a steamer is always best, but you can put your silk in the dryer for no more than five minutes on a low-heat fluff cycle if you want to reduce wrinkles quickly and easily. 
• Or you can leave your silk in the bathroom while you're in the shower to help remove wrinkles. 
• If you get any oil-based substance on the silk, first treat the spot with talcum powder to draw out the oil. 

FAQs

Why choose silk pajamas over cotton or flannel?

Silk pajamas feel exceptionally smooth against the skin, which many find more comfortable and luxurious than cotton or flannel. Because silk naturally helps regulate temperature, it can keep you cooler in warm weather and still feel cozy on cooler nights.

What should I look for when buying silk pajamas?

Check the silk quality — mulberry silk is often considered the best for softness and durability. Consider the momme weight (a measure of silk fabric density): a range of around 18 to 22 momme is usually ideal for pajamas. Also, pay attention to stitching and construction — well-made seams and hems tend to last longer and prevent snagging.

What should I avoid when buying silk sleepwear?

Avoid pajamas labeled simply "silk-blend" if you want true silk quality. Be cautious of very thin, low-momme silk — it may feel nice initially but often wears out quickly.

How do I pick the right size and fit?

Silk pajamas should feel relaxed, not tight. Since silk drapes differently than cotton, you might want to size up if you prefer looser, more flowy sleepwear. Take note of the sleeve and pant lengths to ensure they're comfortable for bedtime lounging or sleeping.

Apple's latest iPhone generation is officially up for preorder, and the new device looks sweet for fans of the iOS ecosystem. As you might expect, the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max aren't cheap, so a good deal goes a long way to making the smartphone accessible. Luckily, new and existing Verizon customers can save now on their new iPhone with these sweet preorder deals.

One of the best offers features a free iPad A16 and Apple Watch Series 12 (or previous generation) with iPhone orders and eligible Verizon Plans. It's an incredibly sweet deal, perfect for students and newcomers to the Apple universe. The devices pair seamlessly, creating a stress-free setup for one user or a value-packed trio to be shared among family members.

Keep reading for more details on how to get Verizon freebies with your iPhone 18 Pro preorder. I've also broken down some of the provider's other ongoing offers for new iPhone purchases, in case you're interested in a different discount.

How to get a free Apple Watch Series 12 and iPad A16 with iPhone purchases

To get your free devices with your Verizon purchase, you need to have an iPhone Service plan. Here's how to get started:

1. Head to the Verizon website and choose the iPhone you want — it doesn't have to be the newest generation to count.
2. Select the color and storage size you want, specify your status as a new or existing customer, indicate whether you'd like to include a trade-in, then click "Preorder" or "Order."
3. Select the iPad and Apple Watch you'd prefer in the pop-up that appears after adding the phone to your cart.
4. Click "Next steps" after adding all three items to your cart.
5. Select your preferred Verizon cell plan and proceed through account enrollment and checkout.

This specific promo covers your additional devices through bill credits. Put simply, you'll pay up front for the iPad and Apple Watch, but Verizon will discount your monthly bill to offset the total cost.

If you already have a smartwatch and a tablet, Verizon is also offering other great promotions on the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max.

What devices are eligible for the Verizon iPhone 18 Pro deal?

The Verizon deal isn't limited only to the latest devices — it actually applies to a handful of different Apple devices. Any iPhone purchased with a Verizon Service Plan can be bundled with a free iPad A16 and any of the following smartwatches:

• Apple Watch Series 12
• Apple Watch SE 3
• Apple Watch SE 2nd Gen

See more: iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max preorders | iPhone 18 Pro cases | iPhone 18 Pro Max cases | Apple Watch Series 12 preorders | Apple Watch Ultra 4 preorders | AirPods 5 preorders

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If your new iPhone 18 Pro Max is stressfully bare, you're not alone. For many smartphone users, a case is a necessity, not an option. With so many options to choose from, it's easy to find one fitted to your needs, too. I've rounded up all of the best iPhone 18 Pro Max cases below, from ultra-protective shells to style-friendly wallet cases.

Unlike other brands, Apple's new devices have a saturated case market with a variety of designs, styles, and features. Whether you like the designer-like appeal of Bandolier and Bellroy or need military-grade drop protection from OtterBox and Zagg, there's something for everyone right now. If you're shopping for the smaller version, check out my guide to the best iPhone 18 Pro cases for options tailored to its needs. If you have yet to place your order, you can also learn how to preorder the iPhone 18 Pro Max in my guide.

The best iPhone 18 Pro Cases

• Browse more cases at Bandolier | Casetify | OtterBox | Zagg

What is the best iPhone 18 Pro Max case?

If protecting your iPhone 18 Pro Max is the top priority for your new case, the best option is OtterBox's Defender Series Pro or Zagg's Rainier Case. Alternatively, visually focused shoppers might prefer the vast libraries of designs offered by Casetify and Burga. If you're shopping on a tight budget, Mkeke and Fntcase are my go-tos.

The best iPhone 18 Pro Max case ultimately depends on your needs as a user. If you're shopping for a balance between quality, appearance, and price, I always recommend looking into Spigen's designs.

Do iPhone 17 Pro Max cases fit the iPhone 18 Pro Max?

Luckily, the iPhone 18 Pro Max shares the same dimensions as its predecessor, the iPhone 17 Pro Max. That said, I always advise looking at your case's specifications to ensure it's actually compatible with both devices. Just because a product technically fits, doesn't mean it's designed with the device's hardware in mind — a poor match can result in lackluster drop protection.

What screen protector should I get?

A screen protector is always an excellent investment for new phones, even if the manufacturers boast improved durability with every new generation.

For the iPhone 18 Pro Max, I recommend Spigen's GlasTR EZ Fit Screen Protectors or AmFilm's OneTouch screen protectors. Both are easy to apply, relatively budget-friendly, and come with extras to replace a damaged one.

See more: iPhone 18 Pro cases | iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max preorders | Verizon iPhone 18 Pro deals | Apple Watch Series 12 preorders | Apple Watch Ultra 4 preorders | AirPods 5 preorders

Follow us on Instagram and WhatsApp for the latest deals, reviews, and buying guides.

• The market appeared to take the first rate hike in three years in stride, but investors were rattled late in the day.
• The Fed hiked rates as expected, but Kevin Warsh signaled inflation is still a big risk
• The Dow dropped 630 points and bond yields resumed their weekslong rise.

It looked like the market was taking Wednesday's rate hike well, until it suddenly wasn't.

Following the first interest rate increase from the Federal Reserve in three years, stocks were mostly higher and key bond yields inched lower as traders were encouraged by the central bank's willingness to do what it takes to get prices under control.

However, things changed as Kevin Warsh delivered his remarks, which suggested that officials still see inflation as a major risk that will take more hikes to fully tame.

Stocks dropped sharply and bond yields rose as the Fed chair wrapped up his press conference, with losses accelerating into the end of the trading session.

Here's where major indexes stood at the 4 p.m. ET closing bell:

• S&P 500: 7,552.34, down 0.44%
• Dow Jones Industrial Average: 51,462.55, down 1.19 (-630.56 points)
• Nasdaq 100: 28,945.06, up 0.02%

The 10-year Treasury was back above 5% at the end of the day after dipping below the threshold right after the rate decision. The Fed-sensitive 2-year bond yield spiked 6 basis points to 4.72%.

The Fed's updated Summary of Economic Projections suggests that central bankers see one more rate hike coming before the end of the year.

Some investors are pricing in even more rate hikes than reflected in the central bank's own projections, Brian Therien, a senior investment strategy analyst at Edward Jones, said. The odds that the Fed will raise rates by 50 basis points by the end of the year also rose to 38%, up from a 10% probability priced in last week, according to the CME FedWatch tool.

"The message from the dot plot is clear: rates may move higher and remain elevated for longer than investors previously expected," Brian Rehling, the co-head of global fixed income and digital asset strategy at Wells Fargo Investment Institute, wrote in a note on Wednesday.

Warsh, who has been opposed to issuing forward guidance for monetary policy, said central bankers had come to the conclusion that rates needed to be more restrictive in order for the Fed to fulfill its 2% inflation commitment. He added that the decision was not influenced by recent volatility in the bond market.

"Warsh's press conference closely echoed the hawkish tone of his Jackson Hole remarks," Jeff Schulze, the head investment strategist at Franklin Templeton Institute, wrote in a note. "The hawkish tone of the press conference drove fed funds futures and long bond yields higher and US equities lower, with the resulting rise in rates weighing on equity valuations."

• Elon Musk made headlines in 2020 after announcing he was selling all of his homes.
• Until then, Musk lived lavishly in several properties in California and Texas.
• He succeeded in selling most of his known portfolio, but has purchased a few more homes since.

In 2020, Elon Musk wrote on X that he was selling "almost all physical possessions" and would no longer own a house.

The South African-born billionaire and SpaceX CEO had amassed a sizable California real estate portfolio, at one point owning multiple homes in the same neighborhood. His properties included multimillion-dollar mansions with amenities such as pools and tennis courts.

Musk said the sales were not solely about money. He wrote on X that he was dedicating himself to Mars and Earth, adding that "Possessions just weigh you down."

Sticking to his word, Musk has had a flurry of property sales, and, at one point, claimed to be couch-surfing.

Today, despite Musk's estimated net worth of $932.2 billion as of September 2026, Musk's living arrangements remain somewhat modest, relatively speaking.

After moving to Texas in 2020, Musk at one point lived in a tiny home near SpaceX's launch site in Boca Chica and has since purchased several other properties in the Austin area. As his businesses expand, he is also putting down roots elsewhere in the South. In Tennessee, where his artificial intelligence startup xAI is building a data center, the billionaire is reportedly living in an Airstream trailer.

Take a look at some of the properties Musk has owned over the last few years.

After renting for two years, Musk bought a mansion in the Bel Air neighborhood of California.

Elon Musk's first venture into the swanky California neighborhood of Bel Air was in 2012 when he bought a $17 million, 16,251-square-foot mansion.

Musk initially rented the seven-bedroom home in 2010 but decided to move in permanently. The house has a two-story library, a pool, and a tennis court in the backyard, and views overlooking the Bel-Air Country Club.

After he pledged to sell all of his properties, he listed the mansion for $30 million in 2020. The Wall Street Journal reported that it was sold to Chinese billionaire William Ding.

Musk bought a historic property on the same street as his other Bel Air mansion.

Just a year after his first Bel Air purchase, Musk bought his neighbor's house for $6.75 million. That neighbor was the late Gene Wilder.

The four-bedroom, 2,750-square-foot home, built in 1951, features wood-beamed ceilings, several fireplaces, a pool, and gardens. It also overlooks a nearby country club and the ocean, Drew Meyers of Westside Estate Agency told BI.

Musk eventually sold the property in 2020 to screenwriter Elizabeth Hunter and her husband Jordan Walker-Pearlman, who is Wilder's nephew, for $7 million.

An LLC linked to Musk repurchased the Wilder mansion after it was foreclosed on.

Not only did Musk sell the property to Walker-Pearlman and his wife, but the Journal reported that the SpaceX CEO also loaned the couple $6.7 million.

Musk originally listed the home at $9.5 million, but because he wanted the property preserved, he sold it to the couple at a discounted price — and provided financing.

The Journal reported that the couple fell behind on payments, and Musk's representatives filed a notice of default in July to initiate foreclosure proceedings.

"There's no tragedy here. Elon gave us a magical opportunity. I have no complaints," Walker-Pearlman told the Journal, adding that he and Hunter "owe him such a spiritual debt."

The home was listed by Meyers for $12.95 million before an LLC linked to the billionaire repurchased it in 2025, Realtor.com reported.

Musk then bought four additional properties in Los Angeles.

In 2015, Musk bought yet another Bel Air property for $20 million, a 7,000-square-foot house with six bedrooms.

That same year, he bought another mansion for $4.3 million but, according to the Journal, did not maintain it well.

A year later, he bought an unfinished mansion in Bel Air for $24.25 million. A few years later, he bought a colonial-style mansion estimated at $4.2 million.

Musk listed these four homes for a collective $62.5 million in 2020 and sold them about six months later.

The tech mogul also had a huge property in the Bay Area.

Being a tech titan means owning property in Silicon Valley — at least for a while.

Musk bought a 16,000-square-foot mansion in Hillsborough, California, a Bay Area suburb about 20 miles outside San Francisco, for $23.4 million in 2017.

The more than 100-year-old, Mediterranean-style mansion has 10 bedrooms, views of the San Francisco Bay, and sits on 47 acres.

He originally listed the property for $37.5 million and later reduced the price to $32 million, at which point it eventually found a buyer.

Musk’s Texas studio is less than 400 square feet.

During Musk's journey to rid himself of his physical possessions, he made a pit stop and bought a tiny $50,000 home in Boca Chica, Texas, where SpaceX has a launch facility.

"In 2020, Musk decided to sell his five grand houses and to have as his primary residence this Spartan two-bedroom house in Boca Chica, TX, where we would meet, and he would sit at this wood table and make phone calls," biographer Walter Isaacson wrote on X.

In 2021, Boxabl installed one of their 375-square-foot homes — a "Casita" — on SpaceX's launch site and said it was for a "top secret customer." After claims of couch surfing, Musk said on a podcast in July 2022 that he used a Boxabl as a guest house.

Musk has since purchased many more properties in Texas.

After moving to Texas in 2020, Tesla relocated its headquarters to Austin the following year.

Since then, several LLCs linked to Musk have acquired residential and commercial properties in Austin and other cities across Texas.

A Musk-linked LLC owns at least three homes in West Lake Hills, an affluent suburb just outside of Austin. One of the properties is a 6,900-square-foot home worth about $6 million, The Wall Street Journal reported.

Musk owned a “secret” house in Austin for years.

A BI review of court records in Musk's custody dispute with former girlfriend Grimes revealed the billionaire purchased an Austin home in February 2022.

"In February 2022, I bought the home on [redacted] where [redacted] and I still live," Musk said in the complaint at the time.

Although BI is withholding the address for privacy reasons, Zillow says the house is nearly 7,000 square feet and was built in 2017.

BI's Grace Kay and Jack Newsham reported that a couple bought the house in 2018 after it was listed for $4.5 million. It was resold in 2022 but never listed publicly, records showed.

A camper in Memphis is now home to the world's richest man.

Earlier this year, SpaceX acquired the Musk-founded artificial intelligence company xAI, which is building a data center in Memphis, Tennessee. Musk is now camping out in the state — literally.

At an event hosted by the 'All-In podcast,' Musk said he is living in an Airstream trailer near Memphis. He called it his "palace," as BI's Georgia Hennessy reported.

Airstream is known for its riveted aluminum "silver bullet" design. Its trailers come in several styles, including the World Traveler 17RB, which starts at about $64,400.

• Ed Sheeran's Loop Tour is at the center of a major controversy.
• Opening act Macklemore was dropped after delivering a pro-Palestinian speech, sparking backlash.
• Now, every other opening act has left the tour, prompting some fans to demand a refund.

Ed Sheeran and Macklemore are all over the headlines this week — and no, you didn't somehow wake up in 2013, listening to "Thrift Shop" and "The A Team" on the radio.

The two millennial musicians are now at odds after Macklemore was dropped from Ed Sheeran's Loop Tour on September 14, a little over a week after his performances at New Jersey's MetLife Stadium drew headlines — and both support and condemnation — due to his support for Palestinians.

Here's what went down at the shows, how Sheeran and Macklemore responded, how fans of both artists reacted, and where the tour stands now.

What did Macklemore say at the Ed Sheeran concert?

Macklemore joined Sheeran's Loop Tour as an opening act on September 4, with his first show taking place at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. During his set, Macklemore expressed his support for the Palestinian people.

"A big part of the reason why I wanted to do this tour in the first place is so I could stand up in stadiums like this and say two words that are very near and dear to my heart: 'Free Palestine,'" Macklemore said before performing his song "Hind's Hall" about the student protests at Columbia University. The song was named for Hind Rajab, a 6-year-old Palestinian girl killed by Israeli forces in 2024.

