• I tried chicken tenders at Sonic, KFC, & Smashburger to see which fast-food chain has the best ones.
• Smashburger's chicken tenders were large, generously breaded, and all-around excellent.
• However, I thought KFC's tenders were a disappointment in every way — including the price.

There are many fast-food chains out there, but it can be hard to know which place has the best flavor and value when it comes to chicken tenders.

So, I recently ordered chicken tenders from multiple chains — Kentucky Fried Chicken, Sonic, and Smashburger — to see which I preferred.

I ate them all plain (no dipping sauces), so nothing could influence the true flavor or texture. Here's how it went.

I started my fast-food tour at Smashburger.

Smashburger is a newer kid on the fast-food block. The first location opened in Denver in 2007, and there are now over 200 shops across the US and Canada.

I paid $8.68 for an order of chicken tenders, which came with three pieces.

Smashburger's chicken tenders were almost like mini fried chicken breasts.

Even though the order only came with three, the tenders were impressively big — easily twice as large as the other chains.

The breading was thick and crispy, and the flavor profile was savory and lightly salty. Still, the tenders were begging for a dipping sauce, or even to be popped into a wrap or sandwich.

Despite that, I was entirely happy with Smashburger's tenders.

KFC was next on the list.

Contrary to its name, the first KFC franchise location opened in Salt Lake City in the 1950s. However, founder Harland "Colonel" Sanders laid the groundwork for the chain in Kentucky a few decades earlier.

My order of three chicken tenders cost me $8.90, making them the most expensive, but they also came with a biscuit.

KFC's chicken tenders let me down.

For a fast-food chain named for its chicken, I was a little disappointed by its tenders.

To start, they were easily half the size of the ones from Smashburger, and they appeared to be unevenly breaded.

They tasted salty but otherwise unremarkable. Sauce would definitely help, but the texture was a bit of a dealbreaker for me — I found the tenders a little tough and chewy.

I even took bites of each one to make sure I didn't just get a proverbial bad apple.

Sonic had the cheapest tenders.

Sonic is an Oklahoma-based fast-food chain that's known for its drive-in and drive-thru options. Customers don't actually go inside to order or eat.

A five-piece order of chicken tenders cost me $6.83, making it the cheapest of the bunch.

Sonic's chicken tenders are well-priced and good enough for a repeat purchase.

Sonic's tenders were much smaller than those from Smashburger — but there were five of them, so I still felt like I was getting my money's worth.

The texture of the chicken was — true to its name — tender. The breading, however, was on the thinner side, and there wasn't much flavor beyond a mild saltiness.

I think tenders really are meant to be enjoyed with sauce, and the uniform narrowness of these makes them especially good for dipping or putting in a wrap.

Overall, there was a clear winner for me.

Without a doubt, Smashburger had my favorite chicken tenders. They were massive, and I liked the generous amount of breading.

I'm sure I'll get them again — though next time, I'll probably try ordering the chain's spicy tenders for more flavor.

On the other side of the scale, I won't be going back to KFC for tenders. They were the most expensive, and I got the least amount of chicken. Even with a biscuit, the value just wasn't there for me.

Sonic may not have been my top choice, but I still think its chicken tenders are a good deal. They were cheap, and they're a great size and shape for dipping.

• A Chinese navy flotilla conducted a live-fire exercise off the Australian coast on Friday.
• A Virgin Australia pilot informed air traffic control after hearing a radio broadcast.
• The warning triggered 49 flights to divert as a hazard alert commenced.

Dozens of flights were forced to divert after a pilot warned air traffic control about a Chinese navy live-firing exercise off the Australian coast.

Authorities were unaware of the exercise until a pilot raised the alarm on Friday.

Rob Sharp, the CEO of Airservices Australia, the government agency responsible for air safety, gave evidence to a Senate hearing in Canberra on Monday. "It was, in fact, a Virgin Australia aircraft that advised one of our air traffic controllers that a foreign warship was broadcasting that they were conducting live firing 300 nautical miles off our coast," he said.

Task Group 107 of the People's Liberation Army Navy was operating off the New South Wales coast in the Tasman Sea, between Australia and New Zealand. It consisted of a frigate, a cruiser, and a replenishment vessel.

The Virgin Australia pilot heard one of the vessels broadcasting on the international guard frequency on Friday morning, said Peter Curran, Airservices Australia's deputy CEO.

He told the hearing that the government agency then commenced a hazard alert to warn all flights in the area.

It then advised the Department of Defence's Headquarters Joint Operations Command. "Bearing in mind at that stage, we didn't know if it was a hoax or real," Curran said.

