• It was really hard to teach my little kids to do chores like cooking or cleaning up.
• But I'm glad they learned young because now that they're teens, they can take care of themselves.
• Now, I also have more freedom, and so do they.

My husband and I went out to dinner last weekend, and as I was getting ready I realized I made no plans for my teens to eat. As we were headed out the door, I yelled, "We're leaving! Find something in the fridge to make for dinner!"

And they did.

It's a huge jump from when I had four little kids running around the house, and it felt like I didn't sit down once during the day. There was constant laundry to be washed and folded, meals to be made, and messes to be cleaned up. My husband and I were the ones doing all those things all the time for six people.

Similarly, last month, the family went on a ski trip together here in Colorado. Everyone got sick of hearing me say, "This is so easy now!" But it was. In past years, my husband and I had to pack food, normal clothes, winter clothes, and other gear for all of us to head to the mountains. We were tired before we even hit the road.

This year, I told the family we were leaving at 2 p.m., and everyone was just … ready, packed, and in the car. No one even forgot a jacket.

It took years to teach them everything, but now my teens can take care of themselves.

It can be hard to teach little kids how to cook and clean

Of course, we didn't wake up one day with the kids knowing how to do all these things. It's been years of practicing, starting with small tasks and expecting them to do more over time.

That teaching doesn't always come easily or naturally, either. It's hard to make time to teach kids to do things. Cooking takes longer. The bathroom doesn't get as clean at first. Clothes aren't folded very neatly.

I think a lot of kids who grow up not knowing how to cook or do laundry aren't coddled by parents who insist on doing everything for their precious babies. We're all just so busy. When you get home from work and sports and after-school care at 6 p.m., everyone wants to eat dinner. You can't spend an extra half an hour teaching hangry kids how to chop a cucumber. If the bathroom has reached toxic levels, it's faster to clean it myself, and I know it will be done the way I want it.

I didn't enjoy having to show younger children how to do everything, especially when I knew I'd be faster. And, of course, sometimes the kids just didn't want to do these things.

But learning these skills gave my kids confidence — and gave me confidence that they'd be able to take care of themselves in the future.

All of the tasks I taught them were something the kids had to practice and improve on. Each time they packed their bags for a trip, they got better at it.

All that effort paid off, and I now have less to do

Over winter break a few years ago, I told my middle schooler he had to make dinner. I took him to the grocery store and let him loose to get his ingredients while I sat in the café and read a book. When we got home, he made a delicious dinner. I think I cried.

My other son has made some awesome breakfasts for us while we were camping — much more elaborate than I would have cooked. I don't double-check anyone's packing for trips anymore. On Thanksgiving, every person in the family makes a dish, so no one has to do all the cooking. When my oldest went to college, he taught a few friends how to do their laundry at the beginning of the school year.

Teaching the kids to do things for themselves has not only given my husband and me more freedom, but it has also given the kids freedom.

If they want a certain shirt clean, they don't have to wait for me. If they don't like what's for dinner, they can make their own.

I'm not going to pretend that we don't all still squabble over chores. Just because my family can do these tasks doesn't mean everyone in this house does them when I want. But I feel pretty confident that as they venture out into the world in the next few years, they'll be able to fend for themselves.

I just hope they come back to visit and cook for me sometimes.

• China announced on Saturday that it will impose additional tariffs on Canada from March 20.
• The tariffs will hit Canadian agricultural and food products, China's Ministry of Finance said.
• Beijing cited "discriminatory" Canadian levies on Chinese EVs as part of the reason behind the decision.

China has announced that it will impose retaliatory tariffs on certain Canadian agricultural and food products from March 20, deepening concerns over a brewing global trade war.

In a statement on Saturday, China's Ministry of Finance said a 100% tariff would be imposed on rapeseed oil, rapeseed meal, and pea imports from Canada, as well as a 25% tariff on some seafood products and pork.

The ministry said the decision was made in response to Canada's "discriminatory" 100% levy on Chinese electric vehicles and 25% tariffs on Chinese steel and aluminum, which came into force last year.

America's neighbor to the north is a major global producer of rapeseed, also known as canola, and China is its second-largest market, according to the Canola Council Of Canada. Canadian exports of canola seed, oil, and meal to China were valued at C$5 billion (around $3.5 billion) in 2023, per the Canola Council.

Beijing's announcement means Canada is now facing a trade battle on two fronts as pressure on its economy continues to grow.

Josh Lipsky, the senior director of the Atlantic Council's GeoEconomics Center, told Business Insider that the timing of China's tariffs announcement was particularly noteworthy. The move came just a day before Canada's governing Liberal Party is set to announce a new leader after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in January that he would resign.

"China's needed to get the retaliation done," Lipsky said.

"I think it's China trying to reset with Canada ahead of what's going to be a much broader trade conflict with the US," he continued, adding that Beijing likely wanted to "clear the decks" before a new Canadian leader was in place.

The announcement may also have been designed to serve as a warning to Canada not to align itself too closely with the US on trade policy.

The New York Times reported that China Central Television had released a commentary that called the tariffs "a powerful countermeasure to Canada's wrong choice, and a strong warning to some countries that intend to impose additional tariffs on China in exchange for the United States not to impose additional tariffs on them."

Paul Smetanin, president of the Canadian Centre for Economic Analysis, told BI that China's move was not surprising but that it underscored the "delicate environment in which Canada must manage its global economic interests."

"Moving forward, the government's priority must be to develop a nimble trade strategy capable of mitigating the risks posed by an increasingly unpredictable international marketplace," he said.

The news will nevertheless add to increasing uncertainty across North America over President Donald Trump's tariff threats.

The Trump administration this week announced a monthlong delay to some 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico amid mounting fears over the economic implications of a wider trade war. It also increased a 10% tariff on all imports from China to 20%, sparking swift retaliation from Beijing.

• I've only heard bad things about long distance relationships. That they're hard and not worth it.
• Goodbye drinks with a coworker led to an epic first date and we decided to take a chance on love.
• We made our long-distance relationship work and now we're married. I'm glad I listened to my heart.

For most of my life, I had only heard bad things about long-distance relationships. Phrases like "they never work" or "they're not worth it" come to mind. Still, the negative connotations didn't stop me when I met my now-husband. Our connection was simply too strong, and I knew I'd regret it if I didn't go for it.

I'd never met anyone I had so much in common with, from music and movie tastes to big-picture values. So when he told me he had to move back to the UK because his Canadian working holiday visa was about to expire, I took a risk.

It was July 2018, and we turned into fast friends after becoming co-workers a few months prior. We went out for what was supposed to be a casual goodbye drink, but the night ended up lasting 14 hours as we chatted, laughed, sang, and hopped from venue to venue. By the end, we confessed that we both had feelings for each other. We knew things would be complicated with his flight only a few days away, but there was something there. By the time he landed in the UK, we had both texted that we wanted to take our chances on a romantic relationship.

Long-distance didn't last long

We were long-distance for 10 months, seeing each other only twice before I moved to the UK in May 2019. The distance was challenging, but it encouraged us to get creative to maintain our connection. We'd spend every moment we could messaging each other or coming up with romantic challenges, such as creating personalized playlists and sending snail mail.

What I think helped most was us setting ongoing goals for our relationship. At first this was planning visits, then it was deciding on a permanent move. As a couple, we always had something to look forward to.

As much as I missed him in the months we weren't physically together, I never felt that our connection was waning. The excitement and anticipation made me feel like a kid waiting for Christmas — a definite positive aspect of long-distance relationships.

Building a lasting love

Now we've been together physically for six years, and though a lot of things have changed — we got married in 2021 and moved back to Canada in 2023 — one thing has remained consistent: our love for each other.

I grew up believing the old adage about love and relationships being hard, but my marriage has disproved that a million times over. From our initial conversations to our regular days together now, our relationship has always felt easy. The challenges we've had to face were difficult (aside from distance and immigration, we also weathered the pandemic together and dealt with illness and loss within our families), but our mutual love, respect, and support have made facing them easier.

And despite the big sacrifices we've had to make for each other, like moving across the ocean, I've learned that the small things are just as important. Performing little acts of service, like making each other our favorite drinks throughout the day, or simply giving each other space to do our own thing. What started out as a whirlwind has transformed into a peaceful state, and it completely changed my perspective on love.

I've learned that with the right person, obstacles aren't something to be afraid of — they're something that you face together and eventually come out stronger on the other end.

• Trump signed an executive order aimed at limiting eligibility for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program.
• Trump said the order would restrict employers engaging in "anti-American" activities from participating.
• Millions of government and nonprofit workers rely on PSLF for student-debt relief.

President Donald Trump's latest executive order took on a major student-loan forgiveness program in the administration's latest attack on workers in government and nonprofits.

On Friday, Trump signed an executive order aimed at limiting eligibility for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, which forgives student debt for workers like teachers, healthcare workers and police officers after 10 years of qualifying payments.

The order's incendiary rhetoric said that organizations engaging in "activities that advance illegal immigration, terrorism, child abuse, discrimination, and public disruptions" would be barred from the loan forgiveness program.

"The PSLF Program also creates perverse incentives that can increase the cost of tuition, can load students in low-need majors with unsustainable debt, and may push students into organizations that hide under the umbrella of a non-profit designation and degrade our national interest," the order said.

It's unclear what organizations the Trump administration intends to accuse of these "anti-American" activities. This comes as the administration carries out mass layoffs of federal workers. The order directed Linda McMahon, Trump's new education secretary, to redefine what "public service" is to align with the administration's political views. Student-loan borrower advocates say they'll take the administration to court if they follow through on this order.

According to the latest Education Department data, over 2 million borrowers were enrolled in PSLF with eligible employers as of December 2024.

This isn't the first time Trump has targeted PSLF. During his first term, his Department of Education ran up a backlog of PSLF applications. He has also previously suggested eliminating the program altogether. Doing so would require an act of Congress, and there has yet to be sufficient support to eliminate the program.

To address the backlog of PSLF applications and paperwork issues with the program, former President Joe Biden's Education Department introduced a limited-time waiver to allow borrowers' past payments — including those previously deemed ineligible for PSLF — to count toward their forgiveness progress.

Biden also carried out targeted relief for PSLF borrowers under one-time account adjustments in an effort to bring payments up-to-date. In his final weeks in office, he announced $465 million in debt cancellation for 6,100 borrowers enrolled in PSLF.

Amid Trump's efforts to limit the program, McMahon said during her confirmation hearing that she would honor the program as Congress intended.

She added: "If we want stronger or more programs for loan forgiveness, then I think Congress should pass those programs, and then we would implement it."

Some advocacy groups criticized the executive order. Aaron Ament, president of borrower protection group Student Defense, said in a statement that PSLF was created by a "bipartisan act of Congress" and "Americans have worked hard and made life decisions under the assumption that the US keeps its word."

"Threatening to punish hardworking Americans for their employers' perceived political views is about as flagrant a violation of the First Amendment as you can imagine," Ament said. "If the Trump Administration follows through on this threat, they can plan to see us in court."

Have a tip? Contact this reporter via email at [email protected] or Signal at asheffey.97. Use a personal email address and a nonwork device; here's our guide to sharing information securely.

• In 2020, my daughter asked me if I would take her to Paris when she turned 13.
• But when she turned 13, she started getting in trouble and pushing the limits.
• I stuck to my agreement, and the trip was what we needed to reset our relationship.

In 2020, when my daughter was 9, right in the heart of the COVID-19 lockdown, she asked if I would take her to Paris when she turned 13.

At the time, she had a new obsession with all things French. I had just left my 15-year marriage and was single for the first time in 20 years. I thought to myself — 13 is four years away, why not say yes, and give my child what they desired?

"Yes," I said. "I would love that."

Four years later, she turned 13 and immediately asked, "So, are we going to Paris?"

I couldn't disappoint her

I panicked. I had just bought a new house, was raising two teenagers as a single mother on one income, and was not financially stable enough to take an international trip. Yet, there was no way I could disappoint her.

"Yes, let's do it."

Flash forward to early 2024, I've purchased affordable plane tickets to Paris and have begun saving every dollar to afford food and lodging. We planned to go in September after the Paris Olympics closed. Little did I know what the summer was to bring.