He added, "I believe that every human being walking on this earth deserves exactly the same freedom."

After some backlash online, which ranged from calling the rapper antisemitic to saying that an Ed Sheeran concert wasn't the right place for his speech, Macklemore stood his ground at his show the following day, September 5, though he did make it clear he wasn't criticizing all Jewish people.

"Criticism of Israel, criticism of apartheid, being against genocide in no way is a criticism of you. My message is for peace, love, for all human beings to be treated with dignity, respect, and equality," he said.

On September 12, Pink shared her response to Macklemore's comments on her Instagram, which garnered a lot of coverage. She felt compelled to speak out after fans noticed a repost of hers on Instagram that apparently called out the "Thrift Shop" rapper.

In her post, Pink said, "Last Sunday I reposted somebody else's post about Macklemore's set at Ed Sheeran's show. It said things in words I didn't write, and I wouldn't have chosen all of them."

Instead, she was choosing to share her own words, especially because, as a Jew, people had assumed her beliefs.

Calling Hamas "a terrorist organization," she said Palestinians "deserve a future that honors their humanity and their aspirations" and that "protecting innocent life comes first, everywhere."

But she also criticized Macklemore, writing that he "took the mic to tell all of the Jews in the stadium that it wasn't about them. You don't get to decide that for us." Pink added that she wasn't calling for him to be silenced, but wanted to be able to say "that scared me, and it scared people I love" without having those fears dismissed.

Macklemore was dropped from the tour 10 days later

On September 14, the promoters behind the tour, Messina Touring Group, issued a statement that announced Macklemore would no longer be part of the tour.

"As the concert promoter for Ed Sheeran's US Loop Tour, we have been notified by venues on the upcoming US tour dates that they will not allow a concert to take place with Macklemore on the lineup, which would result in the cancellation of the tour and impact hundreds of thousands of fans. After discussions with stakeholders, Macklemore will not be performing on the remaining support dates," the company said in a statement provided to Variety.

While some people online had criticized Macklemore for the stadium performance, others took to the internet to support him after he was dropped from the tour.

What did Macklemore say about being dropped from Ed Sheeran's tour?

Macklemore responded later that day with a multi-slide post on Instagram.

"I am not a victim," he wrote. "Ed Sheeran is not a victim."

He added, "Ed is my friend. I've known him for 13 years. We've shared late nights, studio sessions, and stages. He has this infectious magic about him that I've grown to love. I consider him a brother."

Macklemore cited "media attention surrounding Pink" and his own comments as reasons Robert Kraft, the owner of Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts, told Sheeran he would not let him play there if Macklemore remained part of the Loop Tour. He added that Kraft told Sheeran he had "rallied some of the other stadium owners" who would follow suit.

He wrote that Sheeran's "typical apolitical stance was being challenged in a way it never had been before," and that he "couldn't get past his public facing 'I don't take sides.'"

"I hope this isn't the end of my relationship with Ed," he added. "My door will always be open to continuing that conversation."

Some fans were outraged that the rapper was dropped, even if they weren't the biggest fans of Macklemore's music.

On Wednesday, September 16, Macklemore announced on Instagram that he would donate "the entire $1 million of [his] net earnings" from the tour to six Palestinian aid organizations.

Robert Kraft confirmed Macklemore's account

In a statement to Rolling Stone on September 14, Kraft confirmed that he told Sheeran and his promoters that Macklemore would not be allowed to perform at Gillette.

He said that the stadium is focused on "providing a welcoming environment for all guests and ensuring that all events held at our venue do not provide a platform for hate speech," and said Macklemore had "crossed that line."

Kraft added that the rapper had a "broader history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery that we believe has been deeply offensive and hurtful to the Jewish community."

It appeared to reference an incident more than a decade ago, when Macklemore was criticized for performing while apparently dressed as a Jewish caricature. At a 2014 show in Seattle, he wore a black wig, a large, hooked prosthetic nose, and a fake black beard.

He apologized, writing on his website, "The character I dressed up as on Friday had no intended cultural identity or background. I wasn't attempting to mimic any culture, nor resemble one. A 'Jewish stereotype' never crossed my mind."

"I acknowledge how the costume could, within a context of stereotyping, be ascribed to a Jewish caricature," he wrote.

Ed Sheeran responded the next day

Sheeran wrote on Instagram that he was "appalled by the conflict between Israel and Palestine," and called the "suffering and pain on both sides" a "human tragedy."

In Sheeran's version of events, Macklemore asked to join his tour, and Sheeran agreed because he "respects him as an artist."

The two have had a long working relationship, releasing the collaboration "Growing Up (Sloane's Song)" in 2015. As recently as 2023, Sheeran called Macklemore "an old friend" and brought him out at a performance in Seattle. "I reached out on Twitter back in the day, and we got to be friends, and now we've been friends for about 10 years," Sheeran said at the time.

Now, the "Shape of You" singer said that after Macklemore's performances, venues for coming dates said "they would pull shows" if he continued to be an opener. He tried to "build a bridge" between venue owners and his team, but the "venue's and promoter's decision was final."

"Macklemore's contract for the tour was with the promoter, not me," he wrote.

Sheeran added that his shows have never been political, that he is "not complicit," and that he has his own "personal views on this devastating conflict."

Notably, Sheeran is one of our least "online" pop stars, who famously hasn't had a cellphone since 2015, making this statement rare.

Some people online weren't impressed with his statement, with one user criticizing his "tactical approach," saying it "makes him look even more complicit."

Others rejected this idea — British TV presenter Richard Bacon wrote on X, "Anyone who's met Ed Sheeran even for five minutes knows he's a good person with a good heart."

What's happening with the Loop Tour now?

After Macklemore's and Sheeran's statements, the rest of the opening acts for the Loop Tour fell like dominoes.

First, Aaron Rowe, an Irish musician who had been on the tour since February, dropped out at around 2 p.m. on September 15.

"I don't take the decision lightly. Ed has been a friend to me and has changed my life, I could never thank him enough for this," he wrote, but he added he can not stand and "allow billionaires to use their position of power to silence the rightful voices of those who speak up."

"I would lose all respect for myself to carry on as normal," he wrote.

Around an hour later, Finneas, who's best known for his work with his sister, Billie Eilish, also dropped out. He was supposed to join the tour's November and December dates.

"Artists must not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed," he wrote.

At around the same time, Sheeran's backing band, the Irish group Beoga, also left the tour.

Then, the final remaining opening act, Lukas Graham, pulled out of the tour later that day.

Notably, almost all of them said that they were friends with Sheeran and that wouldn't change.

Fans are now demanding refunds

What happens next remains to be seen.

Sheeran's tour went on a planned break after the September 5 show, with the next date set for September 19 in Philadelphia.

Some fans on social media demanded refunds after all the opening acts dropped out.

However, Ticketmaster's refund policy doesn't explicitly allow for refunds in a situation like this. It says: "All sales are final. Refunds are only available in limited circumstances, based on policies set by the Event Organizer."

In this case, since the "event organizer" is the one who dropped Macklemore in the first place, a refund seems unlikely.

Ticketmaster told Business Insider that "event organizers determine refund policies," and referred us to Messina Touring Group or AEG regarding refunds. They have not responded to a request for comment.

All that's left to do is wait and see if the show goes on this Friday.

• The Fed opted to hike rates at the September meeting, the first in three years.
• Warsh said inflation rates are the Fed's top priority, despite trade and geopolitical shocks.
• The new chair is committed to independence and declined to comment on Trump.

Kevin Warsh is taking a big swing at America's inflation problem.

Alongside the Federal Open Market Committee, the new central bank chair opted to hike rates by a quarter point on Wednesday. It's the first time the Fed has increased interest rates since summer 2023, and the first policy change under Warsh's tenure.

Here are Business Insider's biggest takeaways, from the hawkish dot plot to Fed independence.

The FOMC is feeling hawkish

The FOMC voted unanimously for a quarter-point hike, a uniform decision after a series of split votes over the past year.

In the committee's quarterly economic projections, the group said it expects GDP growth to remain relatively strong, unemployment to hold steady, and inflation to stay above the FOMC's 2% goal through the rest of the year.

Eighteen members shared their opinions on where rates will end up, with Warsh recusing himself because he doesn't believe in forward guidance.

A majority of central bank leaders expect one more hike before the year ends. In the final meetings of the year, two members expect holds, and four see two standard-sized hikes.

As Warsh said during the press conference, inflation is the Fed's top priority.

"The least well off have the most to gain from stable prices," he said. "The decision we made today was the right decision to deliver on the remit that Congress gave us to ensure stable prices."

Consumers can expect a higher rate era

As Warsh put it, "The Fed has an enormous amount of power."

A single rate change won't impact Americans' daily finances. It will take months — and sustained hikes — for people to see a change in their monthly bills.

With Warsh's renewed commitment to temper inflation, however, consumers can expect a continued era of higher interest rates. It means that mortgages, auto loans, credit cards, and other forms of borrowing will be more expensive, and savers could see stronger returns in their high-yield savings accounts. All of these interest rates closely follow Fed patterns.

Take homebuying: If 30-year fixed mortgages rise over time, Americans will be less likely to move and risk losing their lower, locked-in payments. First-time buyers could be priced out of the market.

Higher rates will impact job seekers, too. If it costs companies more to operate, they will have less cash flow available for hiring and employee promotions.

In the FOMC's view, consumer spending and the job market are relatively strong. They aren't immediately worried about the ripple effects of steep interest rates, but price patterns are a stressor. Hiking is the best tool the Fed has to bring inflation down.

'Independence is a two-way street'

With a rate hike, Warsh and the committee are likely to catch the attention of President Donald Trump.

The president has been vocally in favor of lower rates, at one point threatening to cut off trade routes if the Fed didn't act. And, because Trump nominated Warsh to the chair post, congressional leaders and economists have expressed concern that Warsh would let loyalty to Trump drive his decision-making.

On Wednesday, Warsh doubled down on the importance of Fed independence. He declined to answer any direct questions about Trump or non-monetary policy topics, like AI regulation. He'll leave that to lawmakers, he said.

Consumers will benefit from the FOMC's nonpartisan resolve. Lowering rates, as the president wants, could drive inflation higher. Without political interference, the Fed will be able to focus on data and the real-time economic situation.

"Part of the independence of the Federal Reserve is we stay in our lane," he said. "Independence is a two-way street. We let people who do trade policy and fiscal policy stay in their lane."

I reject the idea that I have to stop wearing dresses once fall rolls around. This heavyweight long-sleeved midi dress from Quince started as one outfit and quickly progressed to at least four in the first month I had it.

Most people are familiar with the name Quince, but if you've never actually tried Quince clothing, you should know that it can be hit-or-miss. This dress, though, is an absolute hit. It's made a difference in how I feel showing up to places — I feel put-together no matter what, and I'm not wasting time and mental energy on planning an outfit.

The color of the fabric looks darker and flatter in person, and Quince raised its price from $69.90 to $72 in the two years I've owned it. That said, it does make a good blank canvas for creating some cool outfits. Below are a few of my favorite looks I've created so far, all starting with this one Quince midi sweater dress.

In my natural state, at home

As I type this, I'm seated at my desk wearing this sweater dress and some thick Bombas socks. When I'm treading around the house, I wear it with my UGG boots (which I've had since 10th grade). The dress is made from a weighty, flexible cotton-cashmere blend, so beware if you have an allergy, but I like how it adds a bit of softness and insulation.

Commuting comfortably

Whether I'm working remotely in a café or at the office, my job requires me to sit at a desk all day, so I like that the Quince sweater dress is stretchy around my middle. With a structured blazer, Vivaia ankle boots, knee-high socks, and my trusty work bag, I feel both presentable and comfortable. I'm 5-foot-9 and its skirt reaches my mid-calf, so it offers good coverage when I have to walk through windy streets or work in a drafty space.

Restaurant hopping

I like to take advantage of outdoor dining weather to the fullest. On a cool, sunny Saturday afternoon in Brooklyn, my best friend and I find simple pleasure in watching the parade of outfits from our table on a busy street corner. I've tailored this sweater dress to the occasion with a long Patagonia fleece jacket, leggings, and knee-high boots from Margaux. It could even work as a winter wedding ensemble.

A leisurely stroll

I never considered myself a dress-over-jeans kind of gal, but this look only further shows the versatility of this sweater dress. I wore this when I had a lot of walking to do with no particular destination, so I was ready for wherever the day took me. Here I'm wearing a thrifted leather trench coat, Rothy's Mary Janes to match my Lo & Sons bag, and a Quince cashmere scarf.

Instead of real denim, underneath I'm wearing my beloved Rag & Bone sweatpant jeans (a favorite of our team). It helps that these pants have a pull-on waistband, so they still look seamless underneath the clingy fit of the sweater dress.

Details of the dress

A few caveats: I got the olive green dress, and it's more of a grayish green in person than the olive green shown on the site. I also caution that because of its cashmere content, you only wash it as needed and lay it flat to air dry — it's more effort, but from all my experience testing Quince cashmere, it'll help it last longer. And unfortunately, this dress only comes in sizes XS-XL. Quince does offer some plus size clothing, but it's not all-inclusive for the brand.

The hems and cuffs have lettuce edging, and in the back, there's a string tie that lets you pull in the waistline to your comfort level. I love this feature because sweater dresses can easily become shapeless after a lot of washing and wearing, but the tie makes it feel more fitted. I also love that the slightly flared sleeves actually extend past my wrists.

This is my one sweater dress to rule them all.

With a quick switch of accessories, this versatile garment can be transformed from a cozy loungewear look to a semi-formal outfit. If it's below 60° and I feel like dressing up, I know my Quince sweater dress is up to the task.

• Reid Hoffman says the existential risks of AI are "remote and controllable."
• Hoffman said instead of slowing down, frontier labs need to "steer" better.
• What do you think about the AI safety debate?

Reid Hoffman isn't here for your take about AI is going to kill everyone.

"I actually think most of that stuff, if you actually really think about it, is so like remote and controllable that it is mostly where people are kind of like, 'Look at me, I'm Cassandra, I'm saying it's the end of time," Hoffman said during Politico's Decoded Summit in Washington on Wednesday.

Hoffman said there are benefits to continuing frontier AI research, including how the technology can help address biosecurity and cybersecurity risks.

"I don't think that slowing down is important, because when you get to the defense against biorisk, the defense against cyber risk, and creating economic prosperity is a reason, I think, to keep going," he said.

The LinkedIn cofounder said it's a legitimate criticism to question why the leaders of Anthropic and OpenAI are now calling for a slowdown in frontier AI research at a moment when both companies appear to be leading the world.

"You're in the lead, you can slow down anytime you like," Hoffman said.

Instead of slowing down, Hoffman stressed that "it's really important" that frontier labs properly manage recursive self-improvement.

Some in the AI industry are concerned that recursive self-improvement, the process by which AI can learn to build itself and eventually its successors, could unlock a path to exponential growth that model makers might not be able to fully control.

Jacob Coxon, the former Anthropic researcher whose viral resignation helped catalyze the current conversation, wrote on Tuesday night that Anthropic "largely initiated" the race to recursive self-improvement.

Over the weekend, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei called for frontier AI labs "to pace" their developments and to use the time to better align AI models. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman later expressed agreement with Amodei's broad aims.

In an essay he published on Wednesday, Hoffman said that Amodei and Altman's calls were steps "in the right direction."

Not everyone is pushing for a unified response.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg wrote on Tuesday night that companies can slow down individually without some sort of industry-wide pact that Amodei wants.

"Every lab has the responsibility and incentive to move at the pace required to train its models safely," Zuckerberg wrote on X.

Zuckerberg said that Meta delayed the release of Muse, its AI agent built by its Superintelligence Labs team, by months to strengthen the model's safety and security.

"We didn't call for everyone else to do this before we would," Zuckerberg said. "We just did it."