Twenty minutes after the Virgin pilot's warning, an Emirates aircraft also made contact with the Chinese flotilla. It heard the radio broadcast advising that live firing was taking place between 9:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. local time.

Some 49 aircraft were diverted over the course of Friday, Curran said.

That included some that were already in the air when the hazard alert was issued, but were flights later in the day that adjusted their route to avoid the airspace.

Flight plans continued to divert throughout the weekend as a matter of precaution, he added.

The incident sparked diplomatic tensions over the weekend.

A spokesperson for Australia's defence minister, Richard Marles, told Guardian Australia: "The Australian Government has raised its concern with the lack of notice on the live fire activity from the Chinese Government, including through appropriate channels in Canberra and Beijing."

Wu Qian, a spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense, said in a statement that the drill would not impact aviation safety.

He added that it took place in international waters and safety notices were issued in advance.

"Australia has unjustly criticized China and deliberately exaggerated the issue," Wu said.

Reuters reported that New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said the live-fire exercise complied with international law, adding: "The issue for us is … we'd appreciate a little bit more advance notice, particularly on what is a busy air route."

Australia's Department of Defence said it was continuing to monitor Task Group 107 as it re-entered Australia's exclusive economic zone early on Tuesday.

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

Good morning! Fyre Festival is back, and it's officially got a date and location. The sequel to the infamous festival will occur from May 30 to June 2 in Isla Mujeres, Mexico. Additional details are scant, but I'm sure that's definitely not a red flag.

In today's big story, the debate continues over how best to respond to DOGE's "What did you do last week?" email. (Got an opinion? We want to hear from you.)

What's on deck

Markets: Jamie Dimon's sorry about cursing, but he still wants you back in the office.

Tech: AI could spell trouble for some software engineers, but it's far from a death knell for the entire profession.

Business: For these companies, layoffs are never an option.

But first, singing for my supper.

If this was forwarded to you, sign up here.

The big story

Dealing with DOGE

From "Should they stay or should they go?" to "Should they send or just no-show?"

A few weeks after considering buyout offers, federal workers faced another dilemma: Responding to Elon Musk's "What did you do last week?" email.

The message, which asked federal workers to reply with five accomplishments from the previous week, left Washington in chaos.

Agencies differed on their recommendations to employees before the deadline, which was yesterday at 11:59 p.m. The deadline may have passed — but conflicting guidance persists.

The Social Security Administration initially told workers it was "an opportunity to highlight the important work you do." Although it later clarified that responses were voluntary.

The Department of Defense was less welcoming. The Pentagon publicly told its employees to "pause any response" to the email, adding that it "is responsible for reviewing the performance of its personnel."

Of course, it wouldn't be a DOGE mandate without getting the lawyers involved.

All of that begs the question: What would YOU do?

Business Insider's Katie Notopoulos, who wrote about how people might choose to respond to the email, wants to hear from you. She created a nifty form for you to share how you might respond.

Interest in DOGE, for better or worse, doesn't seem to be waning.

President Donald Trump's political operation is actually selling DOGE membership cards. For only a $47 donation, you can be the proud owner of a black metal card that says "Trump DOGE member." There are also t-shirts for $40 or $28.

Jamie Dimon is hopeful DOGE will be successful. "More effective government — more efficient government — isn't bad. It's actually a good thing," the JPMorgan CEO said in a recent interview.

Meanwhile, Rep. Rich McCormick said he's worried DOGE might be moving too quickly after getting an earful from his constituents at a recent town hall. The Georgia Republican said he's "not against anything he's doing," but added that he's "concerned that maybe we're moving a little bit too fast."

And then sometimes things are just getting plain weird. Some Department of Housing and Urban Development employees had a brutal start to their day on Monday. TVs in the office were showing an AI-generated video of President Trump sucking Musk's toes underneath a text that read, "LONG LIVE THE REAL KING."

News brief

• Starbucks is laying off 1,100 corporate staff this week.
• Sam Bankman-Fried's long-dormant X account is alive again — and posting about DOGE and leadership advice.
• Joann plans to go out of business and close all remaining fabric and craft stores.
• Microsoft stock slips after analysts say it canceled two AI data center leases, suggesting possible 'oversupply position.'
• The agency that regulates vehicle safety — and Elon Musk's Tesla — is another target of DOGE layoffs.
• Advertisers hit back at Rumble lawsuit in a new filing, calling it an attempt to 'weaponize' antitrust laws.
• Grok briefly censored criticism of Musk and Trump. It was blamed on a new hire who hadn't 'fully absorbed' the startup's culture.