I had always been very close with my daughter, but when she turned 13, she shifted almost overnight — my sweet little girl became a disobedient teenager — a cliché, I know.

I had been a difficult teenager myself. I was expelled from Catholic school when I was 13, among other indiscretions. My daughter knew these stories. I was proud of my rebellious youth and worried that it would come back to haunt me.

And it did.

Her behavior wasn't great

She moved schools in the middle of seventh grade, bored of her small elementary school. Immediately, due to social pressure and the need to belong, she fell in with a popular girl who made questionable life choices. My daughter started smoking marijuana, sneaking out without me knowing, lying, and growing ever more untrustworthy. We fought. We argued. It continued for months.

"You're so not chill, Mom."

As the summer wore on and she engaged in more troubling behavior, I wondered if she deserved to go to Paris. It was a privilege to travel to Paris. I struggled with the decision. One day, she even asked me, "Are you going to cancel Paris because of all this?"

I didn't.

The trip was what we needed

We went to Paris, and she proved to be a mature and adventurous traveler. Knowing little French, she walked into stores by herself, always politely speaking the little French she knew. She encouraged us to rent bikes and ride around the busy Parisian streets, her headphones in one ear and Kendrick Lamar pumping his bass through her body as she passed by the River Seine.

She loved riding the metro, sitting in cafés, trying escargot, sipping Champagne, and watching the Moulin Rouge dancers. She especially loved the middle school French boys outside the skate shop in the Le Marais district. She loved picnics in the park and was awed by Rodin's sculptures.

The trip was exactly what we needed to change our relationship. I didn't turn away from my teenage daughter when she challenged me. I didn't punish her extensively (just enough), but I kept communication open and didn't take away this trip to Paris just because she broke my trust. I trusted that travel could be a way to strengthen our connection as she grew up and experimented with independence.

Beyond that, she was able to experience the world outside the US, which is hugely beneficial for any teenager. Stepping out of her comfortable life into a foreign country only helped her realize the importance of family and resolved our conflicts as mother and daughter.

The trip changed the way she saw herself, the world, and her peer group and improved our relationship. Upon returning, she stopped smoking pot, ditched the bad friends, and won back my trust. Today, we're even closer as she approaches another big milestone: high school.

While driving home from school, I asked her, "Why did you want to go to Paris?"

She replied, "I don't know. I mean, it's Paris. Who wouldn't want to go to France?"

She proceeded to reach for the radio dial and turn up Frank Ocean, and I knew we were both thinking about the time we shared in Paris, cuddling under jackets on a cold boat ride down the Seine or gasping at the grandeur of the Louvre's great ceilings.

• The US paused intelligence sharing with Ukraine and cut its access to satellite imagery this week.
• A Ukrainian lawmaker told BI that it will leave Kyiv dangerously vulnerable to Russian air attacks.
• The moves follow the Trump administration's decision to pause military aid to Ukraine.

KYIV, Ukraine — President Donald Trump's decision to sever critical assistance this week hurts Ukraine's ability to see the battlefield clearly, leaving it in the dark on larger Russian troop movements and vulnerable to bombardment.

The US pause on intelligence sharing and restrictions on Ukraine's access to crucial satellite imagery is expected to seriously impact the country's ability to defend against Russian missile attacks, a Ukrainian lawmaker told Business Insider in Kyiv on Friday.

Serhiy Rakhmanin, a member of Ukraine's parliamentary committee on national security, defense, and intelligence, said that this decision will also impact Kyiv's ability to monitor Russian troop and equipment movement in the rear.

Being able to see shifts in the battle lines and buildups is crucial to mounting a proper defense. Intel and satellite imagery also enable deep offensive strikes.

US officials confirmed earlier in the week that Washington had stopped sharing intelligence with Kyiv. The move followed Trump's decision to pause the flow of military aid to the war-torn country after a deeply contentious Oval Office meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Then, on Friday, the Trump administration suspended access to satellite imagery by Ukrainian accounts. Maxar, a leading US satellite imaging company that provides services to Kyiv, said that it was affected by the move.

Weapons get the most attention, but intel is vital. "Intelligence is one of the most important things that Ukraine has received from the United States," said Rakhmanin, who spoke to BI through a translator. He added that "the most sensitive issue" for Kyiv is the ban on using satellite data.

"This creates problems, particularly in obtaining information about missile attacks. It significantly weakens the capabilities of the air defense system," Rakhmanin said. "The United States has provided information obtained from satellites, including Maxar data."

Maxar is contracted with the Global Enhanced GEOINT Delivery (GEGD) system, a major portal that can share access to US-purchased commercial satellite imagery with allies and partners. The company said that the American government had temporarily suspended Ukrainian accounts in GEGD.

The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, which is part of the Department of Defense, confirmed the move and said that it acted "in accordance" with the Trump administration's orders.

Access to satellite imagery is important for Ukraine, as it allows the country to plan strikes, track Russian military activities, and assess damage to infrastructure. It also gives the world unprecedented visual access to the three-year-long conflict.

The full extent of the US pause to intelligence sharing and military aid is unclear, but Ukrainian lawmakers and officials like Rakhmanin are hopeful that Kyiv's booming defense industry and European countries could help to fill some of the gaps in both spaces.

Mykhailo Podolyak, an advisor to Zelenskyy, told BI earlier this week that the US aid freeze could most crucially affect his country's air defenses. Insufficient interceptor missiles, coupled with a limit on Kyiv's ability to properly collect information about air attacks, could be a severe issue in defending cities from Russia.

"The restriction on intelligence is particularly problematic in countering missile attacks, monitoring the Black and Azov seas, and tracking troop and equipment movements deep within Russian
territory," Rakhmanin said.

The Trump administration's approach to the war in Ukraine has so far been drastically different from that of the Biden administration, which pledged more than $65 billion in security assistance after Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Trump officials have expressed skepticism about continued US support for Ukraine, with the president pushing for a swift end to the war, even if it's a poor deal for Kyiv.

At the end of February, tensions boiled over after Trump and Vice President JD Vance berated Zelenskyy at the White House over peace talks with Russia on unfavorable terms. The US then abruptly moved to pressure Kyiv by pausing military aid and intelligence sharing.

Conflict experts at the Institute for the Study of War, a US-based think tank, warned on Friday that Moscow will likely take advantage of Trump's decision and intensify its strike campaign against Kyiv. Officials said on Saturday that Russian attacks killed at least 20 people overnight.

"For front-line and near-front-line operations, we can still manage without US support," Rakhmanin said, "but for more strategic efforts, their role remains crucial."

Gadani is the world's third biggest shipbreaking hub. But many ships come there illegally from Europe. We went to Pakistan to figure out why international laws are being ignored.

• Season three of the HBO anthology series "The White Lotus" is underway.
• The Thailand-set season features various hidden details and references.
• The opening credits theme song has been adjusted and a notable actor has a voice cameo in episode two.

Warning: Spoilers ahead for season three of "The White Lotus."

Mike White's Emmy-winning anthology series "The White Lotus" is back, and there are plenty of details that eagle-eyed fans might pick up on.

Season three of "The White Lotus" follows a new batch of privileged guests checking into the titular luxury resort chain's Thailand location. Similar to past seasons, the latest installment incorporates hidden details. While some of the Easter eggs and references throughout the season are not-so-subtle, others are more discreet.

Here are all the details and nods featured in season three of "The White Lotus," so far.

The main title theme song has been modified to fit the season three setting.

Each season's main title theme is composed by Cristobal Tapia de Veer and takes inspiration from the location.

Season one's "Aloha!" paid homage to Hawaiian sounds and rhythms. Meanwhile, season two's viral "Renaissance" ditched the tropics for a tune that transformed from an operatic build to a club banger with 25 billion streams on Spotify.

Season three's "Enlightenment" draws from Thai sounds and harkens back to the season's overall theme of Eastern spirituality.

"The song changes every season, and it reflects the tone, mood, and the themes of the season," Gabe Hilfer, the show's music supervisor, told Rolling Stone. "The theme songs for the first two seasons were a little bit more related creatively, but they're totally different songs. Season three is about spirituality, and it's meant to be reflective of that."

The opening credits imagery hints at each character's storyline.

Sarah Catherine Hook's name is accompanied by artwork of a woman meditating, which is appropriate since her character, Piper Ratliff, is a religious studies major who is writing a thesis on Buddhism.

Patrick Schwarzenegger, who plays the eldest — and horniest — Ratliff sibling named Saxon, is credited alongside an image of two men ogling at a topless woman.

Ratliff patriarch Timothy (Jason Isaacs), who's in some kind of financial peril, is depicted by a man stuck in a tree.

Mook (Lalisa Manobal) and Gaitok's (Tayme Thapthimthong) sweet flirtation is mirrored by a woman and a man smiling under an umbrella. But the imagery for Thapthimthong's title card — a man trying to tame a vicious tiger — alludes to Gaitok's work struggles this season.

On their way to the resort, the Ratliff siblings mimic the "see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil" imagery.

As the Ratliff family travels via boat to the White Lotus resort with fellow guests, siblings Saxon, Piper, and Lochlan (Sam Nivola) sit on a bench and unintentionally reference the old proverb "see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil," which is usually symbolized by three monkeys in different poses.

Saxon's sunglasses cover his eyes (see no evil), Piper wears headphones over her ears (hear no evil), and Lochlan's mouth is covered as he drinks from a bottle (speak no evil).

Season three certainly hasn't been subtle with the monkey symbolism. Time reported that there are more than 140 monkey statues sprinkled throughout Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui, one of the filming locations. These statues and the monkeys that the cameras linger on between scenes reflect the mischief and hijinks taking place at the resort.

Patrick Schwarzenegger's character, Saxon Ratliff, wears a $23,000 watch throughout the season.

Saxon is from a wealthy family and his attire and accessories reflect that. In the show, he's seen wearing the Hublot Big Bang Unico Black Magic 44mm watch, which retails for $23,000.

"Survivor" cast members Natalie Cole and Carl Boudreaux have cameos as resort guests in the season premiere.

Belinda sees them while dining and waves, happy to encounter other Black people at the resort who aren't staff.

The husband-and-wife duo is played by Carl Boudreaux and Natalie Cole, both of whom competed against "The White Lotus" creator, writer, and director Mike White in the reality TV show "Survivor: David vs. Goliath."

"Everything Everywhere All at Once" star Ke Huy Quan has a voice cameo in episode two.

Ke Huy Quan told Entertainment Tonight that he's a big fan of the show and said yes right away when he was asked to be part of season three.

The Oscar-winning actor's character Kenneth Nguyen, aka Kenny, is first referenced during the season three premiere when Timothy Ratliff takes a call from a journalist at The Wall Street Journal who's running a story about a shady business deal Kenny made. Timothy is connected because he did Kenny a favor and helped him set up a fund called Sho-Kel as part of some plan involving money laundering and bribery.

Timothy finally gets a hold of Kenny near the end of episode two. Quan doesn't appear in the episode, but his voice is clearly heard panicking on the other end of the line as they discuss why the Journal is investigating them.

"Fuck me, I'm done," Kenny tells Timothy, after explaining that 20 agents just raided his office and have his accounts, emails, and documents.

Kenny continues ranting and says that a whistleblower in his office snitched on him to the media. Details about the business deal are sparse, but Kenny says that he never should have taken a position in Brunei, but the money was too good to pass up.

Kenny also confirms that Timothy is "for sure" implicated.

Chelsea getting bitten by a snake is foreshadowed by a moment in episode two.

In episode two, right before a masked man robs the hotel's store, Chelsea (Aimee Lou Wood) asks an employee if she can look at a snake choker. Although Chelsea is unharmed, the near-death experience with the robber leaves her shaken.

Then in episode three, she and her boyfriend Rick (Walton Goggins) attend a snake show. But Rick, who feels sympathetic toward the snakes, goes rogue and releases a bunch of them from their cages. As soon as Chelsea sees what Rick has done, she's bit in the leg by a venomous snake and rushed to a hospital.

