• A 53-aircraft exercise put US military airpower on display in Japan earlier this week.
• Fighter jets, rescue helicopters, and spy planes taxiied the runway at Kadena Air Base.
• The massive aircraft display "sends a message you can't ignore," a senior enlisted leader said.

Dozens of fighter jets, military helicopters, and Patriot missile defense systems lined the runway at a US Air Force base, which could be the largest "elephant walk" ever in Japan.

The "elephant walk" exercise at Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan, was part of a broader capability demonstration, showcasing US military airpower as China's growing military presence fuels tensions in the Indo-Pacific.

Here are the various military aircraft and assets featured in the exercise, which drills airmen on readying large numbers of aircraft to take off in rapid succession.

What is an elephant walk?

Dating back to World War II, the term "elephant walk" referred to the taxiing of military aircraft en masse before taking off in single-file formations like a herd of elephants walking trunk-to-tail.

Elephant walks not only demonstrate operational airpower and readiness but also train military pilots in wartime operations that involve launching a large number of sorties in a short period of time.

Third-largest elephant walk in Air Force history

Elephant walks typically involve a large number of aircraft, and the Kadena Air Base event on Okinawa was no exception — 53 Air Force and Navy aircraft, as well as two Army Patriot air defense batteries, participated in the runway display.

The elephant walk could be the largest to ever take place in Japan, nearly twice the size of last year's 33-aircraft display at the base, which featured F-22 Raptors and F-16 Fighting Falcons.

The Kadena elephant walk is among the largest ever by the US Air Force, outnumbering an elephant walk in 2020 at Hill Air Force Base in Utah that only featured F-35A Lightning II aircraft.

In April 2023, 80 aircraft were displayed in an elephant walk at Sheppard Air Force Base in Texas.

At Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in North Carolina, a 70-aircraft demonstration consisted of only F-15E Strike Eagles, making it the largest single-type elephant walk.

Rescue helicopters, drones, and fighter jets

Fighter jets made up more than half of the elephant walk, with 24 F-35As, eight F-15Es, and two Navy EA-18 Growlers.

Six HH-60 Pave Hawk rescue helicopters led the herd, along with two MQ-9 Reaper drones, which are used for surveillance and precision strikes.

Cargo planes, tankers, and spy planes

Two MC-130J Commando II special operations cargo planes and six KC-135 Stratotanker refueling aircraft brought up the rear of the formation.

Three spy planes also made an appearance in the elephant walk — one E-3G Sentry radar surveillance aircraft, one RC-135 Rivet Joint signals intelligence aircraft, and one P-8 Poseidon operated by the Navy for maritime patrol and reconnaissance.

The formation was flanked by two US Army MIM-104 Patriot missile interceptors, which have proven to be vital assets in the US' air defense strategy against Chinese missile threats.

Exercise Beverly Herd

The airpower demonstration on Okinawa was an iteration of Exercise Beverly Herd, an annual military exercise that prepares US and allied forces for combat in the Pacific.

Aside from the elephant walk, rescue and maintenance squadrons stationed at Kadena also practiced surveilling damage on an airfield, and Air Force civil engineers worked with Navy specialists to remove simulated unexploded ordnance from the runway.

At Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, about 11 miles from Kadena, F-35 fighter squadrons from Eielson Air Force Base are also training in warfighting concepts and maneuvers focused on Agile Combat Employment, which is designed to increase lethality and survivability in combat.

'A message you can't ignore'

The military exercises come as China escalates its military presence in the Pacific over Taiwan, the self-governing island which Beijing claims as its own.

"An elephant walk like this sends a message you can't ignore," Chief Master Sgt. Brandon Wolfgang, 18th Wing command chief master sergeant, said in a statement. "It shows our Airmen, allies, and adversaries that we're united, capable, and ready."

China's rapid military build-up has been fueling tension with other US allies on the First Island Chain, which includes Japan and the Philippines. The latter nation also has ongoing territorial disputes with China, primarily in the South China Sea.

Deterrence in the Indo-Pacific

The Beverly Herd exercises were among a series of military drills the US and its allies are hosting in the Indo-Pacific theater to counter growing Chinese aggression in the region.

Earlier this month, the US and the Philippines held a joint exercise, Balikatan, at a strategic chokepoint south of Taiwan. China criticized the military drills, accusing the US and the Philippines of using Taiwan as an excuse to "provoke tension and confrontation."

"This kind of teamwork and presence is exactly how we maintain deterrence in the Indo-Pacific," Wolfgang said of the Kadena elephant walk.

• Kendrick Lamar and SZA performed at MetLife Stadium on Thursday for their Grand National Tour.
• Lamar performed "Euphoria" and "Not Like Us," keeping his beef with Drake at the forefront.
• Video interludes show Lamar in a faux deposition, seemingly poking fun at Drake's lawsuit.

When Kendrick Lamar and SZA took the stage at New Jersey's MetLife Stadium on the latest stop on their Grand National Tour, the duo's combined star power was a thing to behold (not to mention a major selling point for the ever-swelling cost of a concert ticket).

But there's another superstar whose name doesn't appear on the poster whose presence is felt throughout the show. And if you've been paying any attention to pop culture over the past year, you already know who I'm referring to.

Drake hangs like a wraith over the Grand National Tour, his business on Earth very much unfinished. Lamar makes sure of that: Instead of letting their rap beef grow stale, he performs two of his explosive Drake diss tracks in full ("Euphoria" and "Not Like Us") in addition to his hit collaboration with Future and Metro Boomin, "Like That," which was responsible for reigniting the feud in the first place. (For her part, SZA sings "Rich Baby Daddy," a collab with Drake from 2023, but erases Drake's contributions from her performance. The shade!)

These musical war cries are punctuated by fireworks, showers of sparks, and plumes of fire that burst from the stage with a vengeance. Lamar's production choices assume that his audience will rally behind him as the music industry's self-described "biggest hater," and on Thursday, that assumption paid off generously: The crowd of over 50,000 people was all too eager to sing along and revel in the bloodshed.