3 things in markets

1. YOLO traders can now literally bet the farm. The CME Group debuted a suite of agricultural "micro" contracts one-tenth the size of corn, wheat, and soybean futures. The move is part of CME's larger plan to pull retail investors into a market largely dominated by institutional players. On top of offering more opportunities to a wider part of the market, these bite-size options can also help smaller farmers.

2. The markets are about to feel the burn of Trump's policies, Steve Cohen says. The billionaire Point72 founder warned that slowing immigration, tariffs, and cuts to government spending could slow economic growth and create a "significant correction." For investors, the best may be behind them.

3. Jamie Dimon is sorry … but not about criticizing WFH. The JPMorgan CEO apologized for cursing during a fiery rant he made against remote work at an internal town hall meeting that was leaked. But he didn't back down from his main point about the importance of in-office attendance: "I'm not against work from home. I'm against where it doesn't work."

3 things in tech

1. The AI coding apocalypse. Generative AI is beginning to shake up the engineering profession and entry-level coders could pay the price. The recent changes have software engineers worried they're coding themselves into obsolescence. But industry experts say that's unlikely to happen anytime soon. Plus, there's more to the job than just writing code — and AI has yet to catch up.

2. Donald Trump doesn't want anyone regulating Big Tech but himself. Last week, the president seemed to issue conflicting messages. On the one hand, he criticized European regulators for being too harsh on US tech companies. On the other hand, the Trump administration said it would regulate American tech companies because they have "too much power." BI's Peter Kafka breaks down what it all means.

3. Elon Musk isn't the only one who hates OpenAI's for-profit plan. Sam Altman is trying to transform OpenAI from a non-profit into a more conventional business, but the process is complicated thanks to its complex corporate structure. Musk, an OpenAI cofounder who split from Altman, has vocally opposed OpenAI's plan. He's not alone, with a growing chorus of entrepreneurs, companies, and charities saying it could be a grave mistake for the AI leader.

3 things in business

1. POV: Your company has never conducted layoffs. Companies laying off their employees — even outside a recession — have become commonplace in the professional world. But some purposefully refrain from making cuts. Not only is the no-layoff approach good for employees, but the CEOs of these companies said they think it's good for business, too.

2. MrBeast's secrets to success. The YouTuber knows the negativity he receives — from viewers and former employees — is part of the job. But in a recent interview on "The Diary of a CEO" podcast, MrBeast said it's helped him cultivate a stronger sense of self. He shared some key traits to his success, like his propensity for risk and what he looks for when hiring.

3. AT&T and Verizon's rivalry takes a modern twist. While AT&T navigates a rocky return to office, Verizon is seemingly looking to capitalize on its rivals' employees who aren't as keen on the mandate. In a recruiting email obtained by BI, Verizon's talent team encouraged AT&T workers to check out the company's hybrid and remote job opportunities. The outreach highlights how RTO mandates have become a sticking point for workers recently.

In other news

• Coffee is about to get way more expensive — and mediocre.
• Video: Satellite images show reality of Saudi Arabia's $2 trillion megacity.
• Palantir CEO Alex Karp reveals what he would do if he weren't running the company.
• Shopify acquihired six startups for their AI talent last year as it competes in a 'white-hot' market.
• Four charts show how Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway piled up cash, dumped stocks, and made a record tax payment in 2024.
• Hedge funds are trimming their Magnificent 7 holdings — here's what they're buying instead.
• Starbucks is removing these 13 menu items from its menu next week
• Apple braces for DEI showdown at annual shareholder meeting.

What's happening today

• Apple shareholders vote on whether to abolish DEI program.

The Insider Today team: Dan DeFrancesco, deputy editor and anchor, in New York. Grace Lett, editor, in Chicago. Ella Hopkins, associate editor, in London. Hallam Bullock, senior editor, in London. Amanda Yen, associate editor, in New York. Elizabeth Casolo, fellow, in Chicago.

The Kremlin emphasized Tuesday that Russia had not dropped its opposition to peacekeeping forces in Ukraine, contradicting a claim that President Trump made a day earlier.

Why it matters: Trump is pushing to reach a deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the three-year war. Peacekeeping forces are seen as a key component for any peace settlement between Russia and Ukraine.

Driving the news: During a White House meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron Monday, Trump told reporters that he had "specifically asked" Russian President Putin about the prospect of deploying European peacekeeping forces to Ukraine following a peace deal.

• "He has no problem with it," Trump said of Putin's acceptance of the proposal.
• When asked about Trump's claim Tuesday, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov referred reporters to an earlier statement on the matter from Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Reuters reported.
• Lavrov told reporters last week that the deployment of peacekeeping troops from NATO countries would be unacceptable to Russia, and would be perceived as a "direct threat" to Russian sovereignty.
• Citing Lavrov's previous comment on the issue, Peskov said he had "nothing to add" on the matter, per Reuters.