• Women have broken barriers and changed the TV landscape through many firsts and iconic roles.
• Diahann Caroll was the first Black woman to win a Golden Globe.
• Ali Wong became the first Asian woman to win a Primetime Emmy award for a leading role.

If the idea of someone holding the title of "first to..." in 2025 seems far-fetched, think again.

Despite being over two decades into the 21st century, American society is still reaching new milestones for the representation of women in entertainment, especially in television.

In the last 10 years alone, we've seen Zendaya become the first Black woman to win the Emmy award for outstanding lead actress twice, Jodie Whittaker become the first female Doctor on "Doctor Who," and Ali Wong become the first Asian woman to win an Emmy for a leading role.

And in July 2024, Lily Gladstone and Kali Reis became the first Indigenous women to be nominated for acting Primetime Emmys.

So, in honor of Women's History Month, here's a list of 45 groundbreaking women's contributions to television history.

Betty White

Known as the "first lady of television" and "queen of the small screen," Betty White made her debut in 1939. She was the first woman to produce a national TV show and to star in a sitcom thanks to her variety show, "Life with Elizabeth" (1953-1955). She was also one of the first women to be nominated for an Emmy.

She's best known for her roles on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" (1970-1977) and "The Golden Girls" (1985-1992), both of which earned her Emmys. She made many appearances on game shows and even hosted a few like "Just Men!" (1983); White became the first woman to win an Emmy for outstanding game show host.

She won another Emmy for her episode of "Saturday Night Live" in 2010 where she hosted and drew in over 12 million viewers. She then won a Guinness World Record for having the longest TV career as a female entertainer, spanning around 80 years.

After her death on December 31, 2021, White's legacy lives on, especially through the many female TV entertainers she's influenced and inspired.

Carol Burnett

"The Carol Burnett Show" (1967-1978) was a variety and comedy series that featured Burnett and other comedians performing various sketches. Her infectious presence, slapstick comedy, and signature ear tug were favorites across the nation. It was cited as one of the best sketch-comedy TV shows by Rolling Stone in 2020.

Burnett had a pool of entertainers like Betty White, Lucille Ball, Cher, and Sammy Davis Jr. guest star on her show, too.

Her contributions to comedy and TV have been so great that the Golden Globes created the Carol Burnett award in 2018, which has been given to Burnett, Ellen DeGeneres, Norman Lear, Ryan Murphy, and Ted Danson.

Mary Kay Stearns

The first ever sitcom broadcast on network television was "Mary Kay and Johnny" (1947-1950) and starred real-life couple Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns. They were the first small-screen married couple to share a bed, which was taboo and uncommon, and wasn't seen more consistently for another decade.

In 1948, Stearns was pregnant, so it was written into the show, making her the first onscreen pregnant character.

Stearns died in 2018 at the age of 93.

Lucille Ball

From her start on the comedy "I Love Lucy" (1951-1957), Lucille Ball changed the world of television many times over. When "I Love Lucy" premiered, she advocated for her Cuban husband, Desi Arnaz, amidst the racist mentalities surrounding interracial relationships.

The real-life and on-screen couple created their show and filmed it in a new format: live in front of a studio audience and with three cameras rolling rather than one. Ball even helped invent syndication and was successful with "I Love Lucy" being filmed on tape, rather than being broadcast live.

Ball made TV history (similar to Mary Kay Stearns) with her second pregnancy being written into her character's storyline. In 1953, the subject almost wasn't allowed on TV, and the word "pregnancy" wasn't used either. The episode where the character gave birth was also aired the same night the actress actually gave birth, and a record-breaking near 72% of homes with television sets tuned in to watch, MeTV reported.

After co-founding Desilu Productions in 1950, divorcing Arnaz in 1960, and buying the company from him in 1962, Ball became the first woman to own and run a major television production company. It went on to produce "The Lucy Show" (1962-1968), "Star Trek" (1966-1969), and "Mission: Impossible" (1966-1973).

She died in 1989 at 77 years old.

Donna Reed

While "I Love Lucy" primarily focused on the wife in the married duo, "The Donna Reed Show" (1958-1966) was the first family sitcom to do the same.

Donna Reed, who lived until 1986, was an Academy Award winner before she had her own TV show and helped develop the series. Reed's impact of placing the focus on the wife rather than the husband, and touching on controversial and important topics like women's rights, was all groundbreaking during the 1950s.

Roxie Roker

Roker, who died in 1995, played neighbor Hellen Willis in the "All in the Family" (1971-1979) spinoff series, "The Jeffersons" (1975-1985). The Black actress was married to a white man on the show (and also in real life), making her part of the first Black and white interracial couple on TV.

This came at a time when there were still strong prejudices against interracial relationships. But Helen and Tom were a strong and positive representation of what love could look like.

Nichelle Nichols

One of the first and most significant interracial kisses on TV was on "Star Trek" (1966-1969). In 1967, on an episode entitled "Plato's Stepchildren," Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) kisses Lieutenant Uhura (Nichelle Nichols). 

Although interracial kisses had been seen between white and Asian characters on TV, this was the first with a white man and Black woman. Nichols made history, first breaking the typecast for Black actresses and second for being part of this significant kiss and moment in TV history. She died in 2022 at the age of 89.

Marlo Thomas

The first sitcom to focus on a female lead who was single was "That Girl" (1966-1971). Living on her own, unmarried, and without children, actress Marlo Thomas' real-life experience matched that of her character, Ann Marie.

Despite few women being leads on TV before this, they were typically wives and mothers. Thomas helped represent and normalize independent, single women.

Mary Tyler Moore

Mary Tyler Moore's most notable contributions to TV were through her role as Mary Richards on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" (1970-1977). A single, 30-something-year-old woman who was career-oriented and freely dated, Moore's character was distinctly different from the typical TV housewife.

She was a role model for women entering the workforce in the '70s, and was also sex-positive, something that wasn't highly represented. In one episode, it was likely the first time birth control was mentioned on television, with Richards' mother telling her, "Don't forget to take your pill," The New York Times reported.

She died in 2017 at the age of 80.

Candice Bergen

On "Murphy Brown" (1988-1998), Candice Bergen's character decided to raise her child as a single mother in the 1992 season finale. This caused a debate that even prompted Vice President Dan Quayle to comment.

On May 19, 1992, Quayle delivered a speech during his re-election campaign with George W. Bush, where he added, "It doesn't help matters when prime-time TV has Murphy Brown, a character who supposedly epitomizes today's intelligent, highly paid professional woman, mocking the importance of fathers by bearing a child alone and calling it just another lifestyle choice," The Washington Post reported.

This turned Quayle into the butt of the joke and only heightened Bergen's profile. After already winning two Emmys for her role, Bergen won a third after the pregnancy episode and after Quayle's speech — the actress sarcastically thanked him as she accepted the award.

Bea Arthur

It's not a shock that in 1972, a year before Roe v. Wade was originally decided, abortion was a highly sensitive and controversial topic, especially to be discussed on TV. So, on the sitcom "Maude" (1972-1978), when Bea Arthur's lead character became pregnant at 47 years old when she was already a grandmother, an abortion storyline was highly taboo.

Over the course of the two-part episode, Maude decided to go through with an abortion. This sparked protest, but it also made Arthur an icon for the feminist movement.

Arthur, who died in 2009, continued to take roles that defied societal and gender norms, ageism, and that touched on feminist topics, most notably as Dorothy in "Golden Girls" (1985-1992).

Cicely Tyson

Cicely Tyson became the first Black woman to star in a TV drama in "East Side/West Side" (1963-1964). She played a social worker's secretary. While her character's job wasn't revolutionary for women, her representation was revolutionary for Black women. Tyson is also widely reported to be one of the first Black women to wear her natural hair on TV.

She told Parade magazine in 1972 that she refused to play a drug addict or a maid, according to the National Portrait Gallery.

"I won't play that kind of characterless role any more, even if I have to go back to starving," Tyson said.

The trailblazer died at 96 years old on January 28, 2021.

Diahann Carroll

Diahann Carroll was the first Black female lead on TV in a non-stereotypical role. On "Julia" (1968-1971), Carroll was a nurse, widow, and single mother. Single mothers weren't typically represented on TV, so her role broke boundaries.

In 1969, Carroll became the first Black actress to win a Golden Globe for her performance in "Julia," the Golden Globes reported.

Earlier in her career, she also became one of the first Black actresses nominated for an Emmy.

Carroll died in 2019 at the age of 84.

Debbie Allen

The legendary choreographer, actor, director, and producer starred as Lydia Grant in the film and television adaptation of "Fame," which ran from 1982-1987.

While appearing on the show, Allen became the first Black woman to win a Golden Globe for best actress in a television series — musical or comedy in 1983, an award that wouldn't belong to a Black woman again until 34 years later when Tracee Ellis Ross won for her role in "Black-ish."

She also served as the show's lead choreographer, winning two Emmys for outstanding achievement in choreography in 1982 and 1983, respectively, and later became its director.

Allen's career has progressed to include a large range of acting, directing, producing, and choreography credits which range from projects like "Grey's Anatomy" and "Insecure" to "Dolly Parton's Christmas On The Square."

Allen has won a total of five Emmys, receiving a total of 21 nominations, Emmys.com reported.

Some of her other achievements include five NAACP Image Awards, four honorary doctorate degrees, one of which came from her alma mater Howard University; entry to the Television Academy Hall of Fame, a Governors Award, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Pauline Frederick

Frederick, who died in 1990, had many significant firsts in her career and made impactful differences in the world of news for women. In 1948, she became the first full-time female news correspondent on ABC. This early success broke ground for other newscasters. She went on to work for NBC, where she covered the United Nations for 21 years.

In 1976 she made history again when she was the first woman to moderate a televised presidential debate. This transformative moment was for Jimmy Carter and Gerald Ford's campaigns.

Barbara Walters

After writing and producing women's interest stories on the "Today" show, Walters became its first female co-anchor in 1974. She also became the first female co-anchor for ABC's "Evening News" in 1976.

She created the daytime talk show "The View" in 1997, which gives other female voices a platform and is still on the air. Walters' popularity with viewers and interviewees furthered her success. She also appeared on other shows like "World News Tonight" and "20/20" until her retirement in 2014. 

In 2022, she died at the age of 93.

Katie Couric

Couric made TV history when she became the first woman to be a solo anchor for an evening news broadcast.

Following in the steps of Barbara Walters, Couric co-anchored for years before taking the helm in 2006 with "CBS Evening News with Katie Couric" (2006-2011).

Oprah Winfrey

Not many people are known worldwide by their first name alone or are as successful as the one and only Oprah.

Winfrey was the first woman to own, produce, and host her own talk show with "The Oprah Winfrey Show" (1986-2011). In 1987, she won the Daytime Emmy for outstanding talk show, an award she'd win three more times throughout her career.

Her success helped revolutionize talk shows and helped her create an empire. Winfrey started her own TV network, OWN, in 2011.

She became the world's first Black billionaire and now has an estimated net worth of $3 billion, Forbes reported.

Ellen DeGeneres

DeGeneres' character on the sitcom "Ellen" (1994-1998) came out as gay in 1997. She was the first actress to do this, and the coming out was also in sync with DeGeneres' real-life announcement of her sexuality, which was shared on an iconic Time magazine cover on April 14, 1997.

"The Puppy Episode," where she came out, aired on April 30, but it caused a stir among conservative organizations and sponsors before it was even broadcast. The groundbreaking two-part episode became a phenomenon, though, with an outstanding number of views.

However, "Ellen" had "parental advisory" warnings on the following episodes and was canceled after its fifth season in 1998. Both DeGeneres and Laura Dern, who guest-starred on "The Puppy Episode," couldn't find work for a couple of years after the episode.

DeGeneres had a revival and new phase of her successful TV career, though, with her talk show, "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" (2003-2022). She's beloved by audiences and uses the tagline "be kind to one another," although accusations by guests and crew members in 2020 painted a less-than-kind picture of the host. In a letter to staff that July, DeGeneres said she was "disappointed to learn" that people working for her did not feel happy or respected.

The show ended in 2022  after running for 19 seasons.