Some of the evening's loudest lines in the crowd were Drake-specific insults, including Lamar's incredulous, "What is it, the braids?" from "Euphoria" and, of course, the notorious "Not Like Us" rallying cry: "Tryna strike a chord, and it's probably A-minor."

The latter was the final solo track that Lamar performed — an emphatic, hard-earned finale. During Lamar's third verse, a mini history lesson that dubs Drake a "colonizer," my friend turned to me and deadpanned, "That man is so done."

While "Not Like Us" can still be enjoyed as a banger in its own right (shoutout to Lamar's producer, Mustard, for that indelible instrumental), by making his diss tracks a cornerstone of his set list, Lamar ensures that his triumph over Drake stays top of mind.

A full year after Drake's final diss track was released and Lamar was crowned victor by fans and critics, Lamar has baked this beef into his mythology as an artist. It wasn't enough just to win — he wants to be known forever as the winner.

Even in the face of legal threats, Lamar hasn't backed down. In fact, the lawsuit Drake filed against their shared record label, which Universal Music Group recently moved to dismiss, has arguably only emboldened Lamar's taunts.

The Grand National Tour is threaded with video interludes, many of which depict Lamar in a mock deposition. He chuckles when the off-camera interviewer accuses him of being "addicted to attention" and asks if his harshest lyrics should be taken as threats. "Whatever you wanna take it," Lamar replies.

In another clip, Lamar is asked to account for where he was on May 4, 2024, the day he unleashed "Not Like Us." Lamar shakes his head, protesting that he has too much going on to remember specific dates, driving his point home even further — that his dominance has no plottable beginning or foreseeable end.

"Not Like Us" was celebrated by fans as a musical kill shot, but even if Lamar's enemies are metaphorically dead, he'll labor to keep their memory alive. There's no rest for the wicked.

• TV shows like "Poker Face" and "NASCAR: Full Speed" are back for new seasons this week.
• The dramedy "Nonnas" and the teen comedy "Summer of '69" are among the movies debuting on streamers.
• Netflix's new series "Forever" puts a fresh spin on Judy Blume's novel of the same name.

Ready to binge? Well, we've got you.

This weekend, you can tune into the season two premiere of Peacock's mystery-of-the-week show "Poker Face," see how Colombian singer Karol G became a global superstar, and get wanderlust from Conan O'Brien's travel series.

"Nonnas," a new Netflix movie about honoring family members through food, has also arrived just in time for Mother's Day.

Here's a complete rundown of all the best movies, shows, and documentaries to stream this weekend, broken down by what kind of entertainment you're looking for.

Netflix's new documentary "The Seat" shows how Kimi Antonelli became the third-youngest rookie ever in Formula 1 history.

The most recent season of Netflix's popular docuseries "Drive to Survive" featured an abbreviated version of how Formula 1 racing team Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS selected Kimi Antonelli to replace Lewis Hamilton following the seven-time F1 world champion's surprising exit.

"The Seat," a 40-minute documentary sponsored by WhatsApp, gives a more detailed look at the behind-the-scenes conversations that went into giving Hamilton's coveted spot to a teenager who had never driven in F1.

Streaming on: Netflix

NASCAR fans can check out season two of "Full Speed."

The five-episode season follows the 16 NASCAR Cup Series drivers during the high-stakes 2024 playoffs.

Streaming on: Netflix

"Karol G: Tomorrow Was Beautiful" chronicles Grammy winner Karol G's rise to global superstardom.

The documentary gives fans an intimate look into the life of the Colombian singer's obstacles and accomplishments, including being the first Latina to headline venues like the MetLife Stadium and the Gillette Stadium during her Mañana Será Bonito Tour.

Streaming on: Netflix

Food and family are at the heart of the dramedy "Nonnas."

Vince Vaughn plays a grieving son who honors his late mom by opening an Italian restaurant with a group of local grandmothers as the chefs, allowing them to share their traditional dishes with others.

The film is loosely based on the true story of Joe Scaravella, who opened the Staten Island restaurant called Enoteca Maria after his mother's death and employed several grandmothers from different parts of Italy to cook regional food.

Streaming on: Netflix

Conan O'Brien embarks on more globe-trotting adventures in season two of "Conan O'Brien Must Go."

In season two of the Emmy-winning travel series, comedian and former late-night host is joined by familiar faces like Taika Waititi and Javier Bardem as he immerses himself in the cultures of New Zealand, Spain, and Austria.

The three-episode season premiered on Thursday. The remaining two episodes will be released weekly, culminating in the season finale on May 22.

Streaming on: Max

Actor and comedian David Spade's fourth comedy special, "David Spade: Dandelion," has arrived.

Three years after his last stand-up special, Spade is back. This time, he jokes about the evolution of porn, being served Pepsi instead of Coke at a casino, and a near-tussle at a McDonald's in Hollywood that inspired the name of his special.

Streaming on: Prime Video

"Poker Face" returned for season two this week.

The series, created by "Knives Out" writer and director Rian Johnson, is back for another season, starring Natasha Lyonne's casino worker and crime-solver Charlie Cale, who has a knack for detecting lies.

Cynthia Erivo, John Mulaney, John Cho, Katie Holmes, and Giancarlo Esposito are among this season's long list of guest stars.

Streaming on: Peacock

"Summer of '69" follows an awkward high school senior trying to seduce her longtime crush before graduation.

Comedic actor Jillian Bell's feature film debut stars "That '90s Show" actor Sam Morelos as Abby, a high schooler who sets out to reel in her newly single crush named Max (Matt Cornett). Lacking sexual experience, she turns to an exotic dancer named Santa Monica (Chloe Fineman) to be her mentor.

Streaming on: Hulu

"Forever," Judy Blume's best-selling 1975 novel about young love, is reimagined in a new series.

The coming-of-age show is set in Los Angeles in 2018 and follows two Black teens, Keisha (Lovie Simone) and Justin (Michael Cooper Jr.), who fall in love and navigate relationship milestones together.

Streaming on: Netflix

Oscar winner Ke Huy Quan becomes a leading man in "Love Hurts."