Zoom out: U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth sparked controversy earlier this month by ruling out the possibility of a U.S.-led peacekeeping mission for Ukraine and throwing cold water on the prospect of Ukraine's NATO ascension.

• Instead, the Trump administration has pressed Ukraine to sign a minerals deal in a purported effort to secure a return on the U.S.'s wartime aid to in Ukraine.
• In an interview Monday, Putin said he would be willing to allow the U.S. access to the rare earth minerals in Russian-occupied Ukraine.

Go deeper:

• What to know about Ukraine's rare earth minerals, which the U.S. wants
• Mapped: Control in Ukraine three years on from Russia's invasion

• Tesla is rolling out self-driving features to some cars in China, per a software update log.
• It's not being called Full Self-Driving and Tesla is not offering all the FSD features as in the US.
• BYD is equipping nearly all its models with advanced self-driving tech at no extra cost.

Tesla has started rolling out driving-assistance features to some cars in China that are similar to the Full Self-Driving (FSD) system in the US, according to a software update log.

Tesla said the new features allow Tesla owners in China to use driver-assist features on controlled-access and city roads. These include guiding vehicles to exit ramps and intersections, recognizing traffic signals, making turns, and managing lane changes and speed adjustments.

It does not incorporate all of Tesla's FSD features, including autonomously navigating complex urban environments such as parking lots. Tesla is not branding it as Full Self-Driving.

"For some features, the time of implementation and results may vary based on the vehicle's model and configuration," the company said, adding that the range of models will be gradually expanded.

Bloomberg first reported Tesla's planned deployment of FSD features in China.

The move comes after BYD, Tesla's biggest rival in China, announced earlier this month that it would equip nearly all its models with advanced self-driving tech at no extra cost, and other rivals followed suit.

In contrast, Tesla owners in China have had to pay about $8,800 extra for self-driving features — a sum nearly as high as the cost of BYD's cheapest model.

BYD has racing ahead in China's fiercely competitive EV market. In January it sold sold nearly twice as many EVs as Tesla, with the US carmaker's sales down 11% compared with the same month in 2024.

BYD sold a record 66,000 vehicles outside China in January, indicating that a push to expand outside its home market is starting to pay off.

Last month, BYD overtook Toyota to become Singapore's best-selling car brand and also beat Tesla in the UK for the first time.

Other Chinese brands such as NIO, XPeng, MG, and ORA are also notching up higher sales of their affordable electric and hybrid vehicles outside China amid intense competition in the domestic market.

• Home Depot beat Wall Street revenue forecasts for the fourth quarter of 2024.
• The retailer said, however, that customers are still putting off major renovation projects.
• That's due to higher interest rates in recent years, its CEO and CFO said.

Home Depot beat Wall Street estimates in the fourth quarter of 2024, but said that customers were still putting off bigger home improvement projects amid higher interest rates.

Revenue climbed 14% compared to the same period in 2023. On a comparable sales basis, a metric that strips out new store openings and other one-off events, revenue was up by 0.8% globally and 1.3% in the US.

The Atlanta-headquartered firm reported revenue of $39.7 billion for the fourth quarter of 2024. Analysts had forecast revenue of $39.2 billion.

CEO Ted Decker put the company's better-than-expected revenue down to "greater engagement" in home improvement spending. However, he noted that Home Depot was seeing "ongoing pressure" on business related to larger-scale home renovations.

"A higher interest rate environment" had "impacted home improvement demand," Decker added.

In an interview with CNBC, CFO Richard McPhail said the company expects demand to return as higher rates become the "new normal."

"Home improvement always persists, and so the question, I think, will be around the mindset of whether long-term rates have gotten to a new normal," McPhail said.

The Federal Reserve's key interest rate, which sets a general baseline for all US interest rates, reached 5.5% between July 2023 and August 2024. Though it has been cut to 4.5% in recent months, it remains elevated compared to the near-zero rates seen in the US since the 2008 financial crisis.

While Home Depot reported marginally better-than-expected revenues, its 2025 forecasts fell short of investor expectations. The company said it expected sales growth of 2.8% and comparable sales growth of 1%, compared to analyst forecasts of 3.3% and 1.9% growth, respectively.

Shares dropped in premarket trading on lower-than-expected growth forecasts. They fell as much as 3.8% but recovered a little, and as of around 7:30 a.m. ET, they were set to open down around 0.6%.

Home Depot said it expects an operating margin of roughly 33% in 2025. The home improvement retailer also announced plans to open 13 new stores.