Kerry Washington

Kerry Washington played Olivia Pope, a White House communications director, on the acclaimed political drama "Scandal" (2012-2018). She was the first Black female lead in a network TV series since 1974, when Teresa Graves played a police officer on "Get Christie Love!"

Washington's performance highlighted the importance of seeing Black women in multidimensional leading roles. Washington won her first BET Award for best actress in 2013 for her role.

Viola Davis

While Viola Davis is perhaps best known for her work on the big screen, she made great strides on TV, too. Starting at the age of 49, Davis played the role of a lawyer and criminal law professor in "How to Get Away with Murder" (2014-2020).

Davis became the first Black woman to win an Emmy for lead actress in a drama series in 2015.

In 2018, Davis' "How to Get Away with Murder" and Kerry Washington's "Scandal" had a monumental crossover episode, bringing two powerhouse actresses and characters together.

Davis has received an Emmy Award, a Grammy Award, an Oscar, and a Tony Award.

Alfre Woodard

Alfre Woodard was the first Black actress to play a US president on TV in "State of Affairs" (2014-2015). Her role mimicked actual possibilities and her real-life experience of previously working in politics.

She has also been widely recognized for her work since the 1980s, winning a Golden Globe and four Emmys, and earning nominations for two Grammys, a BAFTA, and an Academy Award.

Lynda Carter

In 1975, Lynda Carter took on the role of Wonder Woman, becoming one of the first female superheroes on television. (Cathy Lee Crosby previously played the character in a TV movie of the same name).

Carter led the series until 1979 and is still considered one of the most iconic actresses to have played the part, with the role not welcoming a new face until 2017 with Gal Gadot.

Carter also appeared in a post-credits scene in Gadot's "Wonder Woman: 1984."

Jodie Whittaker

Jodie Whittaker made history in 2017 when she became the first woman to play the Doctor in "Doctor Who."

Her episode debut brought in the biggest "Doctor Who" audience in over a decade, with 8.2 million viewers, Bustle reported; and she quickly became a fan-favorite.

Whittaker helped design her character's costume and decided to make it comfortable and gender non-specific, specifically with fans in mind, according to an interview with Radio Times.

She left the series in 2022.

Candis Cayne

In 2007, Candis Cayne played a transgender mistress on ABC's "Dirty Sexy Money," which was groundbreaking because she was an LGBTQ+ actress playing an LGBTQ+ character, rather than a cis actor playing a transgender person.

Her role helped set the landscape for more transgender actors to be hired for meaningful roles.

Cayne didn't realize the impact of her presence on TV until the 2017 GLAAD Media Awards when a scene of hers was played and the audience erupted in applause.

"That was the first time I realized, 'Yeah, this is a lot more than me just getting a gig. This is moving our community forward.' So it was impactful, finally, in that moment," Cayne told "Today" in 2021.

Nicole Maines

Transgender actress Nicole Maines was the first person to play a transgender superhero on TV.

Maines played reporter turned superhero Dreamer on CW's "Supergirl" (2015-2021), breaking more boundaries for the trans community.

Before this contribution to the superhero universe, Maines was also in documentaries about the trans experience.

"I've been doing a lot of auditions lately because a lot of different shows have been really eager to tell the story of transgender people," Maines said at Comic-Con in 2018.

Maines has most recently appeared in the second season of "Yellowjackets."

Laverne Cox

Laverne Cox is one of the figureheads of the transgender community because of her contributions to entertainment and transgender representation and activism during her career.

She's best known for her role as inmate Sophie on Netflix's "Orange Is the New Black" (2013-2019). Cox was the first transgender actress to be nominated for an Emmy in 2014, and she banked three nominations throughout the show's run.

She executive-produced the TV special "Laverne Cox Presents: The T Word" and won a Daytime Emmy for it in 2015, becoming the first transgender woman to win the award. And in 2016, she played Frank N. Furter (a part originally played by a cis actor, Tim Curry) in the TV special remake "The Rocky Horror Picture Show: Let's Do the Time Warp Again."

Cox has appeared in multiple comedy and drama shows and was most recently in Amazon Prime Video's "Chrome Jesus" (2025).

Michaela Jaé Rodriguez

Michaela Jaé Rodriguez appeared in shows like "Nurse Jackie" and "The Carrie Diaries" before her big role in "Pose" (2018-2021).

"Pose" (2018-2021) followed the stories of drag performers and transgender people during the ballroom scene in the '80s and '90s. Its cast was predominantly made up of LGBTQ+ actors, including Rodriguez, Billy Porter, Indya Moore, and Dominique Jackson. 

Rodriguez was nominated for an Emmy in 2021, and in 2022 she became the first transgender person to win a Golden Globe.

Janet Mock

In 2018, Janet Mock made history as the first transgender woman of color to write for a television show: Ryan Murphy's "Pose." She was also a producer and director for the series.

"So it's an indescribable feeling to be on set sitting in a chair with my name on it, directing a script that I also wrote, watching these actresses, some of whom have never been on a set before, be given a chance to truly shine," Mock wrote for Variety ahead of the series' season one premiere.

Sandra Oh

Sandra Oh is best known for her 10-year-arc playing Dr. Cristina Yang on "Grey's Anatomy" (2005-present). She also played MI5 security officer Eve Polastri on "Killing Eve" (2018-2022).

Oh was the first Asian woman to host the Golden Globes in 2019, and ultimately became the second Asian woman to win a Golden Globe for best actress at that same ceremony. The first was Yoko Shimada, who won nearly 40 years prior for her role in "Shōgun."

"I don't think I can explain to you how profound I feel it meant to not only myself and my parents, but for a lot of people in my community," Oh said of her win to USA Today in 2019.

Ali Wong

Best known for Netflix comedy specials like "Baby Cobra" and "Hard Knock Wife," Ali Wong has gracefully ventured into acting with roles in the romantic comedy "Always Be My Maybe" and the award-winning dark comedy "Beef."

In 2024, for her role in "Beef," Wong became the first Asian woman to win a Primetime Emmy award for a leading role, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. (Sandra Oh previously won an Emmy in a supporting role.)

Wong won the Emmy for outstanding lead actress in a limited or anthology series or movie; and as an executive producer on the show, she brought home the Emmy for best limited series, too.

She also made history as the first Asian actress to win the Golden Globe for best actress in a limited series, CNN reported.

Adrienne Bailon-Houghton

The 3LW and "Cheetah Girls" alum joined the cast of "The Real" in 2013, becoming the first Latina to host a daytime talk show in the US.

In 2018, Bailon-Houghton won the Daytime Emmy award for outstanding entertainment talk show host alongside her co-stars, Loni Love, Jeannie Mai, and Tamera Mowry-Housley.

Houghton told OprahMag.com later that year, "We recognize that we are four women of color on television every day, speaking to an audience that includes so many women of color. We have an opportunity to make a difference in history — in the way women of color are viewed. We're in an era where this really matters, and we don't ever want to take that for granted."

After "The Real" was canceled in 2022, Bailon-Houghton worked as co-anchor for "E! News" until late 2023. She also runs her own fashion and accessories brand, La Voûte.

America Ferrera

While Ferrera was in the headlines last year for her Oscar nomination for "Barbie," the industry veteran began her career over 20 years ago, appearing in projects like "Real Women Have Curves," "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants," "Ugly Betty," and "Superstore."

In 2007, she made history as the first Latina to win a Primetime Emmy for outstanding lead actress in a comedy series for her role as Betty Suarez in "Ugly Betty," E! News reported. The same year, she also won a Golden Globe for best actress in a television series — musical or comedy and a SAG award.

During her Golden Globes speech, Ferrera said, "Thank you to the Hollywood Foreign Press for recognizing the show and this character who is truly bringing a new face to television and such a beautiful message about beauty that lies deeper than what we see."

Ferrera has been vocal about diversity, or the lack thereof, in the industry throughout her career. In a 2024 interview with The New York Times she said it brings her no joy to be the only Latina to win an Emmy in a lead category and that she hopes Latinos can have more opportunities throughout the industry.

"There's a lot out there that is very transactional in terms of checking boxes to claim diversity," she said.

Of starring in "Barbie," she added, "One of the most exciting things to me about the movie was, as a Latina woman, being invited to be a part of something so adventurous and joyful and fun. Gloria is Latina, but being Latina was not her reason for being in this story."

Mindy Kaling

At only 24 years old, Mindy Kaling became a staff writer on "The Office," where she was the only woman and person of color on the team. She also starred on the show as Kelly Kapoor.

In a 2019 interview with Elle, Kaling recalled how in order to receive a nomination for outstanding comedy series, the Television Academy required her to "fill out a whole form and write an essay about all my contributions as a writer and a producer," she said. "I had to get letters from all the other male, white producers saying that I had contributed, when my actual record stood for itself."

The Television Academy had originally stated that the show had too many producers to credit, but with her efforts, her name was included in the official nomination.

Kaling went on to become the "first woman of color to create, write, and star in a primetime sitcom" with "The Mindy Project," which aired from 2012 to 2017.

In recent years, Kaling has produced the hit Netflix show "Never Have I Ever," Hulu's "Four Weddings and a Funeral" series, and HBO's "Sex Lives of College Girls." Her latest project is another Netflix series, "Running Point," starring Kate Hudson.

She also runs her own production company, Kaling International.

Quinta Brunson

As the creator, executive producer, and lead in "Abbott Elementary," Brunson's 2022 Emmy nominations included outstanding comedy series, lead actress in a comedy, and writing for a comedy series.

In a 2022 interview with The New York Times, Brunson talked about what sets "Abbott Elementary" apart from other network TV sitcoms.

"There have been recent sitcoms — 'Black-ish,' 'Fresh Off the Boat' — really good sitcoms, but my generation was starting to get tired of race as the only focal point," she said. "The white shows got to just be white, but a lot of the shows with people of color were about the color of the people and not about stories of the people. So 'Abbott' also feels like a shift in that way."

In 2019, she also starred in the first season of HBO's "A Black Lady Sketch Show," the first sketch comedy series written by, directed by, and starring Black women.

Jung Ho-yeon

Korean actress and model Jung Ho-yeon made history at the 2022 SAG awards when she won outstanding performance by a female actor in a drama series for her performance as Kang Sae-byeok in Netflix's "Squid Game."

Her win, along with that of co-star Lee Jung-Jae, made "Squid Game" the first non-English-language television series to win at the SAG awards, Vanity Fair reported.

The show marked Jung Ho-yeon's acting debut, and became one of Netflix's most popular TV show releases to date, drawing 1.65 billion watch hours in its first four weeks, Netflix reported.

Zendaya

At the 2020 Emmy Awards, Zendaya made history when she won the award for outstanding lead actress in a drama series for her role in "Euphoria." In 2022, she won the award again. In addition to being the second Black actress to win this award, and the first Black actress to win the award twice, she is also the youngest woman to have won the award.

Rue Bennett, Zendaya's character on "Euphoria," has been recognized for providing representation to those struggling with drug addiction. A CNN opinion article discussed the groundbreaking nature of the character, stating, "Most people do not know what a young Black woman experiencing addiction looks like because we are not used to seeing Black women publicly battling anything."

In 2022, Time named her one of the 100 Most Influential People of the year, calling her an "autonomous creative force" and "a cultural icon in the making."

Zendaya returned to filming season three of "Euphoria" in February 2025.

Michaela Coel

Inspired by her own experience with sexual assault, Michaela Coel created, wrote, produced, co-directed, and starred in the critically acclaimed show "I May Destroy You" in 2020.

That same year, she was named one of Time's 100 Most Influential People, with Lena Waithe writing, "Usually, with Black women protagonists, everyone's mission is to make you like or root for them. But Michaela shows us that sometimes we can be our own worst enemy. She reminds me that the only person who can destroy me is myself. She's showing us a piece of ourselves that is rarely captured onscreen."

In 2021, Coel became the first Black woman to win the Emmy for oustanding writing for a limited series, movie, or dramatic special, dedicating the story to "every single survivor of sexual assault."

Coel has also starred in "Chewing Gum," "Black Mirror," and "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever." Her most recent role was as a guest star in the 2024 television adaptation of "Mr. & Mrs. Smith."