• Congress escalated its battle with billionaire Leon Black in its Jeffrey Epstein investigation.
• It voted to hold Black in criminal contempt after he refused to turn over all his NDAs.
• The chair of the committee investigating Epstein proposed a law allowing victims to break NDAs.

Congress just opened a new front in its battle with billionaire Leon Black.

The House of Representatives Wednesday voted to hold Black, the Jeffrey Epstein associate and former CEO of Apollo Global Management, in criminal contempt of Congress. Black had refused to comply with a subpoena requiring him to hand over all of his NDAs, and any in his possession that reference Epstein or Ghislaine Maxwell.

The same day, the chair of the congressional committee trying to pry non-disclosure agreements from Black for its Epstein investigation proposed a bill that would allow victims of sexual abuse to break NDAs.

James Comer, the chair of the House Oversight Committee, said the proposed bill would ensure that sexual-abuse survivors and other people with information about such abuse could speak freely about it.

"During our investigation, we've learned how powerful men weaponized nondisclosure agreements to silence survivors of sexual abuse," Comer, a Kentucky Republican, said in a statement Wednesday.

Business Insider reported earlier this year that some of Epstein's accusers have signed confidential settlements with friends of Epstein whom they have also accused of misconduct, according to three people with direct knowledge of such settlements. The settlements include NDAs, the people said. One person told Business Insider they had direct knowledge of settlements with four of Epstein's friends who were accused of sexual misconduct by more than 20 women between them.

The House Oversight Committee in June issued two subpoenas to Black when he refused to answer questions about NDAs in a closed-door interview about his interactions with Epstein. Black, who gave over $150 million to Epstein for what he said were financial services, walked out of that voluntary interview.

This month, Black sued the committee rather than comply with the subpoenas. One subpoena demanded NDAs; the other required him to testify under oath in a deposition.

Black has said he wasn't aware of Epstein's sexual abuse of women. His lawsuit says the committee didn't have a "valid legislative purpose" for "such a sweeping and intrusive subpoena served upon a private citizen."

Epstein died in 2019 while awaiting trial for federal sex-trafficking charges. Maxwell was sentenced to 20 years in prison after a Manhattan jury found her guilty in 2021 of trafficking girls to Epstein for sex.

If passed into law, Comer's proposed bill, called the Survivor's Voice Protection Act, would void nondisclosure clauses if they prohibit victims of sexual abuse from speaking about those experiences, or if they bar any other person from disclosing facts related to such abuse. The law would also create a fiduciary duty to inform law enforcement about suspected sexual grooming of minors.

Democrats on the House Oversight Committee have not yet said whether they would support the NDA law.

Wednesday's House vote by unanimous consent to hold Black in contempt allows House Speaker Rep. Mike Johnson to send a criminal referral to the Justice Department.

Black's lawyers criticized the vote and said the committee's subpoenas unfairly targeted him.

"The Committee has continued to insist on looking for information that does not exist," attorneys Susan Estrich and Aaron Cutler said in a statement Wednesday. They said the committee sought to ask questions about every NDA Black had ever signed, including with business partners and individuals whom he had never met.

People with non-disclosure agreements can be legally compelled to speak about their experiences with a subpoena, but not in a voluntary interview with Congress. Some of Epstein's other associates, including Bill Gates, said in voluntary interviews that they didn't sign any non-disclosure agreements with Epstein or Maxwell victims.

Many states banned NDAs related to sexual abuse during the #MeToo movement following reporting about Harvey Weinstein, but no such ban exists on a federal level.

This story has been updated.

• I lost my dad days after Hurricane Sandy destroyed our family home.
• His death pushed me to leave a music career that was burning me out.
• I built a travel-writing career around our shared love of Disney, food, and travel.

In 2012, I was working in a career that many would consider a dream. I was a publicist in the Country music industry. As a lifelong lover of music and a classically trained pianist at New York University, it was thrilling.

Every day was exciting, whether I was working a red carpet in Las Vegas or escorting music legends, like Dolly Parton and Carol Channing, to a media interview. I had the opportunity to travel all over the country, including touring with some incredible artists.

But behind the scenes, I could feel the burnout rising.

My dad died unexpectedly

That same year, the unthinkable happened: My family's home on the Jersey Shore was destroyed in Hurricane Sandy, and days later, my Dad would pass away from a heart attack in the aftermath. There are moments where your life is split into the before and after — and this was that. My mother, sister, and I were left to pick up the pieces. The rebuild process for our home and the town my family has resided in for decades was a long one.

Inspired by my dad and our shared interest in travel and theme parks, I began exploring how I could follow my passions and turn them into a career. I've since completely left the music industry and have created a career as a full-time travel journalist and author, with my first book debuting this year.

My Dad had always been my biggest inspiration

My family has always been close. And it was my dad who instilled in me a love of all things travel, writing, food, and Disney parks. It wasn't just Walt Disney World — which we'd visit several times a year — but all theme parks, including another favorite, Hersheypark. My family vacations to theme parks are among my happiest memories, and I continue to visit them today with my now-husband, recreating many of those moments.

My dad embraced that "you only live once" attitude I strived for, and he didn't care what others thought of him. And after he passed, something changed inside me. I was feeling burned out by the music industry and its constant behind-the-scenes struggles and politics. I knew a change was needed.

The healing process was a long one, and admittedly, not easy. It would be nearly a year before our family home and business were rebuilt. Our community came together amid the devastation in a way I could have never imagined. Even the Country music community rallied behind my family, supporting us in the rebuilding process. And while things will forever be different, the experience was transformative.

And during that time, I began to consider how I could change my career trajectory and reinvent myself.

I began writing about theme parks and travel

I have always loved writing, since I was a child obsessed with R.L. Stine's "Goosebumps" and as an active member of Young Authors in my elementary school. And writing was my favorite part of working in the music industry, whether it was a press release or an artist biography for websites. I loved the creative process.

Maybe this was a way to cope with his death, but I sought out career opportunities that combined my two greatest passions: travel writing and theme parks. It may have been a way of keeping his memory alive, getting to write about the many places and things our family had done together.

Journalism is a tough industry with nothing promised, and I had zero clue whether this risk would work. I went after it with every fiber of my being, giving it my all. Thankfully, I had the full support of my husband and my family throughout all of this.

I think my Dad would be proud to see me now

My music career is long in the rearview mirror, as I've enjoyed a wonderful career traveling and writing, and, most importantly, living life to the fullest as I knew my dad wanted me to. I've had some amazing opportunities that I wish he could see, like sailing on a cruise to Alaska (cruising was one of his absolute favorites) and going on safari in South Africa.

My greatest accomplishment to date is getting to write my debut book, which is all about Disney and food, my dad and I's greatest shared interests. While it does sting that he won't be there to see it and experience this high moment of my life and career, I did dedicate it to his memory. My mom, sister, and I are closer than ever and continue to take several annual family trips to Disney parks.

I'm now 40, and what this taught me is that it's never too late to reinvent yourself and go after what you want. Also, it's OK to completely change paths at any age.

Shortly after moving to the Olympic Peninsula, I saw salmon run for the first time. Shortly after I saw the salmon run, I began muzzle-conditioning my dog Roo — after watching in horror as she gobbled up the remains of a stinky fish carcass tossed ashore by seals. While Roo needs a muzzle to prevent her from scavenging vile things and making herself sick, many dogs wear muzzles for a variety of reasons. The best dog muzzles include different designs for specific needs.

Muzzles can benefit dogs who are fearful, reactive, at risk of biting, injured, in pain, or easily overwhelmed, especially in environments where you can't control the distance between your dog and their triggers, says Emily Annis, certified dog trainer and founder of Compassionate Canine Care. She adds that muzzles also help keep everyone safe in high-stress situations, like going to the vet or groomer.

"At the same time, muzzles shouldn't be used as a pass to put a dog into situations that are still too hard," she says. Instead, it's best to gradually and methodically introduce the muzzle, using it as a management tool to reduce risk while working on a training plan to address your dog's behavior.

To make my recommendations, I tested nine muzzles in various styles on Roo, my 43-pound lab terrier mix and resident fisher dog. After evaluating for fit, comfort, and durability, five muzzles made the list.

A quick look at the best dog muzzles

• Best overall: Mia's Muzzles ($54-$240 at Mia's Muzzles)

  These durable vinyl muzzles suit a wide variety of dogs and behavioral needs. Available in standard and custom sizes, they're a solid choice for getting a great fit right from the start.

• Best budget: Company of Animals Baskerville Ultra Muzzle ($15-$31 at Chewy)

  When you need to find a good muzzle quickly, this one from Baskerville is readily available and affordable. Its rubber design also provides a comfortable fit.

• Best sleeve: Coastal Pet Products Best Fit Adjustable Comfort Dog Muzzle ($21 at Chewy)

  This muzzle offers a unique design for high-stress situations when your dog might need to wear a sleeve. It provides quick adjustments via a Velcro strap.

• Best for bite protection: Big Snoof Dog Gear Muzzle ($70 at Big Snoof Dog Gear)

  Dogs with a history of aggression or biting will benefit from the added protection of this heavy-duty muzzle. Soft biothane straps and a nose cushion provide added comfort to the wire frame.

• Best for preventing scavenging: The Muzzle Movement Customizable Muzzle and Scavenger Guard ($94-$113 at The Muzzle Movement)

  For extra-determined food hounds, this muzzle offers two different types of scavenger guards. There's also plenty of pant room for active pups and large dogs with big jaws.

How to choose the right muzzle for your dog

There are a few key elements to keep in mind when choosing a dog muzzle.

Intended use: The best dog muzzles are those that address a behavioral need. For example, brief trips to the vet may only require a soft-sleeve muzzle for short-term wear to protect against bites, while a basket muzzle might be best for longer walks with a reactive dog. All muzzles used for extended wear must allow the dog to comfortably breathe, pant, drink water, and accept treats, says Jennifer Malawey, a certified professional dog trainer and behavioral consultant at Instinct Dog Behavior and Training.

Fit: The best dog muzzles will stay securely on your dog's head without blocking their vision. The fit should be snug on the cheeks so the muzzle stays on when your dog moves or tries to paw it off, but not so tight that it restricts the cheeks' ability to widen while panting, Annis says.

Additionally, the muzzle should have plenty of space in the front, so your dog's nose isn't touching the end. Annis says to shoot for around half an inch of space, roughly the width of your pinky nail.

Adjustability: The straps should also be easy to loosen or tighten so you can adjust the muzzle to your dog's unique size. When fitting the straps to your dog's face, Annis recommends conducting a finger test. "You should be able to fit one to two fingers under the straps without them digging in," she says. "The muzzle shouldn't rotate easily or slide forward toward the eyes."

Measurements: To find the right fit, you'll need to measure your dog's face. The measurements you'll need will depend on the muzzle's brand, type, and whether it's customizable. However, commonly required measurements include snout length, pant depth, and cheek width. For muzzles that aren't customizable, Malawey recommends options that can be boiled and molded for a better fit.

Comfort: The best dog muzzles are also comfortable at pressure points, with smooth edges along the nose bridge, cheeks, and under the chin, Annis says. Along with plenty of room for your dog to pant and drink water, the ability to easily take treats will also make your dog feel more comfortable while wearing the muzzle. Since muzzles are management tools, you'll want to still be able to reward your dog's preferred behaviors while they wear it. "It also makes it much easier to build (and maintain) a strong reinforcement history for wearing the muzzle itself," Annis adds.

Material: The material of a muzzle will also affect your choice. Common options include biothane, vinyl, wire, fabric, and nylon.

• Biothane muzzles are often lightweight, easy to clean, and frequently available in custom-fit options. Annis says because they're coated with webbing — commonly polyester with a PVC or TPU coating — they're also durable and somewhat flexible. "That flexibility can be a pro for comfort, but it also means they're not universally bite-proof," she adds.
• Vinyl muzzles are also often comfortable and can be custom-fit. Additionally, they're transparent. This visibility helps dogs communicate their emotions to you, other people, and dogs around them. For instance, you can better see if your dog is pulling their lips tightly at the corners or snarling to indicate they need more space from their trigger. Annis says the main trade-off is ventilation, since vinyl tends to retain more heat and allows less airflow, making it a poorer choice for warm or humid weather or exercise-heavy use.
• Wire muzzles, on the other hand, often offer an open design for excellent airflow. The gaps between the wires also make it easy to give your dog treats. Still, quality wire muzzles are extremely sturdy and durable, offering rigidity that's hard to bite through.
• Sleeve muzzles are typically made of fabric or nylon and are designed to keep your dog's mouth closed. "You'll most often see them used for very brief medical or grooming procedures because they're quick to put on and less dependent on precise basket sizing, like cheek width and pant room," Annis says. She adds that while they may have a use under professional guidance when safety is concerned, they're not appropriate for walks, exercise, or extended wear.

Extra features: Handy extras can elevate your dog's experience wearing a muzzle. They include features such as a treat hole, an open-snout design, a scavenger guard, and messaging tabs like "no dogs." Options with fun colors or designs may also be a good choice, especially if you want to avoid some of the stigma of muzzling a dog.

Best overall

Best for: Dogs with a variety of behavioral challenges, including reactivity and scavenging

Skip this if: You cannot wait a couple of months for a custom fit

The Mia's Muzzles Guardian custom model wowed from the start, fitting almost perfectly right out of the box, more so than any other muzzle we tried. The Guardian is one of six customizable vinyl models, each designed to suit specific behavioral and activity needs. Other than moving the screw one notch on the chin strap, I didn't need to make any other adjustments. It was snug but not too tight, didn't wobble on Roo's nose bridge, or sit too close to her eyes. I was really impressed, considering she's hard to fit with her wide Pitty cheeks and narrow Pom-inspired snout. It makes sense, though, as Mia's Muzzles had me send extensive measurements and pictures for nose length and width, closed mouth, pant height, tip of nose to neck, forehead length, ear to eye, and neck circumference.

In addition to customizing the fit, you can make more alterations to suit your intended use and preferences. Since I'm still working on muzzle conditioning with Roo, I opted for an adorably heart-shaped treat hole and a nose hole for added comfort. The idea is to get her used to wearing the muzzle, just like her harness or leash, before actually using it to manage her scavenging behavior — Mia's Muzzles offers a scavenger guard to cover the treat hole when that time comes. I also chose fun colors and a cute pawprint design for the nose pad. I loved how this muzzle looked in the end, and because Roo is reactive, I added phrase badges on each side that said "needs space" and "no dogs."

Along with the custom muzzle designs, Mia's Muzzles offers standardized-fit, or "cookie cutter" muzzles, to suit a wide range of dogs at a more affordable price. These twelve sizes include three options for bully breeds and one for flat-faced dogs, which can be harder to fit. They also start at about half the price of the custom models, giving pet parents with varying budgets more options.

The wide variety and extreme attention to detail don't come without their caveats, though. The fulfillment time for custom orders can take up to two months, so this may not be the best option if you need to start muzzle conditioning your dog immediately. And while the vinyl on the Guardian model is tough (measuring 3 millimeters thick and intended for dogs with a history of biting) and held up extremely well to my fork jabbing, the black paint on the screw scraped off a bit.

Best budget

Best for: Pet parents looking for an affordable, readily available, and comfortable muzzle to work on training with their dog

Skip this if: Your dog needs a lot of pant room, is between sizes, or has a history of biting or aggression

The Baskerville Ultra Muzzle is a comfortable option for dogs in the midst of muzzle training. Made from high-quality thermoplastic rubber, the lightweight muzzle felt smooth, and the nylon straps were soft. With an open nose hole, there was plenty of snoot space between Roo's nose and the end of the muzzle. While the pant space was limited, she was still able to yawn fully, drink water, and take treats. However, Annis says that because Baskerville muzzles don't allow dogs to pant fully, they're better suited for muzzle conditioning or situational use and are not ideal for everyday use.

It's an affordable and widely available option, too. Available in six sizes, it can be found at major pet stores and online retailers like Chewy, Amazon, and Petco. It's easy to order, so you can have it at home in a matter of days.