Ke Huy Quan, known for supporting roles in "Everything Everywhere All at Once" and season two of Marvel's "Loki," takes center stage in this 2025 action comedy.

The actor stars as Marvin Gable, a top-selling real estate agent whose dark past as a hitman comes back to haunt him when his brother sends assassins to hunt him down.

Streaming on: Peacock

"A Deadly American Marriage" investigates a love story gone wrong.

"A Deadly American Marriage" focuses on the gruesome death of Jason Corbett, who was killed by his wife, Molly Martens Corbett, and her father, Thomas Martens, a former FBI agent, in 2015.

Molly and Thomas, who said they acted in self-defense, were convicted of second-degree murder in 2017 and sentenced to 20 to 25 years in prison. The verdict was overturned after an appeal, and the pair were granted a retrial. In 2023, they accepted a plea deal on charges of voluntary manslaughter. Molly and Thomas were released from prison in 2024 after serving four years total.

The true-crime documentary explores the different perspectives on the murder and features interviews with people affected, including Molly, Thomas, and Jason's kids from his first marriage, Jack and Sarah.

Streaming on: Netflix

For a reality TV fix, watch the "Vanderpump Villa" season two reunion special.

Lisa Vanderpump's staff on season two of "Vanderpump Villa" reunite to hash out their drama in the reunion special hosted by VIP guest Stassi Schroeder.

Streaming on: Hulu

• A judge this week denied Burger King's request to dismiss a false advertising lawsuit.
• The lawsuit claims Burger King's Whopper ads mislead consumers about its size and ingredients.
• The case is the latest false-advertising lawsuit against fast-food chains.

Burger King's Whopper lawsuit just won't go away.

A federal judge in Florida this week denied Burger King's request to dismiss a lawsuit against the company for false advertising related to its famous burger. It is the latest case of false advertising targeting fast-food chains.

The lawsuit represents 19 people from 13 different states who say they purchased Burger King's signature Whopper based on "false and misleading advertising concerning the size and/or the amount of ingredients."

In a statement to Business Insider, Burger King denied the claims.

"The plaintiffs' claims are false," a spokesperson for the company told BI. "The flame-grilled beef patties portrayed in our advertising are the same patties used in the millions of burgers we serve to guests across the US."

Burger King filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit in May 2022, two months after it was first filed. It argued that since every burger is hand-made at the restaurant, the "look" of each sandwich "necessarily will differ."

US Southern Florida District Judge Roy Altman, however, said in his ruling on Monday that he would allow the plaintiff's claims of negligent misrepresentation to move forward.

In some states, the law requires that a customer have a "special relationship" with a company to sue it for misrepresentation in ads. The law defines a special relationship as requiring a "position of confidence or trust," like with a lawyer or engineer. A food service business would not typically fall into this category. But Florida law does not have this requirement, Altman wrote.

Altman said Burger King's lawyers were "resisting the common-sense reading of Florida law" by suggesting that Burger King could not be liable based on the absence of a special relationship.

The Russo Firm, a class action law firm representing the plaintiffs, wrote in a blog post that Altman's ruling was "significant."

"The court's decision underscores the importance of truthful advertising and may set a precedent for how fast-food chains represent their products," the post says. "The outcome of this case could have broader implications for marketing standards within the industry."

The Whopper lawsuit is the latest example of false-advertising claims targeting fast-food chains. In 2023, for example, a federal judge in Brooklyn dismissed a similar false advertising lawsuit against Wendy's and McDonald's that accused the restaurants of marketing their burgers as larger than reality.

US District Judge Hector Gonzalez said in his ruling for that case that the plaintiff did not prove that a reasonable consumer would have been misled by the ads.

Also in 2023, a man filed a class action lawsuit against Buffalo Wild Wings, accusing the company of misrepresenting its boneless chicken wings, which are actually made with chicken breast meat.

Bill Marler, an attorney specializing in food safety cases, previously told BI that these kinds of class action lawsuits are often legally unproductive and walk the "thin line between consumer advocacy and just being annoying."

"It raises the issue about what's the real purpose here? Is it that they're being a consumer advocate and then extracting fees and costs out of the company to discourage them from doing it again? Or is it just a tool to extract fees and costs out of a company?" Marler said.

• Tesla told workers on some Model Y and Cybertruck lines to take the week of Memorial Day off.
• The company has also squashed overtime hours.
• Tesla deliveries dropped 13% year over year during the first quarter.

Tesla told Austin workers on its Model Y and Cybertruck lines to stay home for the week of Memorial Day, three workers told Business Insider.

The break is unusually long, the workers said. Production lines were up and running during the same period last year, they said.

The electric vehicle maker notified employees earlier this week. The workers, who are paid hourly, were told they could either take paid time off or come in for cleaning and training but would not be working on the production line.

The workers said their schedules had been increasingly inconsistent since February. Some said they had been sent home early on multiple occasions.

In February, the Austin factory began cracking down on overtime hours, the workers said. Two said they were told by management that if they clocked overtime hours, they could eventually face disciplinary action.

A Tesla spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment.

In April, BI reported that Tesla had reduced production targets for the Cybertruck and moved some of its workers off the line. The carmaker also shut down Cybertruck production for three days in December.

Earlier this month, Trigo, a company that contracts workers for the Tesla factory, laid off 50 employees who worked at the Austin facility, according to a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification notice issued by the Texas Workforce Commission.

A spokesperson for Trigo did not respond to a request for comment.

In April, Elon Musk's carmaker reported a 13% drop in deliveries year over year. During the first quarter, Tesla reported it produced nearly 26,000 more EVs than it delivered, even after a drop in production of nearly 100,000 vehicles compared with the previous quarter.

Tesla's stock is down about 26% year to date. Musk said during an event with President Donald Trump in March that Tesla would double its vehicle production rates in the US over the next two years.

The company released a refreshed version of the Model Y, its most popular vehicle, in January, but there have been signs it's not selling as well as previous refreshes. It began offering discounts on the car in April, and it released a cheaper version of the EV on Tuesday.

As of March 20, the company had delivered fewer than 50,000 Cybertrucks, a voluntary recall notice said.