Julia Louis-Dreyfus

Julia Louis-Dreyfus began her career in 1982 when she joined the cast of "Saturday Night Live" at just 21 years old, People reported.

But the role that truly made her stand out was that of Elaine Benes on "Seinfeld," which aired from 1990 to 1998 and also starred Jerry Seinfeld, Jason Alexander, and Michael Richards. In 1996, she won her first Emmy for outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series.

Louis-Dreyfus has gone on to win 10 more Emmys, nine of which came from her work on "Veep," in which she starred as lead Selina Meyer and served as an executive producer throughout its run from 2012 to 2019.

While on "Veep," she won a record-breaking six consecutive Primetime Emmy awards for outstanding lead actress in a comedy series, becoming the actor with the most Emmy wins in a singular role, Entertainment Weekly reported.

Throughout her career, Louis-Dreyfus has also won nine Screen Actors Guild awards and a Golden Globe.

In an interview with Rolling Stone in 2023, she talked about how younger generations are enjoying "Seinfeld" on Netflix.

"I mean, I gotta say, I just think funny is funny! It was superb writing and dare I say, a superb cast that supported the writing — and perhaps even elevated it sometimes," she said.

Mariska Hargitay

For more than 25 seasons, fans have listened to the iconic intro of "Law & Order: SVU" and watched as Mariska Hargitay embodied the role of Olivia Benson.

The show is the longest-running drama in American prime time television, with Hargitay's Benson becoming the longest running character ever on a prime-time drama series, People reported in 2024.

Two years prior, Hargitay spoke about her character's longevity in an appearance on "The Drew Barrymore Show."

"I feel very satisfied, sated, because I'm having I think more fun now than I ever have. So I feel grateful. I love my cast. I love them, they're like family now," she said. "I'm also mostly grateful that the show that's the longest running show on television is about believing victims and so that for me is the most rewarding thing."

Sarah Jessica Parker

"Are you more of a Carrie or a Miranda?" "Are you Team Big or Team Aidan?"

These are the kinds of questions that entered public conversation during and after the airing of "Sex and the City," the influential, albeit problematic, show about four women in their 30s and 40s navigating their careers, relationships, and friendships. The original series aired between 1998 and 2004.

Sarah Jessica Parker played protagonist and narrator Carrie Bradshaw. Parker won a total of six Golden Globes, four for best actress in a comedy series and two for best television series — musical or comedy. She also won two Primetime Emmy awards and three Screen Actors Guild awards.

"Sex and the City" was groundbreaking in its open discussion of women's issues and sex, though it has since been criticized for its lack of diversity, with writer Hunter Harris describing the show as "simultaneously progressive and regressive, where people of color were either stereotypes or punchlines" in a 2018 article for Refinery29.

The show was rebooted in 2021 as "And Just Like That..." with Parker reprising her role as Carrie Bradshaw in a series that seemingly attempts to overcome the original version's shortcomings.

Lena Waithe

In 2017, Waithe became the first Black woman to win the Primetime Emmy for comedy writing thanks to the episode "Thanksgiving" in "Master of None," which was co-written with Aziz Ansari.

In her acceptance speech, Waithe addressed her LGBTQIA "family" with the message, "The things that make us different, those are our superpowers. Every day when you walk out the door, put on your imaginary cape and go out there and conquer the world, because the world would not be as beautiful as it is if we weren't in it."

Alaqua Cox

Alaqua Cox is the first Indigenous woman to play a superhero in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Cox plays the lead in Marvel's miniseries "Echo," which centers on the character Maya Lopez (Echo), a deaf Native American superhero.

Cox, who is a deaf amputee woman of Menominee and Mohican descent, told Teen Vogue in January 2024, "I'm so happy that Indigenous people are showing our authentic stories and breaking down barriers. I grew up never seeing myself represented on the screen. I'm excited for audiences — kids especially — to see people like me with different disabilities or diversities on TV so that they understand they are beautiful just the way they are."

Lily Gladstone

2024 was a landmark year for Lily Gladstone. In January, she became the first Indigenous actress to win a Golden Globe and in July, she became one of the first Indigenous actresses to be nominated for an acting Primetime Emmy.

Gladstone, who was raised on the Blackfeet Reservation, was nominated for outstanding supporting actress in a limited or anthology series or movie for her role as Cam Bentland in the crime drama, "Under the Bridge."

Kali Reis

Making history alongside Gladstone as one of the first Indigenous women to be nominated for an acting Primetime Emmy was "True Detective: Night Country" star Kali Reis.

Reis, who is of Wampanoag and Cape Verdean descent, was also nominated for outstanding supporting actress in a limited or anthology series or movie.

She told The Hollywood Reporter in March 2024, "It's really empowering to finally be in a place where I don't feel like I have to keep my head down and not be accepted. I get to represent two very resilient, amazing people that are still here."

• Jobs are opening up in the sports industry as teams expand and money flows into the industry.
• Excel Search & Advisory broke down some of the most in-demand senior positions in sports right now.
• Senior marketing jobs are hot, as are positions in women's sports.

More jobs are opening up in sports as new and emerging leagues find their footing and private equity flows into the sector.

Sports teams, in particular, are creating more jobs. They're looking for executives and senior staffers in key areas like marketing and revenue, Chad Biagini, president of Excel Search & Advisory, told Business Insider.

Excel Search & Advisory is the executive search arm of sports agency Excel Sports Management. The firm, previously called Nolan Partners, has been around for about 20 years. It helps sports teams, Olympic federations, and media companies fill senior leadership roles on and off the field.

Biagini broke down the most in-demand senior positions he's seeing in sports right now and the best ways to land them.

Chief marketing officers are "essential" across sports right now, he said. Historically, most teams focused on fans in the local market where they played. Now, their fans can be worldwide. Marketing leaders are critical to this development.

Companies are increasingly turning to marketing talent from major consumer brands outside the industry, such as Airbnb, Marriott, and Microsoft.

"Sports teams more and more are realizing that they are media companies and that they are in a war of trying to get customers and revenue against other big brands, both in and outside of sports," Biagini.

Demand is also growing for commercial and revenue chiefs and similar senior roles in sports, Biagini said. That can include leaders focused on areas like ticketing, partnerships, and experiences. Sports companies are finding talent for these roles in adjacent sectors, like media, entertainment, gaming, or even hospitality or consulting.

The recent flood of private equity into sports teams and other businesses is largely driving this emphasis on marketing, commercial, and revenue roles.

"As private equity comes into more sports teams, most of them are looking and recognizing, if we invest a certain amount of capital, we can significantly grow the valuation by investing and fueling the current success," Biagini said.

The rise of women's sports is creating a slew of new jobs

As women's sports become more mainstream, the category is also creating more jobs.

"Women's sports is hot right now, too," he said.

Biagini has helped place C-suite executives at women's teams in European soccer, the National Women's Soccer League, and the WNBA. He's also seen more general manager roles open up recently across the WNBA and coaching jobs in the NWSL.

Some of the growth is coming from expansion teams in these leagues and in soccer clubs in Europe, as well as other areas of women's sports.

"That's also creating a whole new slew of jobs," Biagini said.

He said the rise of women's sports is attracting new talent, too.

"A few years ago, attracting talent to that space wasn't the same as it is," said Biagini. "Now you have people hungry and eager and enthusiastic about moving into women's sports."

Sports teams lead in job growth

Looking across the industry, Biagini said he's seen sports teams grow the most in terms of head count and overall compensation.

Biagini said he's seen some league offices, meanwhile, start to cut back in some roles in the last 12 months, such as in their internal consulting and talent acquisition divisions. Sports media, he said, has been the hardest hit from a jobs-growth standpoint, as some roles are being outsourced to independent contractors, and the industry is facing competition from streaming and digital.

In the competitive world of sports, networking strength is it's one of the most important skills job candidates could have.

"Build relationships with people," said Biagini. "Relationships don't go well if you're only asking them for favors and you're not actually investing back. The best relationships are ones where people invest in each other."

• Rosie the Riveter is one of the most iconic images in pop culture history.
• For 30 years, Geraldine Hoff Doyle was believed to be the inspiration for Rosie the Riveter.
• An investigation in the 2000s found that another worker, Naomi Parker Fraley, inspired the image.

Rosie the Riveter is one of the most famous symbols of the feminist movement, but it took years to accurately identify the worker who inspired the iconic image of a woman flexing her bicep.

For three decades, Geraldine Hoff Doyle was widely acknowledged as the inspiration behind Rosie the Riveter. 

However, an investigation conducted in the 2000s revealed that Naomi Parker Fraley, who worked at the Naval Air Station in Alameda, California, was the true inspiration behind the image.

This International Women's Day, here's the story of the real-life Rosie the Riveter and how her identity was eventually uncovered.

During World War II, women assisted in manufacturing wartime products like gas masks.

Before the war, women were in traditionally "female" fields such as nursing and teaching.

Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, women joined the armed forces at remarkable rates. By 1943, over 310,000 women were employed in the US aircraft industry, comprising 65% of the industry's workforce, a stark contrast to the mere 1% representation before the outbreak of war, per the Defense Logistics Agency.

Forbes reported that between 1940 and 1945, female participation in the US workforce increased from 27% to nearly 37%. By 1945, a quarter of married women worked in jobs outside the home.

Many women working in military factories were photographed wearing bandanas to tie back their hair.

One photo, taken in 1942 by a photographer touring the Naval Air Station to show what life was like for women working in the aircraft industry, appeared to catch the attention of a Pittsburgh artist named J. Howard Miller.

The New York Times reported that Miller created a 1943 poster for the Westinghouse Electric Corporation that became one of the most iconic images in history.

The woman in Miller's poster soon came to be known as Rosie the Riveter.

The image featured a "Rosie," as female factory workers were known at the time, flexing her bicep, wearing a red polka-dot bandana and a riveter's uniform. Above her were the inspiring words "We Can Do It!"

The woman in Miller's poster soon came to be known as "Rosie the Riveter" after musicians Redd Evans and John Jacob Loeb released a popular song with the same title in 1943.

The New York Times reported that the poster was initially only displayed in the Westinghouse Electric Corporation plant to deter women from not showing up to work and strikes among female workers.

However, once the poster was published and gained national exposure in the early 1980s, it evolved into an emblem of the feminist movement and emerged as one of the most iconic images in pop culture.

The inspiration for the iconic Rosie the Riveter image was initially believed to be Geraldine Hoff Doyle, a Michigan factory worker.

Geraldine Hoff Doyle, who worked in a Navy plant in Michigan, was long considered to be the inspiration behind the iconic image.

The New York Times reported that Doyle came forward in the 1980s and claimed to be the woman in a photo believed to have inspired Miller's famous poster.

Doyle had seen the photo, which was published without its original caption and the correct names of the women in the photograph.

She mistakenly identified herself as the woman in the photo, and since she bore a striking resemblance to the woman, she was widely accepted as the real-life Rosie the Riveter.

The true inspiration for Rosie the Riveter was later identified as Naomi Parker Fraley, a waitress from California who worked at the Naval Air Station in Alameda.

In 2009, during a reunion of war-era Rosies, 88-year-old Naomi Parker Fraley (pictured) attended a reunion of war-era Rosies, where she spied a photo of herself working at the Naval Air Station in Alameda, California, in a historical display — and saw another woman's name listed underneath the image as the inspiration for Miller's famous "We Can Do It!" poster.

The photo in question showed a then-20-year-old Naomi Parker Fraley wearing a red-and-white-polka-dot bandana and working on a turret lathe.

"I couldn't believe it because it was me in the photo, but there was somebody else's name in the caption: Geraldine," Parker Fraley told People in 2016. "I was amazed."

After learning another woman had been misidentified as her for over 30 years, Naomi Parker Fraley tried to set the record straight.

People reported that Parker Fraley contacted the World War II Home Front National Historical Park with her saved newspaper clipping, which included the original caption that listed her as the woman in the photo. 

"I just wanted my own identity," she said. "I didn't want fame or fortune, but I did want my own identity."

However, Parker Fraley, then 95, would not be able to correct the record for another six years. In 2015, she was approached by Seton Hall University professor James J. Kimble, who had been on a quest to discover Rosie the Riveter's true identity for six years.