It is not a safe option for biting. While the Baskerville is comfortable, Michael Shikashio, a certified dog behavior consultant and founder of AggressiveDog.com, says it's not bite-proof, and he wouldn't recommend it for dogs with a history of aggression or biting. When I tested its durability by jabbing it with a fork, it also left some noticeable marks.

Getting the right fit was also quite a tedious and frustrating process. Roo was between two sizes, with both seeming either too small or too big based on the company's breed recommendations. I decided to size up and boil the muzzle in hot water, which ended up working pretty well for a more tailored fit, but it still added extra steps on my end. The straps were also so difficult to get the right length, and while I eventually got the chin and head straps to fit correctly, the cheek straps bulged out. It still fits firmly on Roo, but I imagine that extra space in the strap could catch on things outside.

Best sleeve

Best for: Dogs who need a comfortable, durable sleeve for the vet, groomer, or other temporary situation

Skip this if: You'd rather pay the same price for a budget basket muzzle and get more use out of it

The Coastal Pet Products Best Fit Adjustable Comfort Dog Muzzle offers a secure fit for the brief times you need to keep your dog's mouth closed, like at the vet. The advertised size was spot on to Roo's measurements, and it was the best-fitting sleeve out of the three I tested. It was snug without being too tight, didn't affect Roo's line of vision or movement, and stayed on when she tried to paw it off.

It's highly adjustable to accommodate a variety of snoot sizes. The muzzle itself can be adjusted via Velcro flaps, a rarity for a sleeve muzzle, which is typically one-size-fits-all. There's even a small strap that goes under the bottom of the sleeve to keep things in place.

It's comfortable with soft cushioning, breathable mesh, and soft straps, but it's also quite durable. It held up well to my vigorous tug test, with the Velcro staying in place when I yanked it vertically, the way a dog would open their mouth. The mesh and cushioning also showed no signs of damage after I scraped and jabbed it with a fork.

While it's the best sleeve design we tested, it's not the most affordable option. It costs about as much as a budget basket muzzle without the versatility of being able to wear it in more situations and not just for very specific, occasional use. For extended wear, you'll want a muzzle that lets your pup pant, breathe, drink, and eat treats comfortably.

Best for bite protection

Best for: Dogs with a history of aggression or biting who need extra protection to keep everyone safe

Skip this if: Your dog is smaller and won't be able to handle the weight of a half-pound muzzle

When it comes to dogs with a history of aggression or biting, Shikashio recommends a heavier-duty metal wire basket muzzle with padding for comfort — the Big Snoof Dog Gear Muzzle ticks both boxes. For starters, its wire frame is tough, barely showing any marks after I stabbed it repeatedly with a fork. The paint didn't even chip off when I again pressed down firmly with the fork and scraped the sides. Though durable, the biothane straps and padding lay smoothly along Roo's nose, chin, and neck.

The muzzle also offers a great design for active movement and training, whether for reactivity, aggression, or scavenging, with a well-placed treat hole in the middle of the wire bars. It was easy to feed Roo treats through it, but it was not big enough for her to sneak food off the floor. The highly adjustable neck and chin straps also made for a secure fit, so it stayed in place and didn't affect Roo's movement while she played training games and did tricks like paws up and high-five.

Getting the right adjustments for the straps can be a bit tedious. I had to screw and unscrew the bolts, moving them through the many holes in the neck and chin straps before landing on the right fit. It's worth the work in the end, however, and if you do it correctly in the beginning, you'll be set.

The weight of the wire muzzle might also be too heavy for some dogs. Clocking in at 8 ounces, this half-pound muzzle was the heaviest on our list, and double the size of rubber basket muzzles.

Best for preventing scavenging

Best for: Dogs who love to scavenge and eat things on walks

Skip this if: Your dog is tricky to size

The Muzzle Movement offers an ideal scavenger guard for dogs like Roo who love to gobble up things on walks. The guard prevents foraging while also making it easy for pet parents to work on muzzle conditioning. I loved the flexibility of being able to train with the guard off and then clip it on later to keep Roo from snarfling up nasty things outside. I also liked that I could still poke in treats from the side of the muzzle with the guard still on.

The guard itself is huge and effective. I tested the Standard Guard, which clips to the front of the muzzle and completely covers the treat hole and central front panel. When I tossed treats on the ground, Roo was unable to eat them with the guard on. It also stayed in place when she tried to paw the muzzle off. For more determined snackers, the Muzzle Movement also offers the Extra Secure Scavenger Guard, which attaches to the inside of the muzzle, meaning the guard can't come off unless the entire muzzle comes off.

These muzzles are also ideal for larger dogs with big jaws or more active pups. With 3 to 4 inches of pant space, it has the most pant room out of all the muzzles I tested. Large ventilation holes on the muzzle's sides also provide plenty of airflow for walks, hikes, and warmer weather. However, the pant size and, really, the overall size of the muzzle, might take some time for pups to get used to.

Available in 10 made-to-order models, these muzzles aren't the most inclusive. While colors and accessories are customizable, the sizing is not. Roo unfortunately fell just short of the measurements for the pre-made sizes, but I was able to make it work by boiling it in water and reshaping the sides. However, once you make these adjustments yourself, the muzzle is no longer eligible for a return.

How we tested the best dog muzzles

This guide was first reported and written by Shoshi Parks. Her original choices were based on recommendations and advice from certified animal behaviorists and dog trainers. Parks's experience as a certified professional dog trainer also helped shape the selection criteria.

Since then, I have tested the muzzles she recommended, as well as new options. I tried them out with my medium-sized dog, Roo. I also consulted professional dog trainer Emily Annis. With her added insight, I came up with the following testing criteria.

Fit: I compared the actual fit of the muzzle with the company's advertised measurements, noting if it was true to size. I also examined how easy it was to adjust straps, buckles, and bolts. I then conducted a tightness test recommended by Annis, checking whether one or two of my fingers could still fit under the straps. Once the muzzle was properly adjusted, I made sure the muzzle was below Roo's eyeline and didn't slide around or impact her view when she moved. To better test this, I had Roo trot across the room and perform a variety of tricks, like bowing and jumping up. I also made notes on whether the muzzle stayed in place if Roo pawed at her face.

Comfort: After putting the muzzle on Roo, I checked that there was enough space — about a half inch or so — between the tip of her nose and the front of the muzzle. I also confirmed whether she could still open her mouth fully while wearing it, or whether there was an easy way to give her a treat. To mimic drinking water, I fed her a squeezable treat that she licked through the muzzle holes. For the design, I also checked how the muzzle lay across Roo's pressure points, including the smooth edges along her nose bridge, her cheeks, and under her chin.

Durability: To test for durability, I tugged hard on the straps and buckles for each muzzle. I also took a fork and pressed down with force while scraping the straps and the body of the muzzle. I then took the prongs of the fork and jabbed the muzzle with them. After testing, I checked for any visible marks or damage.

Price: After testing the primary points above, I compared the muzzle's value against its overall price to see how it stacks up against competitors.

Availability: I noted whether there was a wide or limited range of sizes available. I also looked at each muzzle's customization options and how long it typically took to be made to order or shipped.

Dog muzzle FAQs

What muzzle do dog trainers recommend?

Annis says that the best dog muzzles will depend on the dog's anatomy and the job the muzzle is doing. However, a well-fitted basket muzzle is her go-to for training and everyday life. She says that she strongly prefers options that support muzzle conditioning, as the experience matters as much as the gear. This could look like muzzles that allow full panting, eating treats, drinking, and safe movement. Essentially, you want your dog to feel safe, comfortable, and happy while they learn to wear a muzzle.

Is it cruel to muzzle a dog?

No, it's not cruel to muzzle a dog who's at risk of harming themselves or others. Wearing a properly fitted muzzle can be as comfortable as wearing a harness or collar. "In a well-acclimated, well-fit muzzle, a dog is going to be able to do everything they would normally do," Shikashio says. It's an excellent way to provide freedom while assuring the safety of your pup and everyone around them.

How long can a dog wear a muzzle?

Dogs should wear a muzzle whenever they need it. That may include on walks, around strangers, or at the vet's office. A dog can wear a comfortable, properly fitted basket muzzle for a few hours as long as you regularly check that it's not rubbing or chafing. A sleeve muzzle that prevents a dog from panting should only be worn briefly during vet exams or grooming.

Do muzzles stop barking?

Laura Sharkey, owner and senior trainer at Woofs! Dog Training Center, says using a muzzle to stop barking or disruptive behavior is never appropriate. A dog exhibiting these behaviors may be experiencing discomfort or anxiety, and it's best to consult a canine behaviorist to determine why. Plus, if a dog can't bark, it can't pant, which can lead to dangerous overheating.

How do I get my dog to wear a muzzle?

Dogs not properly introduced to a muzzle are likely to hate wearing one. Sharkey says that only muzzling a dog in stressful situations can cause strong negative associations with it. To help your dog be comfortable with a muzzle, it's best to use a gradual desensitization process. "It's going to be something that they're used to, that they accept and tolerate well, and that they are reinforced highly for wearing," she says.

What muzzle is best for aggressive dogs?

The best muzzles for aggressive dogs are made of durable materials such as thick vinyl or heavy-duty wire. They also offer a secure, snug fit that will stay in place when the dog lunges or moves suddenly. A vinyl muzzle with a well-designed treat hole, or a wire muzzle with enough space between the bars to deliver treats, will also come in handy as you work on positive-reinforcement training with your dog, helping address the root cause of their behavior.

What is the best muzzle for dogs that eat everything?

The best dog muzzles for pups who like to find and eat things off the ground are the models with a closed-mouth design. For added protection, some even have a scavenger guard that goes over the muzzle's holes, wires, or bars. A poorly fitted muzzle may not stop a dog from eating foreign objects.

• Rising bond yields have put pressure on stock valuations in recent weeks.
• But the market broadly hasn't fallen much, as earnings have helped propel growth.
• It's a "rare" scenario, says Jeff Blazek, the co-head of multi-asset strategies at Neuberger.

If there is indeed an AI bubble, it may be quietly deflating before our eyes thanks to rising bond yields.

Rates on 10-year Treasurys have climbed recently as investors sweat higher oil prices, sticky inflation, and snowballing government debt. Those higher yields have helped to put downward pressure on stock valuations.

Usually, such a derating results in a more dramatic decline in stock prices, but valuations have seen a more orderly pullback, with some individual names struggling but the indexes still not far from highs reached this summer.

It's a "rare" scenario, according to Jeff Blazek, the co-head of multi-asset strategies at Neuberger, which manages $613 billion in assets.

In a note on Tuesday, he said that the S&P 500's forward price-to-earnings ratio has dropped from 22.9 last October — which had been the highest level since 2000 — to 19.09 currently.

That's fairly middle-of-the-road for the valuation gauge over the last six years, and almost as low as valuations got around the bottom of the sell-off that followed the "Liberation Day" announcement in April 2025. The Magnificent Seven stocks have seen their collective forward PE ratio drop from about 33 to 23, he pointed out.

Meanwhile, the S&P 500 is still up 12.8% since its forward PE peak last October.

A chart from Morgan Stanley in a September 8 client note illustrates this dynamic:

The forward PE ratio accounts for two components: today's stock price and expected earnings over the next 12 months. It essentially allows investors to measure how expensive the market is — what the dollar price is you're paying for the profits you expect to generate over the next year.

Recent stellar earnings have bolstered the "E" portion of the ratio and essentially forced stock prices to rise. But macro pressures have also created some headwinds for stocks, allowing earnings growth to outpace stock price growth.

This has brought down valuations in a way that's more palatable to investors, as opposed to stock prices falling while earnings stagnate.

Government bond yields have been a major pressure point recently. Investors measure risk-free Treasury rates against the future return potential they see in stocks. When Treasury yields rise — yields on the 10-year touched 19-year highs this week — investors historically have been less willing to pay for stocks at high valuations, since they can find substantial guaranteed returns elsewhere.

"The bar for taking risk is rising as rates reset higher, making the durability of earnings more important," said Wei Li, the global chief investment strategist at the BlackRock Investment Institute, in a September 14 note.

Li added that "exceptional earnings growth, attractive valuations and a cleaner tactical backdrop" support the firm's overweight rating for US and AI stocks.

• The iOS 27 update rolled out to iPhones starting on Monday. The biggest change is Siri AI.
• Siri AI has a waitlist. iPhone users are reporting wait times ranging from four hours to two days.
• A colleague got the full update. His review: It's a huge improvement, featuring a wonky voice.

Apple released iOS 27 on Monday. Many iPhone users will have to wait a little longer for its most anticipated feature.

Siri AI, Apple's ambitious overhaul of its virtual assistant, does not automatically arrive with the software update. Eligible users must join a waitlist before they can try it.

Once enabled, Siri AI is supposed to do much more for iPhone users. Apple says it can pull together information from across apps and act on it — for instance, finding a hotel confirmation in a screenshot or suggesting a restaurant after scanning a group chat for different dietary preferences.

To get the AI-powered virtual assistant, users need to update their device to iOS 27, open Settings, tap Siri, and select Try Siri AI (Beta). They will then choose a voice, complete voice enrollment, review privacy settings, and join the queue.

Apple says the wait time varies — and online, and in conversations with Business Insider, customers are reporting wait times between four and 48 hours. Once a user is approved, Siri AI downloads automatically.

Not every iPhone can run the AI-powered Siri. While iOS 27 works on iPhones going back to the iPhone 11, Siri AI requires an iPhone 15 Pro or 15 Pro Max, an iPhone 16 model or later. It is also unavailable on iPhones in the European Union and mainland China.

A Business Insider colleague who joined the waitlist on Monday received access on Wednesday morning. He said Siri AI has been useful for finding information across his apps, though its voice still sounds "very robotic."

Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

• Safran partners with Loopr AI to enhance defect detection in aviation manufacturing processes.
• Loopr AI uses synthetic data to improve inspection accuracy and efficiency for Safran's parts.
• Safran's new AI system reduces inspection time and costly defect recalls.

When parts inspectors at the aviation manufacturer Safran received a toilet lid that the company just manufactured, they used to spend 20 to 30 minutes examining it.

On airplanes, lavatories need to be perfect, so the inspectors search for consistent colors and smooth surfaces free of paint bubbles and scratches, among other defects.

Some inspection professionals have been performing these quality-assurance roles at Safran for more than 10 years and can detect up to 90% of the production defects in cabin galleys, passenger seats, and other parts, said Bindioa Ouali, the senior director and head of digital production, robotics, and automation at Safran.

Still, fatigue can set in after hours of inspections, causing detection rates to vary. AI can help streamline these intensive quality assurance processes — but only if companies have enough data to train the technology, said Zheng Yao, a principal research scientist at Lehigh University's Energy Research Center, in an interview with Business Insider. When there's not enough, they can use synthetic data, or artificial information that mimics real data points, he said.

Enter software companies like Loopr AI, Spectron, and Akridata that are creating synthetic data from computer-generated images, 3D models, and other simulation tools to address data scarcity and help prevent the costly scrapping and reworking of faulty parts.

Solving for data scarcity

Safran began pilot projects two years ago with Loopr AI to see whether artificial intelligence could improve defect identification while reducing inspection and documentation time, Ouali said.

In situations like Safran's, where the company produces a wide variety of parts but not a high volume of each, "it's extremely hard to have thousands of data sets very early on," Priyansha Bagaria, Loopr's founder and CEO, told Business Insider.

In cases like this, Loopr synthetically generates data by creating new training samples from existing images, altering them to increase the number of samples from which algorithms can learn. This allows Safran to simulate various production scenarios while still using real-world data to validate the results, said Bagaria.

The analysis software works well at detecting cosmetic defects in cabin assemblies, comparing them against the production drawings and the listed parts to use, Bagaria said. She added, "AI is really good at removing the subjectivity and retaining the knowledge of your operators. You can automate the repetitive tasks and standardize your processes."