Do you work for Tesla or have a tip? Contact this reporter via email at [email protected] or Signal at 248-894-6012. Use a personal email address and a nonwork device; here's our guide to sharing information securely.

• Trump's 10% baseline tariff on nearly all countries is not going anywhere, the White House says.
• The tariffs, announced in April, have disrupted markets and supply chains globally.
• Trump has made a number of changes to his tariff policies since first announcing them last month.

President Donald Trump's trade policies have gone through many iterations over the past month, but his baseline 10% tariff on nearly all countries is here to stay, the White House said.

"The president is committed to the 10% baseline tariff — not just for the United Kingdom, but for his trade negotiations with all other countries as well," White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters at a Friday briefing.

When asked if that will be permanent, Leavitt answered, "The president is determined to continue with that 10% baseline tariff. I just spoke to him earlier."

Since they were first announced on April 2, Trump's sweeping tariffs — including a 10% baseline tariff and significantly higher tariffs on certain countries — have roiled the markets, wreaked havoc on the supply chain, and worried global leaders. Trump's subsequent moves to increase the tariff on China to 145%, pause many country-specific tariffs for 90 days, and exempt certain electronic products from tariffs have left companies concerned about an uncertain economic future with a distinct feeling of whiplash.

Earlier this week, Trump flatly said "no" when asked if he would consider lowering his tariffs on China to help ease trade talks this weekend between the dueling superpowers.

But on Friday, Trump appeared to contradict himself, suggesting in a Truth Social post that the Chinese tariff could be lowered to 80%. He has also recently said that the 145% tariff on China is "very high" and could "come down substantially."

Trump made his first trade deal announcement with the UK on Thursday. The outline of the deal includes lowering tariffs on UK exports of cars and metals but keeping a 10% tariff on most goods.

The Trump administration has said it is involved in dozens of trade negotiations to hammer out tailor-made deals for each country that comes to the table, but Leavitt's comments on Friday indicate that the 10% tariff will remain in place across the board.

• I married my high school boyfriend in my early 20s and got pregnant pretty quickly.
• My marriage imploded, and I was left with two kids under the age of 5.
• In my late 30s, I met my second husband and decided to have one more kid.

When I married my high school boyfriend in my early 20s, I couldn't wait to start a family. Before I knew it, I was pregnant and doing everything I could to prepare. From avoiding soft cheese to obsessing over parenting books, I wanted to make sure everything was just right.

As soon as I had my son, it was love at first sight, but I knew my life had changed dramatically in an instant. None of those parenting books prepared me for a tiny human who wouldn't follow the "baby rules."

I spent my nights desperately trying to get him to sleep in his crib while I sobbed silently, wondering what I was doing wrong. Sleep deprivation, the demands of breastfeeding, and guilt consumed me while other people my age were drinking wine and exploring the world.

I was left to parent 2 kids under the age of 5

There were highs and lows in those early stages, but by the time my daughter was born, we were in a structured routine that I was determined to stick to.

Shortly after, my marriage fell apart, and I was left to parent two kids under the age of 5 alone. While devastating, I was finally gaining confidence as a mother. Still in my 20s, I had the energy to explore a different park every weekend, host playdates, and spend hours making the perfect dress-up day costumes. I also made time for self-care, working out, getting my hair done, and painting my nails.

In our parenting group, I was the young, bubbly mom. I looked up to the parents in their 40s but felt like we had little in common except our kids. These women weren't worried about what people thought and did grown-up things like buying new cars and eating brunch on a Sunday. Meanwhile, I was driving around my secondhand vehicle and still wondering what I wanted to be when I grew up.

While I was content with my pigeon pair, I didn't rule out any future children. Even though I was single, I thought I'd be open to the idea if the right person came along. I wasn't clucky, but I also didn't feel "done" yet.

I had my last baby in my late 30s

In my late 30s, I met Jeremy, who is 10 years older than me. He had never been married and never had kids. Eventually, we tied the knot and discussed our future and whether any more children were on the cards.

Most parents know there's a sweet spot, and it is somewhere between the ages of 7 and 12. Your kids are more independent. They make breakfast, get dressed, and help with the chores. The hormones haven't kicked in, and they wouldn't dream of screaming, "I hate you."

So, I decided I'd have one more during that sweet spot. But I felt the difference immediately. Compared to my first two, I felt I'd aged 50 years because everything hurt, and my bladder did what it wanted.

I'm more confident as an older mom

However, there are benefits to being an older mom. This time, I feel more confident and don't punish myself for not being perfect. When people told me to give my newborn a bottle, I persevered with breastfeeding. And, when she had a bad night, I'd let her lie next to me instead of screaming herself to sleep. Routines are still important, but they can be broken, and I have learned to do whatever works for my family.

Now, I'm the oldest mom in the group — and I feel like it. But age is just a number, and friendships are built on mutual interests, not the year you were born or how gray your hair is.

I'm raising kids who are 6, 14, and 16. Let's just say their emotions and tantrums are all pretty similar. Despite the ups and downs, our littlest one has made our family whole. The age gap means she is spoilt by her siblings, and I have live-in babysitters.

As an older mom, I know that doing my best for my kids is good enough, and I just wish I could tell my younger self that.

• Sean Combs plans to make his own alleged victimhood a centerpiece of his sex-trafficking defense.
• Prosecutors say Combs' ex-girlfriend, the R&B singer Cassie Ventura, will testify next week.
• "We are absolutely 100%" going to accuse Ventura of hitting Combs, his lawyer said Friday.

Sean "Diddy" Combs wants 12 New Yorkers to see him as a victim.

Central to the millionaire rap mogul's defense at his criminal sex-trafficking trial next week will be the claim that the R&B singer Cassie Ventura — the star witness in the case against him — abused him, too.

"We are abolutely 100% going to take that position," Combs' defense attorney Marc Agnifilo told the trial judge in a final pretrial hearing on Friday.

"There was hitting on both sides," he told US District Court Justice Arun Subramanian. Combs sat at the defense table, nodding his head in approval as Agnifilo alleged there was "mutual violence in their relationship."