After Parker Fraley showed Kimble the evidence that she had been Miller's inspiration, he published an article in an academic journal, "Rosie's Secret Identity," in 2016. People then published a feature about the discovery, and Parker Fraley was finally recognized by the media at large as the inspiration behind Rosie the Riveter. 

"She had been robbed of her part of history," Kimble told People. "It's so hurtful to be misidentified like that. It's like the train has left the station and you're standing there and there's nothing you can do because you're 95 and no one listens to your story."

Rosie the Riveter is now considered an icon of the feminist movement.

Parker Fraley told People that after she was identified as the inspiration for Rosie the Riveter, she began receiving fan mail.

Miller's illustration of Rosie the Riveter has come to embody the tenacity and strength of women.

"The women of this country these days need some icons," Parker Fraley told People. "If they think I'm one, I'm happy about that."

Naomi Parker Fraley died on January 20, 2018, at the age of 96.

• Starbucks booked $1.3 billion in profit in a Swiss subsidiary over a decade, a new report says.
• The move appeared to reduce Starbucks' tax bill in other countries.
• It's the latest example of companies using tax havens to avoid tax rates in the US and elsewhere.

A little-known Starbucks subsidiary in Switzerland appears to have played a big role in how much the coffee chain paid over the last decade in taxes, according to a new report.

On paper, Starbucks Coffee Trading Company, or SCTC, based in the Swiss Canton of Vaud, is responsible for sourcing unroasted coffee from countries like Colombia and Rwanda before it's used in beverages at Starbucks' cafés. It also oversees Starbucks' Coffee and Farmer Equity Practices program for ethical coffee sourcing.

According to a report released Saturday by the Centre for International Corporate Tax Accountability and Research, or CICTAR, there's also evidence that since 2015, the subsidiary has helped shift about $1.3 billion in Starbucks profits away from other countries where they would have been subject to higher tax rates.

The chain is hardly the only major company that books profits outside the United States, and the report's authors found no evidence that the company was doing anything illegal. But Starbucks' reputation for being conscious of its role in society contrasts with its use of tax loopholes, said Jason Ward, principal analyst at Australia-based CICTAR. The group is funded by trade unions as well as trusts and foundations.

"Starbucks is different in that it really does bank on its image of social responsibility," Ward told Business Insider.

Starbucks uses Switzerland-based SCTC to book the cost of the unroasted coffee beans, even though the beans don't appear to move through Switzerland, according to the report.

SCTC "then sells the exact same green coffee beans at a higher price to other entities in the Starbucks corporate structure," the report says. That markup was about 3% between 2005 and 2010, then rose to 18% between 2011 and 2014, CICTAR's report says.

CICTAR could not find "any significant change in business practices or underlying costs" that would justify the jump in profits, the report says.

"It's not like they're roasting coffee or researching the different types of beans or anything," Ward said. "There's nothing like that going on there."

In Switzerland, profits from those markups are taxed at "a significantly lower tax rate" than if they had been booked in the United States or other countries, according to the report.

While the exact tax rate that Starbucks pays in Switzerland isn't publicly known, US companies paid an average rate of 3.9% in the country, according to an analysis of IRS data by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, or ITEP. The US corporate tax rate is 21%.

More recently, between 2015 and 2021, SCTC has paid between $125 million and $150 million in dividends annually to another Starbucks subsidiary, Netherlands-based Starbucks Coffee EMEA B.V., according to the report. These payments do not appear to be taxed either upon leaving Switzerland or upon entering the Netherlands.

The report looked at financial filings for Starbucks subsidiaries around Europe to trace profits booked at SCTC.

In a response that CICTAR included on page 4 of the report, a Starbucks spokesperson said that the report's claims "fail to accurately reflect our business model and how different parts of our business contribute to the company's success."

"Starbucks pays appropriate and correct levels of tax in all jurisdictions in which it operates and proactively works with tax authorities to inform them of its business model and related tax implications," the spokesperson said.

A Starbucks spokesperson told BI that the company "is in full compliance with tax laws around the world" and had an effective global tax rate of about 24% last year. SCTC provides "high-quality coffee to meet our global demand" and includes farmer support centers in coffee-growing areas of the world.

"Switzerland has been a global hub for coffee trading for decades and SCTC is based there to help us access the world's best coffee trading talent," the spokesperson said.

Starbucks isn't the only company that looks abroad to minimize its tax obligations. A 2021 report from CICTAR looked at Uber's use of shell companies in the Netherlands to limit its tax bill, for instance.

Large companies and wealthy individuals store money in a variety of tax-haven countries, such as the Cayman Islands, since they charge less in taxes than their home countries — or none at all.

CICTAR's findings on Starbucks aren't surprising, said Matthew Gardner, senior fellow at ITEP.

"This is a thing that every company or every industry, companies in every industry that have lots of intangible assets are doing right now," he told BI.

Companies storing profits in tax havens — and the US government's responses to the strategy — goes back decades, he said.

A 2004 tax holiday, for example, allowed corporations to bring profits to the United States from overseas at a much-reduced tax rate. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, passed during President Donald Trump's first term, also contained provisions to bring more corporate profits back to the United States.

But many companies have continued using offshore tax havens, Gardner said. An ITEP analysis of IRS data from 2020 found that American-owned companies reported $390 billion in profits across 15 likely tax havens, including the Cayman Islands, Ireland, and Switzerland.

Large companies' tax avoidance ultimately increases the tax burden on other taxpayers, including individuals and small businesses, Gardner said. It can also lead governments to slash spending and cut programs, he said.

"Every way in which the revenue loss from these offshore profits can be paid for hurts the rest of us," he said.

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• Tech leaders like Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg gave us some of the world's most influential tech products.
• And they did so while sporting some signature styles, whether good, bad, or perfectly middling.
• Here's a look at some of the most iconic outfits of the world's biggest names in tech.

The tech industry's elite have introduced some of the world's biggest products. And for better or for worse, they've also left their mark on the world with their choice of clothing.

A lot of big-name tech leaders have a trademark look. While their signature outfits may be good, bad, or exceptionally average, they're theirs all the same.

Here's a look at some of the most iconic signature styles of the world's biggest names in tech.

Steve Jobs

Picture Steve Jobs. You imagined him in a turtleneck, didn't you?

The late Apple cofounder and CEO seemed to wear a black turtleneck and blue jeans more often than not.

Biographer Walter Isaacson wrote that Jobs initially wanted Apple employees to wear a uniform and enlisted the help of designer Issey Miyake to make one. The idea was unpopular, but it brought Jobs closer to Miyake.

"I asked Issey to make me some of his black turtlenecks that I liked, and he made me like a hundred of them," Jobs told Isaacson. "That's what I wear."

Mark Zuckerberg

Though Mark Zuckerberg's fashion has evolved considerably since the early days of Facebook, we'll never forget his hoodies and flip-flops era.

In "The Social Network," a film depicting Facebook's history, Eduardo Saverin, played by Andrew Garfield, references Zuckerberg's signature look in his famous "You better lawyer up" scene.

"Sorry, my Prada's at the cleaners, along with my hoodie and my 'fuck-you' flip-flops, you pretentious douchebag," he says.

Sartorially speaking, today, the Meta CEO is better known for gold chains and T-shirts emblazoned with Latin phrases.

Jeff Bezos

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos never drew much attention for his fashion while still leading the company, but he's embraced a new look in recent years that's turned some heads.

His aesthetic now runs the gamut from "mob chic" to "space cowboy billionaire."

Jensen Huang

As Jobs had his black turtleneck, Jensen Huang has his black leather jacket. The Nvidia CEO has been wearing them for at least 20 years, a spokesperson previously told The New York Times. He's credited his wife and daughter with styling him.

Huang has cycled through a number of leather jackets in recent years and, like Zuckerberg, says sticking with a look means one fewer decision he has to make.

Tim Cook

Tim Cook may be the CEO of Apple but he also does a lot of promotion for Nike shoes. (Cook has sat on Nike's board since 2005.)

He's frequently seen wearing Nike shoes with his outfit, which usually includes a polo. During an event last year to announce a new iPad, he wore a one-of-a-kind Nike Air Max 1 '86s designed, in part, using Apple products.

And though it's not an article of clothing, Cook has something of a wardrobe staple in the classic peace sign he flashes everywhere.

Jack Dorsey

Twitter cofounder and Block CEO Jack Dorsey dressed largely monochromatic for many years. Though its components varied — it often included a leather jacket, a suit jacket, a hoodie, or a T-shirt — he loved a slim-fitting, all-black ensemble.

He's overhauled his look in recent years, though. He appeared at the Bitcoin 2021 Convention in Miami wearing an orange tie-dye shirt, with a long beard and shaved head.

Bill Gates

Bill Gates varies his outfits here and there, but one mainstay of his collection is his beloved combo of a sweater over a collared shirt.

In a 2016 Ask Me Anything session on Reddit, the Microsoft cofounder was asked to name something he never spends too much money on. His answer? Clothing.

"I think people's spending instincts are set when they are in high school," he wrote. "I don't like spending a lot of money on clothes or jewelry."

• Russia's weapons exports have plummeted amid the Ukraine conflict.
• France overtook Russia last year as the second-largest arms exporter globally.
• Russian weapons makers face a range of challenges that have emerged following the Ukraine invasion.

It has been three years since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and the conflict has had a profound effect on the Russian weapons industry, causing its arms exports to plummet.

The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIRPI), which researches conflict and arms, calculates that Russian arms exports decreased by half from 2019 to 2023 compared to the previous five-year period.

Other estimates paint an even bleaker picture.

Pavel Luzin, a non-resident senior fellow at the Center for European Policy Analysis, a DC think-tank, calculated that Russian arms exports tallied less than $1 billion from January to December 2024. They had stood at $14.6 billion in 2021; they dropped to $8 billion in 2022 before falling further to about $3 billion in 2023.

Tellingly, France has surpassed Russia as the world's second-biggest arms exporter.

"We see that Russia, as an arms exporter, has generally failed," Luzin said last November.

The staggering drop in sales is partially the result of a shift by Russian arms manufacturers away from export contracts and toward producing more weapons for the Russian military fighting in Ukraine.

What is Russia rushing to replace?

The Russian military has suffered very high matériel losses in the war.

Open-source intelligence website Oryx indicates Russia has lost 3,773 tanks, 1,933 armored fighting vehicles, 5,531 infantry fighting vehicles, 615 armored personnel carriers, nearly 2,000 artillery pieces of all types, and many other pieces of equipment.

Since the above are only the losses that could be verified via photographs or videos, Oryx estimates that true Russian losses are significantly higher.

Russian arms companies have been working overtime to replace them. (Moscow has also been tapping into its inventory of older, Soviet-era equipment; however, 2025 may be the last year it can rely on stored weapons, Luzin wrote in January.)

Although the credibility of official Russian data is suspect, "production of new military equipment increased substantially in 2023," as a result of domestic demand, SIRPI said, with Rostec and Tactical Missile Corp's, Russia's two biggest arms companies, seeing their combined revenues increase by 40% that year.

However, that momentum may not be sustainable.

Increased production has put pressure on Russian arms companies, which face manpower and financial shortages and growing costs due to sanctions imposed by Western countries, Luzin wrote. They, therefore, struggle to keep churning out the necessary equipment and have largely paused foreign contracts.

Where has everyone gone?

Russian companies are also losing customers. In 2019, Russia sold weapons to 31 countries — in 2023, that number had fallen to 12, according to SIRPI. This is a function of supply chains and geopolitics.

Since the purchase of weapons is often a statement of alignment, several countries who used to buy Russian arms have turned to Western, domestic, or other alternatives.

Additionally, due to sanctions imposed on Russia, maintaining Russian weapons is becoming increasingly difficult for buyers. Therefore, to safeguard themselves from uncertain maintenance, countries are seeking safer sellers.

In Asia and Oceania, which had accounted for nearly 70% of overall Russian weapons exports between 2018 and 2023, the US is now the biggest seller. And in sub-Saharan Africa, where Russia used to be the biggest seller, the number one spot is now held by China.