With paint analysis, for example, AI learns the visual characteristics of the defect, as well as the specific part on which it could appear, like a table or a toilet seat, Bagaria said. The model also uses data from each specific manufacturing component and from lighting conditions that mimic those in the areas where the parts will ultimately be installed.

With Safran's toilet seats, inspection now takes five to 10 minutes and includes an automatically created defect and inspection sheet before the parts move to the next stage, Ouali said. This documentation was previously created by the inspector.

Additionally, Loopr's technology achieved a 90.9% recall — the ability to identify all defects, such as scratches, paint discoloration, and paint bubbles — on the project, Ouali said.

One AI software program, two inspection methods

Depending on the setup, the Loopr AI inspection process can use a more automated or hybrid approach.

For Safran's paint inspection program, the company already had visualization hardware in place, said Bagaria. The program was automated in that the image capture and AI analysis were automated, but the platform allows a human to review, confirm, or correct the AI's findings, she said. This feedback also helps improve the model over time.

Loopr is hardware-agnostic and can run on various camera and tablet types a company already uses. For this project, a robotic arm photographed parts prior to and after paint application, then provided them to Loopr for analysis.

With a hybrid approach, like for a cabin assembly that includes a lavatory or galley, the inspectors manually take photos at different angles and upload them to Safran's computer system. The Loopr algorithm accesses the photos and identifies potential issues, creating a defect and inspection sheet.

With a faster inspection process, "we're able to produce 10% to 15% more than before. The throughput increased to send parts to the final assembly," Ouali said.

Bagaria said that with successful pilots completed, Safran is now introducing Loopr's technology to its Marysville, Washington, and Santa Maria, California facilities.

• A best-case scenario for stocks might be off the table, BMO says.
• Not long ago, market watchers saw a "Goldilocks" scenario of steady growth and moderating inflation.
• Markets should now brace for a worldwide policy-led slowdown, the bank says.

A best-case scenario for stocks is quickly fading, BMO says.

The bank said that a Goldilocks scenario — an ideal economic setup for stocks where the US economy continues to grow while inflation is subdued — looks less likely due to a confluence of factors that could spark a global slowdown and impact equities. In particular, the problems for markets are sticky inflation and higher interest rates, Mark McCormick, chief FX strategist at the bank, wrote in a recent note.

"Goldilocks is breaking down," McCormick said, pointing to overlapping headwinds, such as China's economy slowing alongside the US, and AI and energy creating distinct groups of "winners and losers" in the market.

Economic growth also looks like it's "rolling over" around the world, having fallen below trend and on track to drift lower, McCormick added. The International Monetary Fund estimates that the world economy will grow 3% this year, down from the average growth rate of 3.5% over the last two years.

"Still not a recession signal; markets pricing a policy-led slowdown," McCormick said.

Worries about hot inflation and higher interest rates have entered the spotlight over the last several months as the US-Iran war continues to put upward pressure on energy prices. With oil back over $100 a barrel, the big fear is that higher energy costs will translate into higher inflation, prompting the Fed to act more aggressively to raise rates.

Bond yields have already climbed amid to a sell-off in global and US bond markets, which recently pushed yields past the critical 5% level. The increase has been driven by investors recalibrating rate expectations, as well as weaker demand for US Treasurys amid concerns about the country's fiscal health.

5% has long functioned as a key psychological threshold in the bond market and represents when yields are in the "danger zone" for stocks.

"Equities may wobble as US real rates hit cyclical highs," he added.

The outlook for stocks has been challenged in recent weeks as investors digest the spike in oil and a jump in bond yields to the highest level in nearly two decades. The S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average are down 2% for the month, while the Nasdaq 100 is down 3%.

• Ed Sheeran resale ticket prices are down, according to the site Ticketdata.
• Tickets in Philadelphia are down 17% over three days, the site found.
• The drop-off comes after Macklemore was removed from Sheeran's tour following his "Free Palestine" comments.

Ed Sheeran's resale ticket market is going red.

Ticket prices for Sheeran's LOOP Tour have been slipping on resale markets, according to the site Ticketdata. Of his next 10 dates, nine have seen price decreases in the last three days, the site showed.

Sheeran has been caught up in controversy since Macklemore was removed from the tour following his comments about the Palestinian territories at two concerts earlier this month. Macklemore said he was forced out by billionaire Robert Kraft. Sheeran said the decision wasn't his, and instead blamed the tour's promoter.

Sheeran's tours are some of the biggest in the music business. His Mathematics Tour, which ran from 2022 to 2025, grossed over $875 million, making it the fourth-highest grossing tour of all time when it finished, behind tours by Taylor Swift, Elton John, and Coldplay, according to Billboard.

Sheeran's resale ticket price slip

Want a ticket to Sheeran's Saturday show in Philadelphia? The resale ticket price is down 17% in the last three days, according to Ticketdata.

The Philadelphia ticket decrease widens to 25% over a seven-day period, the site found.

Resale prices for Sheeran's two performances at Massachusetts' Gillette Stadium are down over three days, the site found, as were tickets for upcoming performances in Atlanta, Charlotte, Arlington, and the Florida cities of Hollywood and Tampa.

Only one city had positive three-day price changes, according to Ticketdata: Indianapolis.

A representative for Sheeran did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

The Macklemore controversy

When Macklemore was booted from Sheeran's tour, he pointed the finger at Robert Kraft.

Earlier in September, Macklemore gave speeches at two concerts at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, saying "Free Palestine" and that he wanted the people in Gaza to know that "we have not forgotten about them."

Macklemore was later removed from Sheeran's tour. In an Instagram post, he said that Kraft, the billionaire owner of the New England Patriots, rallied other stadium owners to oppose his performance.

Kraft confirmed in a statement to local outlet WHDH that Macklemore was blocked from performing at Gillette Stadium, which he owns. His venue does not "provide a platform for hate speech," Kraft wrote.

Sheeran released his own statement on Tuesday, saying the decision to remove Macklemore was made by his tour promoter in response to threats from the stadium venues. Sheeran also said that he was "appalled by the conflict between Israel and Palestine."

The fallout has continued to grow, with Sheeran's band and three openers pulling out of the tour later on Tuesday.

• We all know about the quarter-zip, but it just won't die.
• Apparently, there are reasons millennial and Gen Zers have embraced it as a workwear staple.
• Brands like Brooks Brothers and Peter Millar told Business Insider why it appeals to young buyers.

As a young(ish) millennial whose style of dress has been described as ranging from hedge fund intern to European literature Ph.D. candidate, I like to see what my male peers are wearing. If one enduring trend has struck me recently, it's the quarter-zip.

In fact, when Brooks Brothers — which sells the tops in cotton, cashmere, and performance materials — unveiled its Spring/Summer 2027 collection last Thursday at Radio Park in Rockefeller Center, a baby-blue quarter-zip was among its latest offering.

"It used to be you would wear a suit and tie to go to work, now…there's no one definition of how to go to work," Brooks Brothers creative director Michael Bastian told Business Insider, adding that the younger generations are drawn to the heritage brand because "there's a certain reliability there."

Google Trends shows that searches for "men's quarter zip" have risen by more than 300% over the past five years, predictably spiking in the fall each year. A quick look at last year's social media trends showed that TikTok personality Jason Gyamfi, who shared a video of himself touting it, is partly responsible for the spike. And in 2026, the numbers rose dramatically again, outpacing last year's spike.

After speaking with fashion pros, I understood why men like me are still flocking to the garment: It allows men to look competent in today's corporate world while making as little effort as possible. And Brooks Brothers isn't the only brand continuing to lean in.

Lyst data shows that Ralph Lauren dominates the searches for men's quarter-zips, though Alo Yoga is catching up. Even Adidas has a $220 quarter zip sweatshirt.

Scott Liebenberg, CEO of Tapered Menswear, a brand specializing in clothing for men with athletic builds, described what I had noticed. "A blazer says I tried. A hoodie says I didn't," he told Business Insider. "The quarter-zip somehow says, 'I didn't try and still look better than you,' and that's exactly the aspirational mood right now: competence without visible effort."

It's why the quarter-zip has endured as a staple of the professional male wardrobe — it's provided workers with exactly what they needed to convey who they are in the workplace in the easiest way possible.

The quarter-zip was already a closet staple for corporate men

Even before young men like me learned to appreciate the quarter-zip, it was already a staple of the modern male wardrobe. Jason Cater, chief creative officer at Peter Millar, told me why.

"It's one of those rare pieces that moves effortlessly between sport and everyday life, equally at home on the course, in the office, or off-duty," he told Business Insider.

Cater added that at his company, the quarter-zip has been a cornerstone of their brand strategy for the past 25 years, due to its versatility. He maintains it's why this item in your dad's dresser is still one of the most fashion popular pieces in the office, as common as a navy blue blazer or black loafers.

Stitch Fix stylist Maria Mihas agreed, telling Business Insider it's why many of her clients want it, because it's versatile enough to pair with a wide variety of items. Customers aren't option dressing anymore. They want foundational pieces.

"The quarter-zip checks all of those boxes, which is why we're styling it constantly," she said. "It transitions incredibly well, layered over a tee for weekends, paired with trousers or chinos for work, or worn under a jacket for dinner plans."

The quarter zip is about effort

Many men's fashion professionals agree with Cater that the quarter-zip's sustained popularity can be chalked up to what it says without words. It's about effort optics.

Justin Baer, founder and CEO of Collars & Co., a fashion company that pioneered the dress-collar polo shirt, told Business Insider that the quarter-zip allows men to look intentional in their day-to-day dressing without giving the impression that they are trying too hard.

He isn't surprised by the uptick in quarter-zips, as his company has seen its customers increasingly opt for what he describes as "comfortable sophistication."

"What's interesting is that it has also become somewhat self-aware," Baer added. "The 'finance bro' stereotype exists because the garment became associated with ambition, professionalism, and upward mobility. Like many cultural uniforms, people joke about it because it became recognizable, but those jokes don't diminish its popularity. If anything, they reinforce its role as a symbol."

The quarter-zip may look like a typical men's sweater, but its sustained popularity, even among younger generations who dictate fashion trends, shows that it's more than that.

As my Gen Z colleagues might say, "it's a vibe, actually."

• A top Anthropic official said she's hearing from her mom about AI safety.
• Sarah Heck, Anthropic's head of public policy, said: "This moment has really seized lots of folks."
• Are you paying more attention to AI safety?

AI executives are hearing from just about everyone about AI safety.

"My mom has entered the group chat as an AI safety advocate," Anthropic's head of public policy, Sarah Heck, said during a live interview Wednesday at Politico's Decoded Summit in Washington. "This moment has really seized lots of folks."

The AI safety conversation has exploded since former Anthropic researcher Jacob Coxon went public with his resignation and his view that Anthropic and OpenAI are "gambling with our lives." Other current and former Anthropic employees also expressed agreement with Coxon's view that people working on AI fear the technology could wipe out humanity.

Heck said Capitol Hill is also wrapped up in this moment. She said it seems like "every minute" she is getting a call about a new lawmaker introducing AI-related legislation.

"There has been a proliferation of bills in the past two weeks," she said.

The safety conversation isn't new to Anthropic, Heck said. She said those concerns were central to why CEO Dario Amodei and six other cofounders famously left OpenAI.

"Safety has been the core of who we are from the very beginning," she said.

Heck said that the current moment is just the beginning of where the conversation could go.

"This is going to be a sustained conversation," she said. "I anticipate that there are going to be many more moments."

• This 20-square-foot train cabin was my home for 30 hours.
• I spent $500 for the private space aboard an Amtrak train from NYC to Miami.
• Take a look around the tiny hotel room on the rails.

I'll never forget my first Amtrak roomette.

Before I'd spent roughly 200 hours on overnight trains in the US and Europe, I had no idea what to expect on the 30-hour journey from New York City to Miami in October 2021.

It was my first overnight Amtrak trip, and I was set on having a bed in a private space. So I spent $500 on a roomette accommodation — the lowest-tier private cabin on Amtrak sleeper trains.

The 22.75-square-foot cabin contained two beds, a toilet, and basic amenities. Thanks to clever storage hacks, it felt like a tiny hotel room with no unused space.

See inside the most affordable Amtrak ride in a private cabin.

I walked down a narrow corridor through three sleeper cars to my private room.

Inside the enclosed space with a sliding door, I found two seats that could pull out into a bed, a table, and a bed above the seats that pulled down.

I thought this was a big step up from sitting in coach, where you get one train seat and sit with other passengers.

My roomette had a sliding door and blinds to cover the windows.

Across from the window was a sliding door with a lock and curtains for privacy.

I spotted clever storage features that reminded me of a tiny home, like a pullout table between the chairs.

The table also had two foldout leaves for more counter space. This feature came in handy to work on my laptop.

In some roomettes — mine included — a side table swings open to reveal a hidden toilet. Above it, I had a folding sink and mirror.

With no privacy curtain around the toilet, I was grateful to be a solo traveler.

It's worth noting that Amtrak is filtering out toilets in the roomettes, so you're less likely to find one today.

The train had limited availability when I booked my ticket, so I had to switch to a roomette without a toilet partway through my trip.

In this roomette, I used a shared bathroom at the back of the sleeper car.

I was surprised by the variety of lighting options, which seemed to be more than what I'd get in economy on a flight.

I was also surprised to be able to control the temperature inside my roomette with a dial and air conditioning vents. I kept it cool, about 66 degrees Fahrenheit.

My ticket included meals, which I ate in the dining car.

For dinner, I had braised short ribs, mashed potatoes, and a hard roll. While I didn't love the meal as it came, I made a little sandwich out of the ingredients, which tasted better to me.

I've seen great improvements in Amtrak's food since this trip, especially on overnight rides.

After dinner, I was ready to rest for the night. I opted for the top bunk.

The roomette seats folded into a bed on the bottom level, and a top bunk pulled down from the ceiling.

I decided to sleep up top, where I found a pillow and a blanket wrapped in plastic, both soft and cozy.

While I found the train movement through the night a little unsettling, I appreciated the dim, blue light on the wall next to me. It was my favorite feature of the roomette because it reminded me of my colorful night light at home.

I didn't get much sleep, but I'm glad I went with the top bunk because of the morning views.

Looking out the window reminded me I was going somewhere exciting, and I thought it was a welcome distraction from the tight quarters.

Though the roomette started to feel small as I neared the full 30 hours in it, I thought it made impressive use of roughly 20 square feet.

After 30 hours in a roomette, I would book the accommodation again. But for those looking for more room to stretch out, I recommend the Amtrak bedroom.

In 2015, Margaux launched its first shoe: The Demi. These classic leather ballet flats came with a functioning tie, soft almond toe, and a 5mm of foam padding that makes them feel less flat while walking.

Eleven years later, the Demis are still some of the best shoes Margaux has ever come out with. They're my all-time favorite ballet flats, and they've taken many shapes since we first tested the original Demis five years ago.

Flats may look simple, but are notoriously one of the most complex shoes to engineer. Margaux aimed to fix the most common fit issues by offering more width options.

That said, Margaux's Demi sizing scheme can be tricky. There are narrow, wide, and half sizes, so it's important to take your foot's size and shape into account before ordering a pair. Here's what our editors have to say after trying Margaux's Demi ballet flats.

The Demi

The Demi flats have a low vamp that shows some toe cleavage. There's no designated arch support, but the stacked heel helps lift your feet out of the dead-flat position. There are 12 colors to choose from, like a beige captoe or a woven version, and there are more options added and swapped out seasonally.

"The Demi by Margaux is an archetypal ballet flat that made our list of the best ballet flats. It has a rounded toe, functional bow that tightens for a custom fit, and soft leather that molds to your feet," writes our executive editor Sally Kaplan.

"It's perfect in every way, save for the slight blister it gave me on my heel the first day I broke them in (and no days after that). There's just enough cushioning for me to feel supported when commuting, but not so much that the shoe loses its unstructured, simple aesthetic. Where the shoe gets tricky is its sizing, because the regular width can feel a little narrow — but I have a trick for that."

They run narrow, especially in the toe box

Margaux sells two versions of the its original design — the Classic Demi ($280) and Demi Jane ($325).