"We're probably going to refer to it as domestic violence," the lawyer told the judge."

Subramanian on Friday barred the defense from alleging to jurors that Ventura, Combs' ex-girlfriend of more than a decade, was violent to someone other than Combs. Agnifilo had argued that jurors needed to see that Ventura was a "strong" person who wouldn't have been coerced into sex by Combs.

"Strong people can be coerced, just like weak people," the judge said.

Ventura's attorney, Douglas Wigdor, declined to comment to Business Insider at court on Friday.

Redefining Combs, 55, as a battered man may be tough work for his defense team.

Prosecutors plan to show jurors the infamous security-camera footage where Combs is seen beating and dragging Ventura in a Los Angeles hotel hallway.

Prosecutor Emily Anne Johnson told the judge on Friday that jurors may see five versions of the footage. These will include versions recorded on a security guard's cellphone and others first obtained by CNN.

From Met Gala to MDC

The Combs that jurors will see at the defense table during opening statements in Manhattan federal court Monday will look nothing like the star who graced the red carpet at the 2023 Met Gala, wearing a black Swarovski crystal-studded motorcycle tuxedo with the rapper Yung Miami at his side.

These days, Combs — whose net worth was estimated to be $1 billion in 2022 — is gray-haired and somberly dressed, appearing to wear the same dark slacks and sweater each day of jury selection.

If convicted on charges of sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy, Combs could spend the rest of his life behind bars.

The high-profile trial is expected to last about two months.

Combs was arrested and indicted last September. Since then, he's been locked up at a federal Brooklyn jail.

Prosecutors allege that for two decades, Combs led a "criminal enterprise" that involved the sex trafficking of two women, Ventura and an anonymous Jane Doe. Combs is accused of coercing those women, plus two additional women, into sex through a pattern of threats, manipulation, and violence.

Ventura is set to testify during the trial about the abuse she says she endured at the hands of Combs. At least two of the other women are also expected to testify, one under her real name and the other using a pseudonym. A fifth woman who's not named in the indictment is also set to testify about alleged past abuse using her real name.

Prosecutors say that Combs and his associates also committed other crimes, including forced labor, kidnapping, arson, bribery, drug offenses, and obstruction of justice.

Violence and 'freak offs'

Much like Combs' lavish, star-studded "white parties" of the late 1990s and early 2000s, his trial is expected to feature a number of celebrities — at least in name.

The jury selection process revealed a list of famous individuals who may be mentioned during the trial. They include: Ye, the rapper formerly known as Kanye West; the rapper Kid Cudi; the actor Michael B. Jordan; the choreographer Laurieann Gibson; and Yung Miami.

Combs' criminal case stems from a November 2023 civil lawsuit that Ventura filed against Combs, accusing him of rape and forcing to her to engage in sex sessions that the music magnate called "freak offs." Combs settled the suit shortly after it was filed.

At the center of the criminal indictment against Combs are accusations that he orchestrated the so-called "freak offs," described by prosecutors in court papers as elaborate, drug-fueled, and sometimes dayslong sex performances that Combs arranged, directed, and often electronically recorded.

During the trial, jurors will be asked to watch hours of graphic sex videos, including "freak off" footage, that Combs recorded over the years. Prosecutors say some footage was taken without his accusers' consent. The videos are so explicit and sensitive that the public in the courtroom won't be permitted to view them.

Combs has adamantly denied the charges against him, as well as all other allegations of sex abuse. He has been accused of sexual assault, rape, drugging, and other forms of violence in more than 50 civil lawsuits.

His defense attorneys have argued in his criminal case that the sex acts Combs was involved in were fully consensual. The video of Combs beating Ventura, they say, came following a personal dispute about their relationship.

A high-powered legal team

For the sex-trafficking case, Combs parted with his longtime attorney Ben Brafman, who successfully won an acquittal for the hip-hop artist on gun and bribery charges in 2001.

He's now represented by a protégé of Brafman, Marc Agnifilo, who previously defended the NXIVM cult founder Keith Raniere and "Pharma Bro" Martin Shkreli.

Agnifilo and his wife, Karen Agnifilo Friedman, are also representing Luigi Mangione, who prosecutors say killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson on a Manhattan sidewalk last year.

Combs's legal team is stacked with other prominent attorneys, including Alexandra Shapiro, who is handling Sam Bankman-Fried's appeal; Brian Steel, who defended Young Thug in his complicated Georgia RICO trial and has a Drake song named after him; and Teny Geragos, a law partner of Agnifolo's and the daughter of Mark Geragos, a high-profile defense attorney who is advising on the case.

In a recent hearing, Combs confirmed to the judge that he was offered the chance to plead guilty to charges that would have resulted in a lighter sentence but chose to go to trial.

The prosecution, representing the US Attorney's office for the Southern District of New York, is composed entirely of women. Among the prosecutors is Maurene Comey, the daughter of former FBI chief James Comey, who successfully prosecuted the sex-trafficking trial of Jeffrey Epstein's associate Ghislaine Maxwell.

The trial is the first major criminal case to be overseen by Subramanian, who was appointed to the federal bench by President Joe Biden in 2023. Subramanian is also overseeing a complex antitrust lawsuit against Ticketmaster and Live Nation, as well as a civil lawsuit filed by Jeffrey Epstein victims against US Rep. Stacey Paskett, who they allege helped facilitate the now-dead pedophile's sex trafficking on the US Virgin Islands.

While prosecutors have depicted Combs as a criminal mastermind who exerted his vast resources to manipulate women and men for his sexual gratification, his attorneys have put forward a more mild picture.

They say Combs had a "swinger" lifestyle that involved multiple sexual partners, and that prosecutors have distorted a personal and complicated relationship into a false criminal allegation.

Combs and Ventura "were in love," Agnifilo said during one bail hearing last year.

"That will be made abundantly clear by the way they speak to each other, by the way other witnesses described their time together, and by the circumstances of how they broke up," Agnifolo said.

"They were in love, but Mr. Combs wasn't always faithful," he continued.