"Russia's arms export categories in the last two decades [have mainly] included air defense systems, combat aircraft/helicopters and their parts (including engines), and some naval systems like diesel-electric submarines, corvettes and anti-ship missiles," Luzin, who is also a visiting scholar at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, told Business Insider.

These weapons, however, have been far from excellent, he added.

Research published in The National Interest indicates that China has begun challenging Russia in the lower-value end of the arms spectrum,what is known as the "value arms market."

At the higher end of the spectrum, South Korea has been making significant strides to Russia's detriment thanks to its quick production times and NATO-compatible weapons.

Besides shifting the production focus of its weapons manufacturers, the war in Ukraine has damaged Russian arms exports in more ways, with some of the country's more publicized systems (like the S-400) proving to be more vulnerable on the battlefield than initially touted by Moscow.

Reputational losses are also influencing the downturn of the country's arms exports, Luzin told Business Insider.

Further, the dependency of Russian companies on "import electronics and machine tools on the manufacturing stage" has also had an impact, he added. Access to these components is harder to come by due to international sanctions.

And even when the war ends, things may not go back to business as usual for the Russian arms industry. Covering the lost ground will be "hard enough if not impossible at all," Luzin said.

• As someone who's lived in Dublin for 10 years, I know how to avoid the tourist traps.
• If you're on Grafton Street, I recommend making a right or left to check out lesser-visited spots.
• I also suggest taking a day trip to one of Ireland's beach towns.

My home city of Dublin is a popular tourist hot spot. Roughly 6.6 million people visited the Irish capital last year, but unfortunately, many seem to end up in the same overpriced, overhyped tourist traps.

Having lived in Dublin for 10 years — and in Ireland my whole life — I can attest to the spots worth seeing and, more importantly, the ones worth avoiding.

Here are the four things I recommend all tourists do to experience the city like a local.

Visit the right spots in the Temple Bar neighborhood.

Temple Bar is Dublin's main tourist neighborhood, where pints of beer can get expensive.

That said, it's quaint and full of Instagrammable moments, meaning its appeal is strong. So, if you find yourself in the vicinity, don't fret: there are places worth visiting.

For example, I recommend skipping the expensive tourist bars and checking out some local gems. For example, The Porterhouse is a small Dublin chain that brews its own craft beers.

I suggest checking out Doyle's if you're looking for a spot with great live music. Every Tuesday, the bar runs an acoustic night known as the Ruby Sessions, which has hosted artists like Ed Sheeran, Mumford & Sons, and George Ezra. It's a real hidden gem and very popular with locals.

The Project Arts Centre also runs excellent comedy and arts productions throughout the year.

Skip public transportation and get around on foot instead.

Ample trams and buses run through Dublin day and night for those who need them, but in my opinion, the best ways to see the capital are by foot or rental bike.

For example, there's no better way to see the city's incredible streetscapes (my favorite is Henrietta Street), historical bridges (two dozen of them cross the River Liffey), and parks.

And while you're exploring, don't forget to look up. I find that many tourists keep their eyes locked in front of them. When in Dublin, though, be sure to glance up occasionally to witness the beautiful architecture.

Venture outside the boundaries of Grafton Street.

Grafton Street is a main tourist spot in Dublin, where the city's hustle and bustle is met with roars from flower sellers, street performers, and busy department store shoppers.

Although a walk down this pedestrianized street is on most tourists' lists, I recommend taking a swift left or right when you can, as a myriad of hidden treasures are near.

Less than five minutes away in one direction will bring you to Drury Street, a place full of vintage stores, top-class cafés, and George's Street Arcade, a haven for those with a penchant for old records, good cheese, fine jewelry, and more.

Less than five minutes the other way brings you toward Baggot Street, an area of national museums, quaint parks, and some of the best Guinness in the city.

Take a day trip to one of Ireland's beach towns.

One of the best things about living in Dublin is its proximity to great beaches. The DART is Dublin's light rail system that circuits Dublin Bay, linking the city center area to coastal suburbs in under 40 minutes.

Head north to Howth for fresh seafood and rugged coastal walks or south to Sandycove, where James Joyce set the first chapter of "Ulysses."

For those renting a car, venture toward the Vico Road for breathtaking views of Dublin Bay.

• Simon Banks, 52, met his future wife in a nightclub, and they prioritized adventure over a wedding.
• The couple saved up money for years before quitting their jobs and traveling together.
• They felt there was more of a deadline on having kids than on getting married.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Simon Banks. It has been edited for length and clarity.

I first saw my future wife, Sally, when she was out with her friends in a Sydney nightclub and having fun by dancing on a podium. She was 30 at the time, and I was 27.

She fell off the podium and onto a friend I was there with. Profuse apologies followed. Luckily my friend saw the funny side, and the two women struck up a friendship. A few weeks later, my friend saw Sally in another nightclub and introduced her to me. We began dating shortly after that.

From the start we shared the same priority: adventure first, everything else second. Kids were very much at the latter end of that deal. They didn't even come up in our earlier conversations. We certainly weren't averse to having children, but we had other priorities back then. We wanted to see the world.

We saved up for years and then traveled together

My wife is English, and I'm Australian. As she was living away from home, I already knew she had a taste for travel. We decided to work really hard for six years, save up, then leave our jobs so we could properly travel.

We bought a camper van and traveled around Europe and Morocco for seven months. Then, we headed to Central and Southern America in a camper van for another seven months. Mexico was my favorite place we visited. We spent a couple of months there.

There was no drama at all on our travels — I loved traveling with her. We already knew each other quite well when we set off, so that helped.

After traveling around, we stayed in England for about five months, as my wife hadn't been back there in six years. Then, we returned to the warmer climate of Australia. My wife went back to being a florist; I started working at the Museum of Contemporary Art.

One of the reasons we hadn't gotten married was because all our money went into our travels. It still wasn't high on our radar when we returned to our more normal lives, living and working in Australia.

I guess we were also partially influenced by those around us. None of Sally's brothers or sisters who were in relationships were married, and there wasn't any other peer pressure or encouragement. To be honest, marriage seemed a little old-fashioned for us. That said, it was probably higher on my radar than my wife's. That's why I eventually proposed. It was a very romantic setting, and I went down on one knee on a gondolier in Venice — the full works.

It took a while before we got around to organizing anything, though. A wedding just seemed like too much to arrange, especially with all of Sally's family back in the UK and all mine in Australia.

We had kids before we got married

We went on a big backpacking trip, and at the end of it, my wife was 36, and I was 34, so we started to discuss aging and what came next — and kids came into the discussion. I remember saying we're approaching the age at which we need to get that happening.

I do think my Christian mom would've quite liked us to have gotten married before we started having children. I joke that I couldn't convince her that three children were an immaculate conception. It was never a problem or a drama with her, though — she never pressured us to do things differently.

We were engaged for seven years and had three kids during that time. My wife was 42, and I was 39 when we had our third kid. Six months later, Sally's family visited us from the UK. It felt like the stars aligned. I said, "Why not — and we may never get another chance with everyone together?" And so the wedding planning began.

In the end, it was more like a party for 100 people, with us saying our vows. It did, however, feel very special to include all our children, especially our eldest, who was 4. He was the ring bearer and also played the bongos as the ceremony started. My middle child rode on my shoulders as we walked down the aisle. I feel so proud they were there. The photos are amazing for us all to look back on.

By this stage, most of our friends had young kids, and for many of them, it was the first time in years they'd been able to party without their children. It went off the charts.

I did feel differently after getting married. I felt fully grown up, and I could stop using the term "girlfriend" for the mother of my kids.

The great thing about these days is, you can pick and choose which traditions you keep and lose. My wife had always liked the idea of a hyphenated name until she met me — Simon Banks. Her name was Sally River. Sally River-Banks felt too ridiculous, so she decided to take my name!

• I paid for Columbia University using the trust fund my grandfather set up for me.
• I sometimes wonder if that was a smart decision and wish I spent the money on a down payment.
• When I went to graduate school, I had no money left, so I took out student loans.

Most people choose a college based on aspects like location, athletics, or, most importantly, finances. For me, it was architecture.

Not that I wanted to study it — the closest I ever came was an introductory survey of art history. But when I stood at the sundial in the center of Columbia University's campus, between Butler Library's tall Greco-Roman columns and the wide stone steps leading toward the stately dome of Low Library, I felt a pull.

This was the place, I told my mother, who was on the campus tour with me. I applied for early admission — one lone college application — and never looked back.

I had the privilege of basing my college decision on a couple of buildings because I was a trust fund kid.

I spent my trust fund on Columbia

I had a trust fund, which my grandfather had set up for me shortly after I was born. He was a WWII submarine captain, a professor of engineering, and a Columbia alum.

He'd invested wisely, spent modestly, and set aside an ample sum for each of his grandchildren. I had $120,000 in the bank, which, back in 1998, was enough to cover tuition for four years at any private college. It was an inconceivable amount of money to me.

Columbia demolished my trust fund in four giant gulps at $24,974 annually. I also had to pay a large sum for a study abroad program in my junior year, which almost completely emptied my trust fund.

I wonder if my trust fund could've been used better

Are there advantages to an Ivy League degree? Absolutely. There's no doubt that the prestige of an Ivy League school can open many doors for most students.

Had I had my heart set on Harvard's medical school, Yale's law school, or a Rhodes scholarship, I would've greatly increased my odds of turning that dream into a reality. But like many children of privilege, I had a nebulous, artsy goal — becoming a writer. And to be honest, I could have chased that goal anywhere.

It seems unlikely that my career would've unfolded very differently if, instead, I had attended the University of Oregon's Honors College alongside a similarly selective group of smart, ambitious kids.

The difference would've been tens of thousands of dollars left in my trust fund, which I could've used to make a down payment on a house, purchase a car, pursue a master's degree — perhaps all of the above.

If I had been less swayed by the architecture, perhaps I would have made a more pragmatic decision that would have set me up for a more stable financial future.

I got into student loan debt anyway

A couple of years after graduation, I took out a very modest amount in loans for graduate school. In the years following, I dutifully made the minimum payments every month (with deferments while I was on maternity leave.) It took almost 20 years to pay off my student loan debt.

It would've been nice to avoid gifting all that money to Sallie Mae — or to be sitting in a brownstone of my own somewhere in Brooklyn.

I don't regret any of the classes I took at Columbia. But while almost all of my trust fund went into Columbia's coffers, I managed to do a few other things with the money before it ran out — and it's been these expenses that I never doubted.

I took my girlfriend backpacking in Europe one summer and paid the medical fees for some children I worked with as a volunteer during my study abroad year. One child needed heart surgery. In the end, the things with the most lasting value weren't the most prestigious or expensive. I wish I realized that earlier.

• Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick reprise their fan-favorite roles in "Another Simple Favor."
• Their chemistry as Emily Nelson and Stephanie Smothers is as on point as ever as the action moves to Italy.
• Paul Feig's new film levels up the twists and turns from the original 2018 movie.

Blake Lively might have been getting used to mixed receptions online amid her ongoing legal drama with Justin Baldoni, but there was nothing mixed about the crowd's reaction to her new movie, "Another Simple Favor," during its SXSW premiere on Friday night. They loved it.

A packed house (including this reporter) was among the first to see Paul Feig's new film, a sequel to his surprise 2018 hit, the black comedy mystery "A Simple Favor."

Feig mentioned in his intro and repeated in the post-film Q&A that he's historically been wary about making sequels — so many of them are bad! — and wanted to make sure he had a compelling story to tell when revisiting Lively's fashionably fiendish Emily Nelson and her vlogger frenemy Stephanie Smothers (Anna Kendrick).

The Italian murder mystery he delivered (from a script by cowriters Jessica Sharzer and Laeta Kalogridis) is certainly compelling.

"Another Simple Favor" picks up five years after Stephanie got Emily sent to prison for killing her own sister at the end of the first movie. Emily, newly released from prison courtesy of her sexy, rich fiancé (Michele Morrone), crashes a signing for the book Stephanie wrote about her relationship with Emily and the events of the first movie. Emily manipulates Stephanie into coming to Capri to act as her maid of honor, threatening Stephanie with a lawsuit for using her likeness and name in her book without clearance.