If you have an even slightly wide foot, stick to your true size — but go up in width. "As far as sizing and fit both go, I'd recommend going true to size since Margaux offers half sizes. And, possibly the best feature is the ability to choose your width (narrow, medium, or wide)," says Sally. "With all the walking I do, my feet end up swelling a bit, and the wide pair is more comfortable for long days out. They didn't make my feet look pancake-like, either — I still got that nice elongated silhouette you get from ballet flats. This is a hack I've used for pretty much all shoes I've tested from Margaux, and it's always worked for me."

The toe box is shallow. If you have longer toes, go up a half size. "While I appreciate a more custom fit, sometimes more options can leave more room for error," adds style editor Gabrielle Chase. "I wear a size US 8. My foot shape is slim to average, with a second toe that's longer than my big toe. I ordered a size 38 in the medium width, which felt a bit too small. The Demis made my long toes feel like they're overcrowding the short, almond-shaped toe box. I've found European shoe sizing runs small compared to US sizes, and this is yet another example."

The Demi Jane

"After wearing the Demi Jane flats for a few weeks, I can confidently say they're my new favorite ballet flats. I'm traditionally a loafer fan, opting for that flat style over many others on a daily basis. However, I find myself reaching for the Demi Janes even more," writes our former beauty editor Maiya Pascouche. "The soft Nappa leather molded to my feet instantly and never gave me blisters. They're also just adorable; I love how they look with my more tailored looks and casual, everyday outfits. My only fit note is that the toe box is a little short, so if you have longer toes, they may not be for you."

More reviews on the Margaux Demis

The leather feels stiff to start, especially in the toe box. "I got the Demi flats in the beautiful, goes-with-everything Saddle, which is the perfect color to show off the softness and glossiness of the leather uppers," writes former senior reporter Connie Chen. "I was surprised by how comfortable the flats were because the trim and heel look stiff, but the flexibility of the Italian Nappa leather and the padded insole made them really supportive and easily walkable. The tiny heel and bow give the flats an elegant and timeless look — I'm sure I'm going to be able to wear these shoes years from now as a result.

I did have to wear them a few times in order to break them in fully, but that's more a function of my feet shape than Margaux's design," Even my all-time favorite flats, the Everlane Day Glove, required break-in time — so I wouldn't worry too much about any initial comfort issues you may encounter with The Demi."

Are Margaux shoes worth it?

Margaux shoes range from about $250 to $600 per pair. They're made in Spanish factories operated by the same family-owned businesses that make shoes for luxury brands. With Margaux's direct-to-consumer model, you get the same quality without paying for the designer label.

The brand has come a long way in the eleven years since the Demis debuted. Our former author has worn its City Sandals as bridal shoes on her big day. We've also enjoyed its comfortable heels on mile-long walks and found them to be constructed with artisan-level care.

The bottom line

All around, The Demis are an excellent pair of ballet flats. The shape is simple and stylish, and you can expect the leather to age gracefully over time. They run narrow and don't offer arch support, but I'll keep wearing them as my everyday dress shoe until they give out.

• Your level of happiness can be affected by external factors, such as work and community.
• A WalletHub study examined three different categories to determine which states are happiest.
• Here are the 50 states, ranked from the least to the most happy.

Happiness may come from within, but external factors can still play a role in how happy you feel.

Even if you're a glass-half-full kind of person, factors like financial security, access to healthcare, and community can also impact your well-being.

A recent WalletHub study ranked all 50 states based on metrics that measure residents' happiness.

All states were compared across three categories: emotional and physical well-being, work environment, and community and environment. These dimensions were broken down into 30 metrics, graded on a 100-point scale to create a happiness score.

The most heavily weighted category was emotional and physical well-being, which included metrics such as career well-being, physical health, the share of adults with depression, and life expectancy.

Work environment metrics included the number of work hours and the share of households earning annual incomes above $75,000.

For community and environment, the metrics included ideal weather, average daily leisure time, and safety.

WalletHub's analysis used data from sources such as the US Census Bureau, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and Gallup.

Here are the 50 states, ranked from least to most happy.

50. West Virginia

Emotional and physical well-being rank: 50

Work environment rank: 50

Community and environment rank: 40

49. Louisiana

Emotional and physical well-being rank: 49

Work environment rank: 49

Community and environment rank: 38

48. Arkansas

Emotional and physical well-being rank: 47

Work environment rank: 47

Community and environment rank: 30

47. Alaska

Emotional and physical well-being rank: 38

Work environment rank: 44

Community and environment rank: 50

46. Kentucky

Emotional and physical well-being rank: 48

Work environment rank: 41

Community and environment rank: 25

45. Alabama

Emotional and physical well-being rank: 45

Work environment rank: 35

Community and environment rank: 36

44. New Mexico

Emotional and physical well-being rank: 36

Work environment rank: 48

Community and environment rank: 37

43. Wyoming

Emotional and physical well-being rank: 40

Work environment rank: 42

Community and environment rank: 35

42. Oregon

Emotional and physical well-being rank: 44

Work environment rank: 38

Community and environment rank: 29

41. Tennessee

Emotional and physical well-being rank: 41

Work environment rank: 14

Community and environment rank: 44

40. Oklahoma

Emotional and physical well-being rank: 46

Work environment rank: 43

Community and environment rank: 4

39. Ohio

Emotional and physical well-being rank: 39

Work environment rank: 32

Community and environment rank: 26

38. Michigan

Emotional and physical well-being rank: 32

Work environment rank: 45

Community and environment rank: 28

37. Mississippi

Emotional and physical well-being rank: 35

Work environment rank: 46

Community and environment rank: 12

36. Colorado

Emotional and physical well-being rank: 28

Work environment rank: 23

Community and environment rank: 49

35. Texas

Emotional and physical well-being rank: 24

Work environment rank: 30

Community and environment rank: 46

34. Maine

Emotional and physical well-being rank: 42

Work environment rank: 10

Community and environment rank: 20

33. Indiana

Emotional and physical well-being rank: 34

Work environment rank: 19

Community and environment rank: 21

32. Nevada

Emotional and physical well-being rank: 37

Work environment rank: 39

Community and environment rank: 5

31. Missouri

Emotional and physical well-being rank: 33

Work environment rank: 15

Community and environment rank: 24

30. Montana

Emotional and physical well-being rank: 43

Work environment rank: 7

Community and environment rank: 10

29. Rhode Island

Emotional and physical well-being rank: 23

Work environment rank: 26

Community and environment rank: 45

28. Delaware

Emotional and physical well-being rank: 14

Work environment rank: 28

Community and environment rank: 47

27. Wisconsin

Emotional and physical well-being rank: 30

Work environment rank: 18

Community and environment rank: 34

26. Illinois

Emotional and physical well-being rank: 13

Work environment rank: 40

Community and environment rank: 42

25. Pennsylvania

Emotional and physical well-being rank: 20

Work environment rank: 37

Community and environment rank: 27

24. South Dakota

Emotional and physical well-being rank: 29

Work environment rank: 2

Community and environment rank: 41

23. Kansas

Emotional and physical well-being rank: 26

Work environment rank: 12

Community and environment rank: 31

22. Vermont

Emotional and physical well-being rank: 31

Work environment rank: 9

Community and environment rank: 7

21. Florida

Emotional and physical well-being rank: 9

Work environment rank: 29

Community and environment rank: 48

20. Iowa

Emotional and physical well-being rank: 27

Work environment rank: 16

Community and environment rank: 16

19. Washington

Emotional and physical well-being rank: 18

Work environment rank: 25

Community and environment rank: 33

18. Georgia

Emotional and physical well-being rank: 21

Work environment rank: 22

Community and environment rank: 22

17. Arizona

Emotional and physical well-being rank: 16

Work environment rank: 33

Community and environment rank: 13

16. Virginia

Emotional and physical well-being rank: 10

Work environment rank: 31

Community and environment rank: 32

15. South Carolina

Emotional and physical well-being rank: 25

Work environment rank: 13

Community and environment rank: 3

14. North Carolina

Emotional and physical well-being rank: 15

Work environment rank: 21

Community and environment rank: 15

13. Massachusetts

Emotional and physical well-being rank: 7

Work environment rank: 17

Community and environment rank: 43

12. North Dakota

Emotional and physical well-being rank: 22

Work environment rank: 4

Community and environment rank: 6

11. New York

Emotional and physical well-being rank: 3

Work environment rank: 34

Community and environment rank: 39

10. New Hampshire

Emotional and physical well-being rank: 12

Work environment rank: 8

Community and environment rank: 14

9. California

Emotional and physical well-being rank: 4

Work environment rank: 36

Community and environment rank: 19

8. Minnesota

Emotional and physical well-being rank: 8

Work environment rank: 11

Community and environment rank: 17

7. Connecticut

Emotional and physical well-being rank: 5

Work environment rank: 27

Community and environment rank: 9

6. Nebraska

Emotional and physical well-being rank: 11

Work environment rank: 6

Community and environment rank: 8

5. Maryland

Emotional and physical well-being rank: 6

Work environment rank: 20

Community and environment rank: 11

4. Idaho

Emotional and physical well-being rank: 19

Work environment rank: 3

Community and environment rank: 2

3. Utah

Emotional and physical well-being rank: 17

Work environment rank: 1

Community and environment rank: 1

2. New Jersey

Emotional and physical well-being rank: 1

Work environment rank: 24

Community and environment rank: 23

1. Hawaii

Emotional and physical well-being rank: 2

Work environment rank: 5

Community and environment rank: 18

With residents reporting the second-lowest rate of depression and high levels of life satisfaction, Hawaii was ranked the happiest state.

This is owing to factors such as good physical health — about 84% of adults report being in good or better health — and low unemployment rates.

• Mark Zandi says aggressively raising rates would be a mistake by the Fed.
• The Moody's economist doesn't see it as the best way to tame inflation.
• Pressure on consumers is high, and a rate hike could hurt the labor market and businesses.

The US consumer is feeling the sting of inflation, and higher rates from the Fed could be a policy mistake that makes things harder for the economy, Mark Zandi says.

The chief economist at Moody's Analytics, Zandi has spent the past year sounding the alarm on worsening economic conditions faced by US households and businesses. Now, as the Federal Reserve prepares to deliver its latest policy decision, Zandi sees more trouble ahead.

"The odds of a serious Fed policy mistake are uncomfortably high and rising," he wrote in a post on X.

He said that raising rates too quickly or aggressively would be the wrong move, exacerbating issues facing companies, and potentially weighing on the labor market.

While, the Fed is focused on lowering inflation, Zandi maintains that tighter monetary policy might not be the solution. In fact, it might make more sense to leave rates unchanged.

"Inflation is too high, to be sure, running above 3%," he added. "But much of that is the fallout from higher energy prices and tariffs, supply shocks that rate hikes can't fix and that should fade on their own so long as inflation expectations stay anchored, as they have."

If the Fed does make the "serious" mistake Zandi alludes to, it would come at a critical time for US consumers. Geopolitical tensions are still high and by his own estimate, the US war with Iran has cost households more than $1,000 each as shipping disruptions have pushed up transportation and energy costs. Inflation was 3.4% in August, well-above the Fed's 2% target.

Pressure on consumers is already high, but Zandi recently highlighted another factor that could make things worse in the coming months; last year's tax cuts helped delay certain negative economic consequences but that benefit has faded.

"The impact of the higher oil prices on the consumer has been cushioned, at least up through this summer, by the tax cuts," he told CNBC. "The refund checks this year were a lot larger than last year but they're in the rearview mirror. They're gone and we're still left with these higher energy prices."

If they continue rising, Zandi said that things could easily get worse for many US households. Oil prices have surged recently, pushing up the already elevated costs of gasoline and diesel, which could lead to higher prices for everyday goods.

"If prices go much higher, if they go $110, $120, $130, gasoline gets to closer to $5 a gallon nationwide," he added. "That's going to be pretty hard to digest, particularly in the context of everything else going on, including the higher interest rates."

• Amazon raised its minimum pay for workers at its warehouses and other core operations facilities.
• Employees will also now get a 20% discount at Whole Foods stores.
• Amazon has spent years building its grocery business. Now, it's benefiting employees.

Amazon is upping its minimum pay for core operations workers to $20 an hour and giving all US workers new grocery discounts.

The $1-an-hour raise applies to full-time employees, many of whom work in Amazon's warehouses picking, packing, and sorting orders. Amazon's average hourly wage is now about $24, the company said on Wednesday.

The company is also adding new benefits for all US Amazon employees, including a 20% discount on in-store purchases at Whole Foods stores. The discount applies to groceries as well as the chain's hot bar and salad bar.

Employees will also get a 10% discount on eligible fresh groceries and essential items ordered on Amazon.com. Both discounts take effect on October 1.

Amazon has grown its delivery network for fresh groceries over the past decade to compete with Walmart and other grocers.

The e-commerce giant bought Whole Foods in 2017. More recently, it's expanded same-day delivery of fresh groceries to thousands of cities and towns in the US and has a distribution network to match.

"When we build something like that, we want our teammates to benefit from it just as much as our customers do," Udit Madan, Senior Vice President, Worldwide Operations, wrote in a blog post.

Amazon will also offer employees a membership in First Tech Federal Credit Union, which provides basic services such as auto loans.

The benefit, which Amazon calls Day 1 Financial, will be available to employees, their spouses, and children, even if they leave Amazon.

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

• Suzanne Collins' "Sunrise on the Reaping," published in 2025, is a prequel to "The Hunger Games."
• It's being adapted into a film, following Haymitch's experience as a tribute for District 12.
• Lionsgate released a new trailer for the movie showing Haymitch facing off against President Snow.

A new dawn is rising in "The Hunger Games" universe (literally).

"The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping" is set to hit theaters on November 20, taking fans back into the world of Panem. This time, they will see it through the eyes of a young Haymitch Abernathy as he competes as a District 12 tribute 24 years before the events of Suzanne Collins' original trilogy.

Fans have been eagerly awaiting the film since it was first announced in 2024, before the novel it is based on was even published. A new trailer released on Wednesday offers a glimpse into the high-stakes world Haymitch finds himself in when he is taken to the Capitol, from a dramatic tribute parade to a stand-off with President Snow.

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

'Sunrise on the Reaping,' the 6th 'Hunger Games' movie, will hit theaters in November 2026

"Sunrise on the Reaping" was published in March 2025, and it is the second prequel to Collins' immensely popular dystopian series, following the 2020 release of "The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes." Like "Ballad," the latest installment reveals key lore about the world of Panem, while staying true to the heart of Collins' original works.

Lionsgate announced it would turn the story into a feature film following the success of the "Ballad" adaptation, in conjunction with the novel's announcement in June 2024.

At the time, Deadline reported that the film, "The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping," would be released on November 20, 2026.

Francis Lawrence, the filmmaker who helmed every movie in the series except the 2012 original, directed the movie from a script adapted by Billy Ray.

Nina Jacobson and her producing partner, Brad Simpson, returned to produce the prequel under their Color Force banner. Jacobson told Variety in March 2025 that her team already had "a great draft" of the script and set filming locations before the book was even released.

Filming started in the summer of 2025

"Sunrise on the Reaping" has a massive cast, largely because Haymitch is reaped into the second Quarter Quell. The 50th Hunger Games has twice as many tributes competing, meaning 48 children from the districts are sent to the arena instead of 24.

In addition, the novel introduces readers to characters in District 12 with connections to the other books in the series and features appearances by "Hunger Games" favorites such as Effie Trinket and Plutarch Heavensbee.

Lionsgate revealed the film's cast on social media, showing snippets of the characters' introductions in the novel as they burst into flame, revealing the actors portraying them.