• A DOJ lawyer said he doesn't know anything about written agreements between Trump and Big Law firms.
• Nine firms reached deals with Trump, which he announced on Truth Social.
• The posts are light on details and don't explain how the deals would be enforced.

A Justice Department lawyer said in federal court Thursday that he didn't know if President Donald Trump had written agreements with Big Law firms beyond what he has shared online.

"I know of nothing beyond the generally publicly available information," Richard Lawson said when US District Judge Loren AliKhan asked him about any written agreements.

Despite representing the Trump administration in court, Lawson said he didn't know about anything written down beyond "press releases" about the deals.

"I know of no other documents than that," he said. "That's not saying there isn't any, but I know of no other."

Nine Big Law firms have made deals with Trump, collectively pledging nearly $1 billion in pro bono hours toward his political priorities. As part of the deal, the firms avoided executive orders targeting them.

Thursday's hearing was over a lawsuit brought by Susman Godfrey, one of four law firms targeted by Trump.

In April, Trump issued an executive order that would have stripped Susman Godfrey attorneys of security clearances, cut the firm off from government contracts, and potentially barred lawyers from courthouses, post offices, and other government buildings.

AliKhan quickly issued a temporary restraining order blocking the implementation of Trump's order, and is weighing whether she would permanently block it.

For the nine firms that did come to an agreement with Trump, the terms appear to be vague.

Trump's Truth Social posts announcing each deal are only about 400 words long. They do not specify time horizons for pro bono donations, making it unclear how much work the firms could contribute during the remainder of Trump's term. And they do not include any details about reporting requirements for the promises firms made over diverse hiring practices.

Bloomberg Law reported earlier in May on copies of written agreements between the White House and four law firms: Kirkland & Ellis, Latham & Watkins, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, and A&O Shearman. Those written agreements do not include any specific details on how they would comply with the deals, Bloomberg Law said.

The four firms also struck deals with the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, whose chairman sent letters to 20 law firms inquiring about their diversity practices. Outside counsel for the four firms said they would submit "a confidential written certification" every four months through the end of Trump's term, according to Bloomberg Law.

When asked about the written agreements, an EEOC spokesperson told Business Insider, "We don't have anything for you on this."

Neither the White House nor the nine law firms that made deals with Trump have provided information about potential underlying agreements.

Representatives for the White House did not respond to requests for comment about the deals.

None of the nine firms that struck deals responded to requests for comment about written agreements with Trump.

• Ryan Peterman, Meta engineer and writer of The Developing Dev newsletter, said visibility is key for promotions.
• If your work is impressive, it's in your best interest to let people know, he said in a talk at UCLA.
• Among the interns he's mentored, those who stood out were willing to be bold.

Doing good work isn't enough to get you promoted, says Ryan Peterman, an engineer at Meta. You also have to make sure everyone knows about it.

"If you go and build this amazing feature that nobody knows about, it doesn't matter how good it is, you're not going to get any recognition for it," Peterman said during a talk at UCLA. "And so, how do you advocate for yourself after you've done great work, which is the hard part?"

Peterman worked at Instagram for six years, climbing to staff software engineer before changing focus to AI training infrastructure at Meta. He's also the author of The Developing Dev newsletter, which offers career advice to engineers without their own mentors.

Making your accomplishments as public as possible is the key "last few percent" of climbing the career ladder, Peterman said. That can be as simple as writing a social media post or mentioning your success in a meeting, he added.

"I think a lot of people miss this, especially if they're more introverted or they're more quiet, just taking that last step on after the good work," Peterman said.

Overperforming in your current position isn't enough, Peterman said. He gives the example of a junior engineer who's "doing 10 times as many features" as the rest of their peers. Though they're likely to receive a positive performance review, they haven't proved that they're ready to take on senior responsibilities — only that they're extremely competent at tackling their current workload.

"When your manager is looking to fill out like the rubric for the next level, for instance, none of the things will be checked off," Peterman said. "There's nothing about initiative or doing anything that's expected of the mid-level."

Ideally, he added, you'll have a solid grasp of the "behaviors" exhibited by engineers at the level you're looking to reach — and will look to take on projects that allow you to showcase them. If you're lost as to what your organization might be looking for in more senior engineers, Peterman suggests talking to your supervisor.

"I was really, really eager to get promoted, and so I was constantly talking to my manager," he said. "As soon as I got promoted to one level, I was like, 'Okay, what's the next level? What can I do?' Maybe that was annoying for my manager, but he was really helpful in teaching me what were the things that I needed to pick up."

Above all else, he added, it's in your best interest to be as visible as possible. In the course of his time at Meta, Peterman has taken on five interns — those who stood out were just more willing to be bold.

"When I think about the ones that were rock stars, they had the audacity to propose improvements," he said. "Even though obviously I'm the more senior person, they had the audacity to ask questions, propose improvements. Sometimes they weren't right, but I could see the logic — but many times they were."

• Texas lawmakers have passed bills to reduce the influence of small shareholders.
• Backers say the bills would attract companies, while critics call it a power grab by corporate insiders.
• Lawmakers say ExxonMobil's board shake-up and Elon Musk's pay lawsuit inspired the legislation.

As Delaware rebukes Elon Musk over his pay package, Texas is now offering corporate America a path to sidestep legal challenges from most of its shareholders.

Over the past two months, lawmakers have pushed through a pair of bills they say would bring more businesses to the Lone Star State. Senate Bill 29 would make it harder for shareholders to sue companies, while Senate Bill 1057 would raise the bar for bringing resolutions at annual meetings.

SB 29 would apply to many big companies incorporated in Texas, like Tesla and Southwest Airlines. SB 1057 could apply to businesses that are merely headquartered in Texas, like AT&T and Waste Management, even if they're legally registered elsewhere.

They have moved quickly with virtually no organized opposition, with both measures now awaiting Gov. Greg Abbott's signature.

His office told Business Insider he wanted to strengthen businesses and would "review any proposal" lawmakers send to his desk. He has previously signaled that he would sign SB 29.