In a moment that made a few of us in the audience gasp, Andrew Rannells' Darren (a friend of Stephanie's) quips that Steph better just go to Capri — despite the very real danger that Emily is looking for revenge — because "lawsuits are a real killer." (It's unlikely this was a purposeful reference to the Lively-Baldoni drama, given the filming timeline for this movie, but damn!)

The returning cast is as magnetic as ever. Kendrick and Lively's delightful chemistry (in spite of persistent, though unsubstantiated rumors of a real-life feud) returns in full force as the two spar their way through the film. Henry Golding also returns as Sean, their shared ex and the father of Emily's son Nicky. Golding is having a grand ol' time playing Sean as an absolute mess whose life has been imploded by his involvement with these women.

The new additions to the crew fit in perfectly with the campy tone of the movie. Allison Janney is Emily's sketchy Aunt Linda, while Elizabeth Perkins plays Emily's mother Margaret. Perkins takes over for Jean Smart, who played Margaret in the first movie, and the casting switch is addressed in the cheeky fashion you'd expect: Emily remarks that Margaret looks different, and Margaret replies that she's "had some work done."

Alex Newell is another standout. They join the cast as Vicky, Stephanie's opportunistic agent who can hardly contain their glee about all the mayhem that Emily's wedding brings (it is, after all, perfect fodder for a second book).

"Another Simple Favor" has no shortage of twists and turns, culminating in a fully outlandish third act that outdoes the original in almost every regard.

No spoilers — you just need to experience it for yourself to see exactly why Lively told audiences at the Q&A that it was deeply uncomfortable for her to watch herself in the movie surrounded by an audience. It's a worthwhile return to these surprisingly engaging characters, and Lively's performance is electric; you can absolutely tell she means it when she calls Emily her favorite character she's ever played.

The ending also leaves things wide open for another sequel — though I can't imagine how a third film could top the outrageous outfits (there's a hat Lively wears in one scene that looks like it needs its own ZIP code) and insane dialogue in this one.

"Another Simple Favor" will premiere on May 1 on Prime Video.

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Welcome back to our Saturday edition! One dietician figured out how to make quick and easy meals in the air fryer without sacrificing health benefits. Find out her eight favorite dishes.

On the agenda:

• This alternative to the Mediterranean diet could transform your gut health. Here are four recipes to try.
• The home and lifestyle goods men are buying to signal wealth and status.
• Gen Z and millennials are sobering up. Meanwhile, boomers are getting boozy.
• A family stayed on an exclusive private island in French Polynesia. Take a look at their $6,000-a-night villa.

But first: The time tug-of-war.

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This week's dispatch

Spring forward, fight back

It's March, so that means the debate around daylight-saving time is heating up — again. Are we springing forward to enjoy that extra dose of sunshine or just utterly confusing our circadian rhythms?

On Sunday, most clocks in the US will automatically move forward an hour, continuing a tradition started during World War I in Germany. Business Insider's health correspondent Hilary Brueck writes that it "was originally concocted as a way to save energy in the evenings," but in modern-day times, research shows it may be costing us.

"The state of Indiana didn't adopt DST until 2006. A study found people spent $7 million more per year in electricity bills after the switch than before," she says. "Another study found workers are less productive when DST starts."

And ask any parent of young kids, they're not pleased either. (Hi, it's me. I'm the parent!) Losing one hour of sleep may not seem like a big deal, but try explaining that to my 2-year-old who doesn't care about time zones.

Then there's our health. Doctors found that on the Monday after DST, hospitals often report a noticeable spike in heart attacks — and researchers don't think it's a coincidence.

Fine! There are some benefits to daylight-saving time. No one likes it when the sun is slow to rise in the mornings, and who doesn't love those late sunny summer nights?

Love it or hate it, DST isn't going anywhere — at least for now. So set your clocks, make an extra cup of coffee, and let the hot takes roll in.

Restoring your gut microbiome

Industrialization might play a larger role in our gut health than we thought. That's what Jens Walter, a researcher and professor of microbiology, found after recently conducting a small study where Canadian participants ate like people in non-industrialized Papua New Guinea.

Dubbed the "non-industrialized microbiome restore" diet or NiME by researchers, participants ate meals that were plant-based, low in ultra-processed foods, low in dairy and wheat products, and high in fiber. After three weeks, participants saw reduced cholesterol and improved insulin resistance.

Four NiME-inspired recipes to try at home.

Men of immaculate taste

What do cashmere sweaters, expensive espresso machines, and Le Labo scents have in common?

They're all highly coveted by men who want to signify wealth and style. See the latest home and fashion trends men are obsessed with this year.

Status symbols for 2025.

Baby boozers

While young people are getting more and more sober-curious, baby boomers are bucking the alcohol-free trend. They're hitting retirement, which means they've got more time and money to spend on a little celebration. Cheers to that with a glass (or two).

Boomers aren't just drinking more frequently. They're also spending more. No more cheap beers or wines — they want the nice stuff to seal in their well-earned downtime. As Gen Z and millennials are aging into financial obligations, boomers are aging out of them.

Getting lit with boomers.

A stay on a private island

The Brando, a resort perched on an exclusive private island in French Polynesia, has a star-studded history. Marlon Brando purchased the atoll after falling in love with Tahiti while filming "Mutiny on the Bounty" in 1962. Celebrities frequented the secluded escape ever since.

Avid traveler Alesandra Dubin wanted to experience the luxury with her family. Their $6,000-a-night one-bedroom villa was complete with an outdoor tub, beach access, an alfresco dining space, and a spacious pool. And there wasn't another guest in sight.

An ultra-exclusive trip.

What we're watching this weekend

• "Heretic": The A24 horror movie about two young Mormon missionaries who find themselves ensnared by a potential convert (Hugh Grant) is streaming on Max.
• "The Traitors": Peacock's hit reality competition series concludes its third season with the finale and reunion this week.
• "Love Is Blind": See who said "I do" (and "I don't") when the season eight wedding episode hits Netflix.

See the full list

What to shop

• Luxury for less: Never underestimate the power of a good basic in your wardrobe. Quince makes some of our favorites, from silk slips to reliable outerwear.
• No more breakouts: For acne-prone skin, hydration is critical — but not all moisturizers are created equally. These are the 11 best moisturizers for the acne-prone to help protect your skin barrier.
• T-shirts we live in: Tees can be worn in layered looks or alone, making them an essential staple for your closet. We compiled years of testing and research to gather the 22 best T-shirts for men.

More of this week's top reads:

• 'Love Is Blind' proves that you can't turn a blind eye to your partner's bad politics.
• A former Miss Universe judge says CEO Anne Jakrajutatip wanted to meddle with the 2023 pageant results.
• I tried 4 popular brands of canned beef stew. There's only one I wouldn't buy again.
• A bride skipped the traditional wedding dress and spent $10,000 on a skirt and a separate corset she could rewear.
• Meghan Markle can make her Martha Stewart era a success — but she shouldn't try to be relatable, PR pros say.
• Meet Sean Baker, the 'Anora' director who made Oscar history with his $6 million movie.
• Cruises are booming. One cruise line has been the biggest winner.
• You can live the Four Seasons 'White Lotus' life for $188,000 — murders not included.
• 7 fast-food trends that will be everywhere in 2025, from chicken tenders to dipping sauces.
• Struggling to build muscle? The reigning Mr. Olympia shares diet and workout hacks that transformed his body.
• 5 things to get rid of before spring, according to professional organizers.
• Melania Trump wore a gray $5,500 Dior blazer to Donald Trump's address to Congress.
• I spent a week in Mexico City — and the best thing I did was book an excursion to eat lunch at a local grandma's house.

The BI Today team: Dan DeFrancesco, deputy editor and anchor, in New York City. Grace Lett, editor, in New York. Lisa Ryan, executive editor, in New York. Amanda Yen, associate editor, in New York. Elizabeth Casolo, fellow, in Chicago.

• Orrin Onken had always relied on his wife to organize his social life — until one day in 2024.
• He started inviting men over for lunch to ease the social isolation that comes with retirement.
• Though some people turned him down, he gained friends and a greater sense of courage.

There's a stereotype that aging men don't develop social support systems as readily as women. I fit the stereotype.

My wife has always been in charge of our social life. Although we both worked, she managed houseguests, arranged parties, and supervised all things social. I did my best not to embarrass her or upend her plans.

I socialized with colleagues while working as an attorney, but not long into retirement, I realized my work friends were just that. Once I stopped working, they ceased to be around. Should my wife predecease me, I imagined I'd die alone in an untidy apartment.

In an unexplained burst of energy in the spring of 2024, four years after I retired, I decided to defy the stereotype. I hatched a plan to invite the old men I knew into my backyard and feed them lunch.

I wanted to make friends but I was fearful about facing rejection. Although not all the people I invited turned up to my lunches, the experience helped me confront my insecurities and made me feel less alone.

Making friends meant risking rejection

The first and most difficult step was sending out the invitations. Every extended invite posed the risk of rejection.

I was sure my male acquaintances lived lives so filled with manly stuff — hunting, fishing, car racing, and sieging the walls of Troy — that they would have neither the time nor the inclination to linger over cheesecake. The mere suggestion would reveal what an empty life I was leading compared to theirs.

Loneliness was a slow ache that may kill me eventually, but it was less intimidating than the sharp, immediate pain of being rejected.

I did not surrender to my male insecurity. With a date and time, I approached some of my favorite guy friends. To my surprise, most of them accepted, and the ones who declined because of other commitments seemed genuinely happy to have been chosen.

A date was set. We would gather — old or soon-to-be-old men — and socialize without fish to catch, golf balls to hit, or a campfire to feed.

My invitees were skittish prey. Within a day, cancellations arrived — each one a slash at my self-esteem, making me paranoid that I'd be the only one at the lunch.

I could empathize with the cancellers. Many times, I've accepted an invitation in the glow of inclusion, only to pull out when faced with having to shower, travel, and interact with people I didn't know.

As a retiree, I no longer needed to stay socially engaged to advance professionally, and it became easy to isolate myself and focus on my hobbies.

Tentatively, a friendship group formed around my table

On the day of our first meeting, I was surprised by the number of no-shows who gave me no notice. They explained later with "I just spaced," or "I put it on my schedule wrong." The attrition rate — cancellations plus no-shows — was about 40%. My wife assured me that the attrition rate for women's events was similar, and it wasn't because of my failures as a human being.

My guests grabbed seats and began the manly task of solving the world's problems. Although we came from different economic classes and held different political views, the conversation was interesting and civilized.

I continued to host lunches every other Wednesday throughout the summer. Twelve invites produced six to eight guests, and a core group developed.

The men who were tentative and suspicious of my invitation at first became jovial, exchanging pleasantries with my wife and wandering out to the back deck as if the place was their own.

Unfortunately, those who became regulars had reasonably strong social connections already and were the guests I felt needed it the least.

I didn't crack any of the hard cases. I'd put extra effort into recruiting some of the particularly isolated men I knew and learned those in need of the social connection I was offering were least likely to accept it.

No one discussed how the lunches affected their personal lives, and we didn't acknowledge that social isolation is a problem men must overcome. But my new lunch partners returned each fortnight.

In the end, I learned more than just how to make friends

When fall rains ended my lunches for the year, I realized these events had changed me. Acquaintances have become friends, and I will continue having outdoor lunches with them this year. The events helped me feel less isolated — I now had people who I could call on if I was in need.

As a retired male, having lost the social support of a job and slowly losing family members to old age and death, it had taken strength I didn't think I had to reach out and invite other men to my home. I think women see the need for a wider support group more clearly and better prepare for the shift when jobs and childcare come to an end.

As a result of my social endeavors, I am more courageous. I have been turned down and ignored, but the rejection became easier to swallow over time. Plus, most of the time, my invites were met with gratitude and acceptance.

Some people couldn't make the leap to taking a chair on my deck, but I believe there was a part of them that wanted to and understood that they should.

Do you have a story to share about loneliness in retirement? Contact the editor, Charissa Cheong, at [email protected]