The 'Sunrise on the Reaping' cast includes:

• Haymitch Abernathy: Joseph Zada
• Lenore Dove Baird: Whitney Peak
• President Snow: Ralph Fiennes
• Effie Trinket: Elle Fanning
• Caesar Flickerman: Kieran Culkin
• Plutarch Heavensbee: Jesse Plemons
• Beetee Latier: Kelvin Harrison Jr.
• Wiress: Maya Hawke
• Mags Flanagan: Lili Taylor
• Maysilee Donner: Mckenna Grace
• Wyatt Callow: Ben Wang
• Louella McCoy: Molly McCann
• Lou Lou: Iona Bell
• Magno Stift: Billy Porter
• Drusilla Sickle: Glenn Close
• Panache: Jhaleil Swaby
• Ampert: Percy Daggs IV
• Silka: Laura Marcus
• Wellie: Rada Rae
• Maritte: Sky Frances
• Clayton: Salimou Thiam
• Ringina: Tatyana Muzondo
• Buck: John Doeble
• Kerna: Alina Reid
• Hull: Kaine Buffonge
• Willamae: Kara Tointon
• Sid: Smylie Bradwell
• Clerk Carmine: Jeffrey Hallman
• Woodbine: Serafin Mishiev

The film's star, Zada, is a relative newcomer with a handful of roles to his name. In March 2025, Jacobson told Variety her team was looking for an actor who could bring the same "mischief" Woody Harrelson brought to the role in the original trilogy without "impersonating" him.

"You want somebody who very credibly feels like they could be a young version of this character, before the trauma and grief and rage that the fallout of the Games create," Jacobson said. "Nobody can be Woody Harrelson, but Woody Harrelson."

Of the roles announced, Fiennes' and Fanning's castings arguably generated the most buzz.

Fiennes, who is no stranger to film franchises after playing Voldemort in the "Harry Potter" films, will be offering the third cinematic iteration of President Coriolanus Snow.

Donald Sutherland originated the role of the aging villain in the three original "Hunger Games" films, and fans saw Tom Blyth's portrayal of Snow as a young man in the first prequel. Snow is the primary antagonist in "Sunrise on the Reaping," as he is in the original trilogy, and he makes some chilling appearances in the novel.

Elizabeth Banks played Effie Trinket, Katniss and Peeta's handler from the Capitol, in the original "Hunger Games" trilogy, and the character appears as a young stylist in "Sunrise on the Reaping." Fans were eager to see who would step into Banks' shoes because her performance was so beloved in the films, and Fanning's casting was met with overwhelming excitement.

Plemons will take over the role of Plutarch for Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Jeffrey Wright played Beetee Latier before Kelvin Harrison Jr. Interestingly, both Plemons and Harrison previously played Hoffman's and Wright's children in other projects. Plemons was Hoffman's son in the 2012 film "The Master," and Harrison was Wright's son in "Monster," released in 2018.

Lawrence announced that filming for the project was set to begin in July 2025 at CinemaCon in April 2025, and Zada and Grace were spotted together in Spain that month.

Lionsgate released the most enlightening trailer for the movie yet in September 2026

On November 20, 2025, Lionsgate shared an official teaser trailer for the film to celebrate one year until its release.

It gave viewers a glimpse of the arena for the 50th Hunger Games, showing Zada as Haymitch standing on a podium alongside his fellow tributes in a picturesque, hilly countryside.

Importantly, the teaser showed Lenore Dove giving Haymitch a striker with a bird on one end and a snake on the other. The striker plays an important role in the book, was illustrated on the book's cover, and was unveiled as the official logo for the film in a teaser clip released in April 2025, making its appearance exciting for fans of the text.

Both the teaser trailer and teaser clip ended with Harrelson's voice saying, "I think these games are gonna be different."

In December 2025, The Hollywood Reporter confirmed that Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson would be reprising their roles as Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark in "Sunrise on the Reaping," though the outlet didn't say whether Harrelson would return alongside them or how they would appear in the film. In the "Sunrise on the Reaping" book, Katniss and Peeta appear in the epilogue, which flashes forward to Haymitch's life after the events of "Mockingjay."

On April 13, 2026, Lionsgate released the first full-length trailer for the film. It offered a more comprehensive look at the film's plot, focusing on Haymitch's reaping and his time at the Capitol before the Hunger Games actually begin.

Clips of some of the book's biggest moments appeared in the trailer, including a chariot crash during the parade of tributes, Haymitch's live TV interview before he enters the arena, and a private conversation between Haymitch and President Snow.

The trailer is also stacked with appearances from the star-studded cast. It features Kieran Culkin as Caesar Flickerman, the role Stanley Tucci played in the original trilogy, and Maya Hawke as a younger, less traumatized version of Wiress, an ally to Katniss in the 75th Quarter Quell and a mentor to Haymitch in the 50th.

Hawke as Wiress offers one of the most chilling lines in the trailer: "The arena, it's a killing machine. But all machines can be broken."

Lionsgate also released a video introducing Haymitch to viewers on July 4, which is both Reaping Day in the "Hunger Games" universe and Haymitch's birthday. It includes clips from the movie, as well as commentary from Lawrence, Jacobson, and Zada on Haymitch as a character.

Finally, the studio shared a second full-length trailer for the movie on September 16, a little over two months before the film's premiere. "Witness the beginning of a revolution," the official "The Hunger Games" Instagram account captioned the trailer.

The trailer gives a closer look at Haymitch's experience in the Capitol and the arena after he is reaped for the Games, showing glimpses of his disastrous tribute parade and his work to dismantle the arena from the inside as he competes.

It also tees up his conflict with President Snow more directly than the other trailers. In one clip, Haymitch looks directly at Snow and claps in a silent stadium, the lone voice of dissent as Capitol loyalists look on in horror at this small act of rebellion (and, in Plutarch Heavensbee's case, in awe).

Alongside the trailer, Lionsgate also released two posters for the film, coining the slogan, "Challenge authority. Capitalize power."

The tributes from District 12 pose under "challenge authority," while people from the Capitol, like Snow and Heavensbee, are on the "capitalize" poster.

Whether you're a longtime Apple fan who upgrades every year or a newcomer to the brand, everyone should invest in a good iPhone case. Despite improvements to durability, shielding your device, even with a thin, decorative option, can make a big difference in keeping it safe from scratches, dents, and irreversible screen shattering. With that in mind, I've gathered all of the best iPhone 18 Pro cases you can buy now, below.

Thanks to Apple's huge user base, there is no shortage of cases for the new smartphone. From Casetify's crowd-pleasing prints to Bellroy's sleek wallet cases, there's already a design for every type of iPhone 18 Pro owner. Check out the best from brands we've tried, researched, and loved below, and peep my guide to preordering your iPhone 18 Pro if you haven't secured your device yet.

The best iPhone 18 Pro Cases

• Browse more cases at Bandolier | Casetify | OtterBox | Zagg

What is the best iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max case?

As I always say, the best iPhone 18 Pro case depends on your needs as a user. Shoppers looking for the most protection will get the most coverage from an OtterBox Defender Series Pro, while style-minded owners will prefer the purse-like qualities of Bandolier or customization of Casetify. Wallet-case lovers should look into Bellroy's all-in-one options, while those with tight budgets can make do with a Fntcase.

If you're looking for the best balance of appearance, quality, and price, Spigen's cases check all the boxes — but for a slight price increase or decrease, you may be able to find something you prefer more.

Do iPhone 17 Pro cases fit the iPhone 18 Pro?

Overall, iPhone 17 Pro cases can fit the iPhone 18 Pro, thanks to the devices' similar specs. However, unless a product specifies that it works for both, it's always advisable to upgrade your case when you upgrade your phone. Just because a case "fits" doesn't mean it is designed with all of the device's hardware in mind, which may mean the protection is lacking.

What screen protector should I get?

If you're shopping for a screen protector too, you're a smart cookie. A phone case is half the battle; the other half is shielding your screen to prevent scratches, or worse, shattering.

I recommend looking into Spigen's GlasTR EZ Fit Screen Protectors for an option from a brand we trust. Alternatively, the super-budget-friendly AmFilm OneTouch screen protectors are a tried-and-true personal favorite, especially since they come with extra replacements to swap in when you damage your first one.

See more: iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max preorders | Verizon iPhone 18 Pro deals | Apple Watch Series 12 preorders | Apple Watch Ultra 4 preorders | AirPods 5 preorders

Follow us on Instagram and WhatsApp for the latest deals, reviews, and buying guides.

• Carleton College announced it is eliminating student loans from its financial aid packages.
• It joins a growing list of schools replacing student loans with grants and scholarships.
• The move is an effort to curb the spiraling student-debt burdens affecting millions of Americans.

More colleges are reducing the burden of student loans after graduation.

Carleton College, a private liberal-arts college in Minnesota, recently joined the list of schools eliminating student loans from their financial aid packages, instead offering students grants and scholarships that do not need to be repaid.

In its announcement, Carleton said that one-third of every incoming class over the past decade has come from middle-income households, and those students will benefit most from eliminating student loans. The change will apply to both new and current students, the school said.

"Eliminating loans from our financial aid packages will expand opportunities for students," Alison Byerly, Carleton's president, said in a statement, adding that they'll "be freed from the burden of student loan debt that might otherwise have impacted their professional decisions and ambitions."

Students may still choose to borrow loans outside the college's financial aid package, and they're responsible for their expected family contribution based on their income. Carleton said the change is funded by $80 million in donations, and it's seeking to raise an additional $48 million to sustain the program.

Religious schools are following suit. On Tuesday, Asbury Theological Seminary in Kentucky announced it would phase out federal student loans and shift toward scholarships. This shift will allow students to "graduate with less debt and greater freedom to serve wherever they are called," the press release said.

Princeton University became the first school in the US to replace student loans with grants in 2001. Schools, including Harvard and Yale, launched similar initiatives in the following years, in an attempt to address the $1.7 trillion student-debt burden affecting over 40 million Americans.

Business Insider has heard from thousands of student-loan borrowers over the past few years who have struggled to pay off their student loans due to a range of factors, including spiraling interest and difficulty finding gainful employment.

The Trump administration said it is working to address the issue through its sweeping repayment overhaul, which included new repayment plans and borrowing caps. While borrowers have said the changes have made their monthly bills higher, the Education Department has maintained that its changes are intended to simplify a complex lending system and compel colleges to lower their tuition.

Have a story to share about student loans? Contact this reporter at asheffey@businessinsider.com.

• I skipped Greece's tourist hot spots like Mykonos and Santorini for the quiet island of Syros.
• It had stunning beaches, incredible food, and charming streets — all without overwhelming crowds.
• Overall, I never felt like I was competing for space, and it was more affordable than other islands.

I've always dreamed of a Greek island holiday: swimming in the Aegean Sea, strolling down cobblestone streets by whitewashed buildings, and enjoying fresh olives, feta, and white wine on a sunny terrace.

However, when I actually started planning a trip there, all I saw online was crowds — tons of people stampeding off the ferry from Athens, overwhelming otherwise picturesque villages, and creating lines just to take Instagram pictures.

This looked like my nightmare, so instead, I decided to book a five-day trip to an island I'd never heard of: Syros.

Syros is the capital of the Cyclades, a cluster of Greek islands that includes Santorini and Mykonos, but it sees less tourism pressure compared to its more popular alternatives. With a population of roughly 20,000, Syros is about 100 miles from Athens and can be reached by ferry or a short flight.

After visiting myself — and seeing that it's a more authentic, less expensive, and quieter Greek-island experience — here's why I'll always recommend Syros.

Immediately, I was impressed by how quiet and peaceful the island was.

After arriving at Ermoupoli, the city center and capital of the island, I came across a unique mix of Greek and Venetian neoclassical architecture.

I was in awe of the island, surrounded by crystal-clear water that sparkles in the sun, and the gently buzzing port with people dining on patios and sailboats coming and going.

As I explored the area, I was greeted by marble-and-stone-paved streets, charming alleys, and flowers draping the buildings. When I left the port, I saw olive groves on windswept hills, calm beaches, and limestone cliffs.

Best of all, I felt like I could enjoy the area right away, without feeling like I was competing for space.

I very quickly fell in love with this place. I rented a scooter to tour the island on the spot, and paid a few Euros for a daybed on a beach just by walking up.

I swam in calm water that didn't feel like human soup, ate fresh fish in tiny seaside tavernas without reservations, and soaked in Ermoupoli's energetic nighttime ambiance.

I spent less money than I would have in Mykonos or Santorini.

One week before I arrived in Syros, I booked a beautiful one-bedroom Airbnb set into the cliffs above the sea with a sun terrace and direct access to the Aegean.

At about $227 per night, it was a 10-minute walk from the ferry port, and around the corner from historic churches, pastel coffee shops, and boutiques.

When I checked prices for other islands I was considering, such as Santorini, Mykonos, Milos, and Zakynthos, I found they were slightly more expensive than the options in Syros.

Plus, because Syros has a large year-round population of Greek residents and mostly domestic tourists, restaurants are priced for locals rather than luxury international visitors, so I never had to deal with surcharges or markups.

Syros felt like a local island, not a curated tourist bubble.

For me, nothing pops the bubble of authenticity in a place more than being surrounded by tour buses and mega resorts — neither of which I found on Syros.

Overall, I found that Syros isn't trying to be a caricature of itself. Locals I met in Athens were surprised I was heading to Syros, and they shared stories about going there as kids, or taking their families there now.

Plus, on the island, I heard more Greek than any other language, so I really felt immersed in the culture.

There were trade-offs, but I'd definitely visit Syros again.

If someone wants a postcard-perfect view of Santorini's famous caldera and is yearning for Mykonos' nightlife, then Syros might not be the place for them.

There may be fewer options for boat tours, and sometimes, I had to look a little harder for that perfect beach, since some of the more secluded ones required a bit of a hike. But for me, Syros was one of the best places I've ever visited.

I can't wait to come back to the island, and it's inspired me to choose another place I've never heard of for my next getaway.

• There's a chance that a Fed rate hike may actually be good for stocks.
• Stocks often come under pressure from rate hike, but analysts say the backdrop looks different now.
• If a hike calms bond yields, the result could be a "bullish shock" to equities, Citi said.

Investors aren't clamoring for a Fed rate hike, but there's a chance an increase in interest rates could actually spark a renewed rally in stocks, according to some forecasters.

That's the opposite of what typically happens when the Fed hikes. Higher rates tighten financial conditions and make the macro climate less favorable to risk assets. For stock investors, it's largely interpreted as bad news, and markets think it's the most likely scenario to emerge from the Fed's policy meeting on Wednesday.

The odds of a 25 basis point hike have climbed to 92% in recent days.

It would mark the first time the central bank has raised interest rates in three years. But there are two main reasons a hike could actually be bullish this time around, analysts say:

Everyone is pricing it in. Stock investors have largely been expecting a hike for the past month. Even before the odds rose above 90% following the August consumer inflation report, markets saw about a 70% chance the central bank would deliver a hike.

Stocks have already been rattled by higher yields. Equities have been hit over the past month as investors fret over inflation and the prospect of higher interest rates. A steady rise in Treasury yields—the 10-year government bond yield hit the highest level since 2007 on Tuesday—has taken some of the air out of this summer's rally.

The S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average are down 2% over the last month, while the Nasdaq 100 has shed more than 3%.

All three indexes also slipped below their 50-day moving averages as of this week.

A rate hike could help calm long-end bond yields. The bond market has come into focus amid concerns about inflation and the US's fiscal health. The benchmark 10-year US Treasury yield recently surpassed the critical 5% level, a key threshold that signals fixed-income investors have turned more bearish on US debt.

But a rate hike could shift investors' mindset, as it would signal the Fed is serious about bringing inflation back down to its 2% target. That could raise yields on the short-end while calming yields on the long-end, assuming that the Fed issues a rate-hike Scott Chronert, the head of US equity strategy at Citi Research, said this week.

"A pre-emptive move out of the Fed — 25, maybe 50 basis points — might not be the worst thing because it could anchor the longer end of the curve and put this current short-term uncertainty behind us," Chronert said, speaking to CNBC this week about his outlook ahead of the FOMC meeting.

"Let's call it the bullish shock effect," he added of a potential surge in stocks on the Fed decision.