Chris Babcock, a Dallas lawyer who helped draft SB 29, told BI that a wide variety of businesses and experts shaped the bill, which he said he viewed as balanced. State Sen. Bryan Hughes, a Republican and a major backer of SB 1057, said it was meant to stop politicized attacks on Texas businesses.

Critics, meanwhile, said the bills could gut minority shareholder rights and make Texas a haven for corporate officers, such as Musk, who have unusually large ownership stakes and influence over their businesses.

"There's a famous quote from John Dingell, the former Michigan congressman, who said, 'If you write the substance and you let me write the procedure, I'll screw you every time.' That's exactly what's happening here," said Joel Fleming, a lawyer who represents investors in governance disputes.

In other words, Texas wouldn't be changing the standards corporate boards are held to, Fleming believes — but would make it very hard for regular shareholders to hold them accountable if they break the rules.

Texas lends a hand to corporate managers

If publicly traded companies opt in, SB 29 would give boards of directors significantly more legal protection and make it more difficult for investors to sue directors, effectively preventing high-profile shareholder lawsuits like the one that saw a Delaware judge strike down Musk's pay package.

Babcock called the Tesla case, which is on appeal, an "accelerator." Other decisions by the state's chancery court involving the companies Moelis and Activision "challenged long-standing corporate practices," he said, and also drove discussions.

"How can you have confidence in Delaware judges?" said Eric Lentell, the top lawyer at Archer Aviation who testified in favor of SB 29 and whose company is being sued in Delaware. "A shareholder vote was essentially ignored" when Tesla investors tried to ratify Musk's compensation, he said.

Musk and Tesla did not respond to requests for comment.

SB 1057, meanwhile, would raise the bar for shareholder resolutions. It would require shareholders to own a 3% stake or $1 million in stock and to gather support from holders of two-thirds of the company's shares before submitting a proposal.

James McRitchie, a small investor from California who opposes the bill, said Texas was "leading the race to the bottom." He said soliciting support from other investors could cost millions with a company like Tesla and deter all but the wealthiest investors.

Hughes cited the small hedge fund Engine No. 1's successful campaign to reshape Exxon's board of directors in 2021 as an influence, though SB 1057 doesn't apply to director nominations.

A spokesperson for Engine No. 1 declined to comment.

AT&T and Nasdaq registered support for SB 29. The Texas Stock Exchange, a startup trying to woo listings away from New York, backed both bills.

Another bill, Senate Bill 2337, which isn't as far along, targets certain recommendations from proxy advisors. Hughes said companies like ISS and Glass Lewis had recommended that institutional investors vote their shares for environmental- and diversity-motivated reasons that may not actually increase the value of their shares.

ISS and Glass Lewis didn't respond to requests for comment.

'Dexit'

Hughes said SB 29 would build on last year's creation of a specialized Texas business court. He referred to the bill as "Dexit" at a hearing, a nod to companies like Tesla and Tripadvisor moving out of Delaware.

Delaware's defenders say its laws are applied predictably and its courts are run by expert judges who are neither pro-management nor pro-shareholder.

"We think we're putting the last pieces together to make Texas an attractive place for doing business," Hughes said.

Brian Quinn, a law professor at Boston College, said the bills would give corporate managers too much power for investors to be comfortable. He said they would turn Texas into a "rogues' gallery" like Nevada, which has been criticized over its lax, pro-management corporate laws.

"Texas isn't competing with Delaware," Quinn said. "Texas is competing with Nevada."

Babcock said Texas would still have stricter shareholder oversight than Nevada, adding that Texas directors must remain loyal to companies and could be more easily removed by shareholders.

Glenn Hamer, who leads the Texas Association of Business, said at a hearing in March that "Delaware has blown it."

"We have the best economy in the galaxy," he said. "If you have an internal issue, are you going to be better treated in Delaware, or are you going to be better treated in a state that has become the economic engine of the United States of America?"

Have a tip? Contact this reporter via Signal at 314-971-1627 or email at [email protected]. Use a personal email address and a nonwork device; here's our guide to sharing information securely.

Correction: May 9, 2025 — An earlier version of this story misstated which school Brian Quinn is a professor at. It's Boston College, not Boston University.

• L3Harris showed off its new light attack airplane that it says can land almost anywhere.
• The Sky Warden, or Skyraider II, was on display at SOF Week in Tampa, Florida.
• BI got up close with the Sky Warden and took photos of this new aircraft.

US Air Force Special Operations Command got its first mission-ready Skyraider II attack plane last month, and this week, Business Insider got an up-close look at the new light attack plane at SOF Week 2025 in Tampa, Florida.

Air Tractor and L3Harris' AT-802U Sky Warden, designated the OA-1K Skyraider II by AFSOC in reference to the A-1 Skyraiders of the Korean and Vietnam wars, is an armed intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, close-air support, and strike aircraft that L3Harris says can land almost anywhere.

The new light attack aircraft is a militarized variant of the Air Tractor AT-802 long used for civilian work like agriculture.

Here's what it looks like:

The Air Force describes the Skyraider II as a flexible aircraft that can be adjusted for different missions and fights, noting that it has a much more manageable maintenance demand and a lower cost per flight hour than other AFSOC aircraft.

Like its legendary predecessor, the new Skyraider was built for armed overwatch and attack in permissive environments, though the battlespace is not what it once was, and there are questions about its role in a high-intensity fight in the Indo-Pacific.

Jon Rambeau, the president of integrated mission systems at L3Harris, said the Sky Warden is a "versatile" platform and "costs a fraction of what you might pay for a fighter jet." Just how much the planes cost is a detail that isn't publicly available.

Rambeau and Clint Logwood, L3Harris' director of flight tests and flight operations, said one of Skyraider II's most important attributes is its ability to operate in different environments. It can also land just about anywhere with a limited logistics footprint.

"This thing could land anywhere," Logwood said, from rugged and remote airfields to highways.

The Air Force has prioritized flexibility, specifically the ability to operate in austere environments and off of unconventional runways like roadways. Fixed airfields and bases are easy targets, especially in the Indo-Pacific where US forces have to contend with China's growing missile force, but an adversary can't target every piece of concrete in the region.