Thomas Lee, a market permabull and the head of research at Fundstrat, said he believes markets are primed for a positive reaction no matter what the Fed does at the end of its meeting. Stocks have already sold off ahead of the meeting, he wrote on Tuesday.

"If the Fed hikes, this is priced in. If the Fed is on hold, it is a surprise dovish move. Thus, we are expecting a positive reaction either way," Lee said.

Henrik Zeberg, a veteran economist who studies business cycles, also said he believes a rate hike this week would be bullish for stocks in the short term. That's partly because yields could ultimately fall on the news, sending risk assets higher, he wrote in a note published on Substack.

"Wednesday may be bullish no matter which door the FOMC walks through," Zeberg said. "Falling yields and a falling dollar: the classic fuel of a bull market's final advance."

• Dr. Gary Small is a neuroscientist and psychiatrist specializing in Alzheimer's prevention.
• He walks every day, listens to audiobooks to fall back asleep, and eats occasional "cheaties."
• However, he isn't too strict and doesn't want to "torture myself too much."

Throughout a long career in researching the brain and Alzheimer's disease, Dr. Gary Small picked up a few longevity habits of his own.

"When you're in this field for so many years, it's hard to resist following your own advice," Small, a neuroscientist and psychiatrist based in Los Angeles, told Business Insider.

Small, who has a psychiatry practice focusing on memory loss and is a professor of psychiatry at UCLA, said that age is the biggest risk factor in developing Alzheimer's.

"Thanks to modern medicine, we're living longer," he said. "The rub is that our brains weren't engineered to function well that long."

Still, he said lifestyle factors play a significant role in decreasing your risk of cognitive decline. Particularly, the ones that reduce obesity in midlife decrease your risk for Alzheimer's and dementia in late life.

Small, who is also the director of behavioral health breakthrough therapies such as developing a psychedelic treatment for depression at Hackensack Meridian Health, shared a few of the habits he follows to protect his brain as he ages.

He includes walking and balance training in his workout routine

Small tries to fit in some exercise every single day.

Besides being beneficial to your overall health, he said, frequent movement also elevates your mood from the endorphins. Exercise may also increase levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a protein involved in the survival and growth of nerve cells.

Small, who has a gym in his house, focuses on cycling for his cardio and simple strength training with resistance bands and dumbbells.

Additionally, he incorporates more walking into his day. When he lived in New Jersey, he'd take the stairs to his office or purposefully park a longer distance away. Now that he lives in Santa Monica, he and his wife love that they can walk to restaurants or run errands.

He also prioritizes improving his balance. "As you get older, if you trip and fall, that's not going to be good," he said, risking potential fractures affecting the brain. "Anything you can do to strengthen your glutes is really important as you age." He personally incorporates movements such as lunges and standing on one foot with his eyes closed.

He focuses on protein and splits entrees with his wife

Small said that no diet is one-size-fits-all.

He keeps it simple: "With every meal, I try to have a healthy protein and a healthy carbohydrate," he said, to feel fuller for longer. He also tries to snack on whole foods over ultraprocessed ones, as higher consumption of the latter is associated with a risk of quicker cognitive decline.

A typical day looks like a fried egg, cheddar cheese, and sourdough toast for breakfast; a turkey sandwich, chicken salad, or soup for lunch; salmon or the occasional steak with salad for dinner, and fruit for snacks. For carbohydrates, he prefers to eat sprouted whole-grain and whole-grain breads because they provide complex carbohydrates, high fiber, and a lower impact on blood sugar; or sourdough bread because it has a lower glycemic index and enhanced nutrient absorption.

He also tries to avoid overeating at night and likes to split entrees with his wife, which reduces calorie intake and may lower inflammation. Chronic inflammation in the brain is a risk factor for Alzheimer's.

Mostly, he tries not to be too rigid with his diet, which he said is unsustainable for most people. "People generally do have their cheaties," he said. "You have that bit of dessert or you have the cheeseburger — I don't do that every night, but that can be fun."

His sleep hacks include audiobooks and box breathing

Just like regular exercise and a whole-foods-focused diet, Small said that getting enough sleep also lowers inflammation.

"A good night's sleep is critically important for the aging brain," Small said, including clearing amyloid, natural proteins in the brain that can harmfully build up over time and are associated with memory loss and cognitive decline.

He also said it's common to have lighter sleep as you age.

When he wakes up in the middle of the night, he tries to do box-breathing exercises — slow, deep breaths that affect the vagus nerve and can create a calming sensation. He also likes putting on an audiobook, his favorite genres being literary and historical fiction, as well as autobiographies from comedians.

"When you are a kid, you like to have a bedtime story," he said. "It's a way of getting yourself out of your head and just drifting off somewhere else to get back to sleep."

Staying positive and relaxed

Small said having a positive mindset can be a huge asset for healthy aging.

When working as the director of the UCLA Longevity Center, he noticed that older patients who thought positively could adapt to challenges such as a sprained ankle and remain mobile.

In Small's case, he's naturally a "glass half-full" person. "I've had a fortunate life where I haven't had major hits growing up, had a relatively stable family life and friendships and did well. I'm very grateful for that," he said.

At the same time, even he isn't immune to gloomier thoughts. "It's a challenging world," he said. "If I notice myself going too negative, I try to pull myself in another direction."

Most crucially, he tries not to stress too much, including over his lifestyle. He said it's easy for people to fixate on getting exactly seven hours of sleep or 10,000 steps a day, but those numbers aren't universally perfect metrics for everyone. Plus, dementia and Alzheimer's are still impacted by genetics and age.

"You try to take as much responsibility as you can, but realize it's not all in your control," he said. He said being super strict with himself also feels too tedious.

"I want to live longer; I just don't want to feel like life is longer, torture myself too much."

• Book adaptation movies are dominated by the fantasy genre.
• Business Insider compiled the 25 best-performing book adaptations using Box Office Mojo data.
• Christopher Nolan's "The Odyssey" film is the latest entry.

Hollywood loves a book adaptation movie. Even better, a franchise of them.

Book adaptations have grown significantly in popularity since the 1990s, which represented roughly 8% of major studio releases at the time. Today, they account for 70% of top-grossing films in theaters, according to 2024 data.

Using data from Box Office Mojo, Business Insider compiled the 25 highest-grossing book adaptations, including children's novels, biographies, and other literary works, at the worldwide box office.

We did not include comic-book or stage adaptations, and the figures are not adjusted for inflation.

Eight films crossed the $1 billion threshold, and fantasy franchises like "Harry Potter," "The Lord of the Rings," and "Twilight" dominated, while two adaptations from Academy Award-winning director Christopher Nolan also made the list.

Here are the 25 highest-grossing book adaptations at the box office.

25. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005)

Worldwide gross: $745,013,115

C.S. Lewis's children's novel made its way to the screen after decades of interest in adaptation.

The movie won the Academy Award for Best Makeup and Hairstyling.

24. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1 (2014)

Worldwide gross: $758,846,335

Suzanne Collins' third "Hunger Games" book was split into two films, with Part 1 ending when Katniss sees Peeta after his Capitol appearances.

It was the second-highest-grossing movie at the US box office in 2014.

23. The Da Vinci Code (2006)

Worldwide gross: $801,349,858

The adaptation of Dan Brown's novel premiered at Cannes and arrived amid controversy over its religious-conspiracy storyline.

The film sent its audience through real art, symbols, and European landmarks, though much of the historical premise is fictional.

22. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)

Worldwide gross: $810,573,261

Alfonso Cuarón took over as director of the Harry Potter franchise for the third movie and gave the series a darker visual and thematic style.

The film opened to nearly $94 million in domestic box office sales.

21. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013)

Worldwide gross: $865,864,687

"Catching Fire" opened to $158.1 million in North America, then the biggest November opening weekend ever.

It was the second-highest domestic release of 2013.

20. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)

Worldwide gross: $883,459,548

"The Chamber of Secrets" was the last "Harry Potter" film directed by Chris Columbus.

The film's budget was $100 million — a hefty return on investment for Warner Bros. Pictures.

19. The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2 (2012)

Worldwide gross: $888,875,751

The final chapter delivered the saga's most talked-about moment: a fight scene that did not happen in Stephenie Meyer's novel.

It became the highest-grossing Twilight movie worldwide.

18. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)

Worldwide gross: $897,540,492

Peter Jackson's first Middle-earth film, based on J.R.R. Tolkien's three-volume book, began a trilogy largely shot in New Zealand.

It earned 13 Oscar nominations and won four, including Best Cinematography and Best Visual Effects.

17. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)

Worldwide gross: $900,463,002

"The Goblet of Fire" was the first and only "Harry Potter" movie directed by Mike Newell.

16. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)

Worldwide gross: $939,165,729

"The Order of the Phoenix" is the second-shortest "Harry Potter" film, despite it being the longest novel J.K. Rowling wrote in the series.

David Yates made his franchise-directing debut here and went on to direct the final four films.

15. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)

Worldwide gross: $941,072,400

The sixth "Harry Potter" film took in $104 million domestically in its first two days and $158 million over its first five days in North America.

14. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)

Worldwide gross: $945,185,917

"The Two Towers," the second installment in the trilogy, opened to $62 million in North America.

13. The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013)

Worldwide gross: $959,079,095

The second "Hobbit" film opened with $73.6 million in North America.

12. The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (2014)

Worldwide gross: $962,749,443

The conclusion to Peter Jackson's "Hobbit" trilogy opened to $56.2 million domestically over its first weekend.

The finale closed Jackson's six-film Middle-earth saga with its sprawling titular battle, bringing together dwarves, elves, men, orcs, and eagles.

11. The Jungle Book (2016)

Worldwide gross: $967,724,775

Director Jon Favreau's remake of author Rudyard Kipling's collection of short stories won the Oscar for Best Visual Effects.

It became one of Disney's biggest live-action remake successes.

10. Oppenheimer (2023)

Worldwide gross: $975,811,333

Christopher Nolan's three-hour historical drama, based on the biography by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin, "American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer," became a global event alongside "Barbie" in the "Barbenheimer" phenomenon.

It became the highest-grossing biographical film ever and one of the rare R-rated movies to near $1 billion worldwide. It won seven Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor for Cillian Murphy, and Best Supporting Actor for Robert Downey Jr.

9. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (2010)

Worldwide gross: $991,222,542

The first movie of the two-part finale opened to $125 million in North America and about $330 million worldwide, giving the franchise one of its biggest launches to that point.

It ultimately finished just shy of $1 billion globally, despite shifting the action away from Hogwarts and into a darker Horcrux hunt.

8. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)

Worldwide gross: $1,017,453,991

Peter Jackson's return to Middle-earth opened to $84.6 million domestically and more than $222 million worldwide.

It went on to become the first "Hobbit" film to cross $1 billion globally, proving that audiences were eager to return to the franchise nearly one decade after "The Return of the King."

7. Alice in Wonderland (2010)

Worldwide gross: $1,025,468,216

Tim Burton's 3D reimagining of Lewis Carroll's children's novel opened to a $116.1 million opening weekend in North America.

The success of the movie helped kickstart Disney's wave of live-action remakes in the years that followed.

6. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (2001)

Worldwide gross: $1,045,057,555

Released in the US as "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone," it launched one of cinema's most durable and popular film franchises.

It was the highest-grossing movie worldwide that year.

5. Jurassic Park (1993)

Worldwide gross: $1,103,136,084

Michael Crichton's 1990 science fiction novel about genetically recreated dinosaurs was a major hit for moviegoers.

The film's opening weekend in June 1993 grossed $50 million in the US, and showed audiences a new kind of summer blockbuster — one that would pave the way for future science-fiction book adaptations.

4. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)

Worldwide gross: $1,149,453,674

The trilogy finale became the first fantasy film to win Best Picture at the Oscars. Its 11 Oscar wins tied the all-time record set by "Ben-Hur" and later matched by "Titanic."

It was also the highest-grossing film of 2003 worldwide.

3. Beauty and the Beast (2017)

Worldwide gross: $1,266,115,964

Disney's live-action Beauty and the Beast starred Emma Watson as Belle and Dan Stevens as the Beast. It's a remake of the original cartoon, which was based on the 1740 tale by French author Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve.

Its $174.8 million domestic debut was, at the time, the biggest March opening weekend ever.

2. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011)

Worldwide gross: $1,380,707,407

The finale delivered the Battle of Hogwarts and concluded a film franchise that had run for a decade. It became the highest-grossing "Harry Potter" film.

Its $483.2 million global opening was a record at the time.

1. The Odyssey (2026)

Worldwide gross: $1,686,587,560

"The Odyssey" stands as the highest-grossing book adaptation on the list and one of 2026's defining box office hits.

The film brings Homer's ancient Greek epic poem, which follows Odysseus' long journey home after the Trojan War, to a modern audience.

• I've traveled to all 50 states and think the Midwest is the best part of the US to visit in autumn.
• The foliage is incredible, and there are lots of opportunities to take a scenic drive.
• Plus, the outdoor activities don't stop in the fall months. In my opinion, they only get better.

After traveling solo through all 50 states, I've found that fall has a unique magic in every part of the country.

From the golden aspens of my current home in Colorado to New England's bucket-list-worthy fiery maples, each region has its own seasonal beauty and charm.

However, one part of the country that has surprised me most is the Midwest. Despite being born and raised in Illinois, I didn't appreciate the beauty and charm of this area in the fall until I moved away.

Often overlooked as "flyover country," the Midwest transforms each autumn into a sight that, to me, rivals the more popular leaf peeping areas of the country.

Midwestern small towns feel like they're built for fall

The Midwest is known for its small, rural towns, filled with farmland and a very distinct charm — which, in my opinion, is most evident in the fall months.

I especially love towns like Bayfield, Wisconsin, and Petoskey, Michigan, which have walkable downtown areas with unique shops and local restaurants, all surrounded by beautiful foliage.

Speaking of foliage, it doesn't get better than the Midwest

When most people think of fall foliage, they think of New England. And I get it — I've visited the region during peak fall foliage several times, and always recommend others do so.

However, I've found that many people don't realize the fall colors in many parts of the Midwest are just as brilliant.

I've been especially impressed by how beautiful the leaves in the Great Lakes region are, with abundant maple, cottonwood, oak, aspen, and birch trees that turn vibrant shades of red, yellow, copper, and gold.

Outside the Great Lakes, similarly striking scenes exist in Southern Illinois and Missouri (especially in the Ozarks).

And, one of my favorite ways to view all of this incredible fall foliage is with a scenic drive.

For example, I love driving the 20-mile Tunnel of Trees in Michigan, which is especially gorgeous in the fall months.

I also enjoy taking a trip along the Great River Road, which winds its way through several Midwestern states like Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Iowa.

My hometown area in Illinois even hosts multi-weekend fall events centered on scenic drives. These paths wind through multiple small towns with beautiful foliage-filled roads to several festivals filled with arts, crafts, food, and entertainment.

There are lots of ways to get outside and explore

If you've spent time in the Midwest, you know it's overflowing with opportunities to get outside.

Plus, the outdoor activities don't stop in autumn here — with fewer crowds, cooler weather, and a backdrop of beautiful changing leaves, they only get better.

For example, I love hiking on a portion of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail, which winds an impressive 1,200 miles through Wisconsin. I also enjoy kayaking to sea caves in Apostle Islands National Lakeshore in Lake Superior.

Similarly, I always stop to admire the changing leaves and waterfalls on a hike at Gooseberry Falls State Park in Minnesota.

Overall, there's so much to love about this part of the country during the fall months

As someone who grew up in Illinois, I think there's truly something special about a Midwestern fall. From festivals and scenic drives to apple picking and a wide range of events, there's always something to do.

Plus, I think there's something wholesome and unmistakably American about the season here — harvest time, football games, apple picking, and small-town fairs.

These simple pleasures remind me of a slower, quieter time. It's not commercialized or overdone; it just is. And somehow, in all its quiet familiarity, it's stunning.

This story was originally published on October 2, 2025, and most recently updated on September 16, 2026.