Logwood, who has put many hours of testing the aircraft's capabilities, G-force, speed, temperature, and altitude, said: "We have landed this aircraft on some fields that would jar your teeth, and this aircraft just says, 'That's all you got?'"

The Sky Warden has "plug and play technology," he said. It has a modular design, which means new systems can be quickly integrated into the aircraft. There are ten hardpoints capable of carrying a range of weapons and other technologies.

While there are two seats in the Sky Warden, it's a single-pilot aircraft in which all of its systems are designed to be accessible by one person and easy to learn.

And its cost-per-hour of flight, Rambeau said, is less than $1,000 per hour, one of the cheaper cost estimates of the Air Force's fleet. He added that L3Harris was in conversation with potential international customers across the world as well.

Below the wings of the Sky Warden, Logwood noted, were its dummy AGM 114 Hellfire missiles, as well as ISR sensors and arrays. If another mission pod is needed, it can be bolted and connected to the plane.

The Sky Warden can be dissembled in under six hours and fit inside a C-17 cargo aircraft.

The program was originally contracted for 75 aircraft in a $3 billion deal; in 2023 and 2024, the Government Accountability Office issued reports urging the Pentagon to reconsider the number of aircraft needed, citing concerns the program wouldn't be as valuable as the US shifts from decades of counterterrorism operations featuring air superiority to near-peer adversary fights.

Rambeau cited the aircraft's potential international sales as examples "to dispel the thought that this is only applicable for counterinsurgency," saying that those customers were looking at the aircraft for a variety of purposes.

While Sky Warden is capable of taking off and landing almost anywhere, Rambeau and Logwood said it would need to be modified for carrier-based operations. The aircraft requires a distance of about 1,200 feet. For fighters and bombers, the required runway length tends to be thousands of feet.

The original Skyraider earned its legendary reputation by protecting downed airmen in Vietnam. Unlike jets that couldn't stay in the area, the Skyraiders could loiter for long periods of time and bring massive firepower for continuous suppressing fire until helicopters could come in for rescue operations.

Skyraider pilot Maj. Bernard Fisher famously landed his plane through withering enemy fire at a battle-scarred airstrip littered with debris and destroyed aircraft, rescued a downed airman, and flew back out after taking multiple hits to his aircraft during a 1966 fight at Ashau. Fisher received the Medal of Honor for his actions.

The Air Force is hoping the new Skyraiders will provide the same kind of exceptional support for troops in future fights.

• Companies continue to lay off managers.
• Match Group, Amazon, Google, and Meta are thinning out middle managers, flattening org charts.
• Mark Zuckerberg was an early advocate of the "Great Flattening," describing it as an overhiring fix.

"How many managers to have — what are the pros and cons of managers?" The question was posed to Mark Zuckerberg nearly two years ago during an interview with the podcaster Lex Fridman.

At the time, the Meta CEO — still sporting his shorter "Caesar" haircut — had kicked off the "Great Flattening" trend, culling middle managers amid his "year of efficiency" as a correction to overhiring during the pandemic.

But as companies beyond Big Tech, the latest being the Tinder owner Match Group, pare back managerial roles, Zuckerberg's answer to the podcaster's question in June 2023 remains relevant — and helps explain why CEOs continue to thin out management ranks.

The Facebook founder began by acknowledging that managers are an important component of a company like Meta.

"I believe a lot in management," he said. "I think there are some people who think that it doesn't matter as much, but look, we have a lot of younger people at the company. For them, this is their first job, and people need to grow and learn in their career."

Zuckerberg said there was "a mathematical way" he thought about the ratio of employees to managers and making cuts.

Before Meta's layoffs, Zuckerberg said he had asked about the average number of direct reports each manager had at the company and learned it was about three to four. He said he felt it should be more like seven to eight. The lower numbers made sense at the time, Zuckerberg said, as Meta was hiring a ton and helping newcomers ramp up.

"So in a world where we're not adding so many people as quickly, is it as valuable to have a lot of managers who have extra capacity waiting for new people? No, right?" Zuckerberg said.

He said he decided to "defragment the organization," thinning out the ranks of middle management, which "decreases the latency on information going up and down the chain and I think empowers people more."

It all added up to a leaner organization that he felt could move faster in both decision-making and execution.

Elsewhere in the interview, Zuckerberg mentioned that the cuts came at a time of uncertainty in the world. As companies navigate geopolitical tensions and President Donald Trump's trade war, Zuckerberg's words in 2023 likely ring true to many CEOs today.

"I just feel the external world is quite volatile right now," Zuckerberg said in the interview. "And I wanted to make sure that we had a stable position."

Middle managers have increasingly found a target on their backs in recent years. Massive companies have followed Meta's lead over the past year, with Amazon and Google moving to flatten their org charts amid a renewed focus on greater efficiency.

Their CEOs have similarly voiced their reasons.

At Amazon, CEO Andy Jassy said in September that the company would increase the ratio of individual contributors to managers by at least 15% by the end of March.

"Having fewer managers will remove layers and flatten organizations more than they are today," he said at the time. In short, he told employees in a November all-hands, "I hate bureaucracy."

Google is cutting manager, director, and vice president roles by 10%, CEO Sundar Pichai told employees in December.

Pichai said Google had made changes designed to simplify the company and boost its efficiency, two employees who heard the CEO's comments previously told Business Insider. In September 2022, he'd said he wanted Google to be 20% more efficient; months later, the company conducted a massive round of layoffs, eliminating 12,000 jobs.

"Over the past two years we've seen periods of dramatic growth," Pichai told staff in an email about those layoffs. "To match and fuel that growth, we hired for a different economic reality than the one we face today."

Salesforce in 2023 slashed some layers of management and turned some managers into individual contributors, with the goal of reducing the "spans" and "layers of control" across the company. Earlier that year, Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff announced layoffs of 10% of the workforce as part of a cost-cutting restructuring plan. In his memo to staff, he cited pandemic overhiring and a "challenging" economic environment as reasons for the cuts.

Middle managers made up nearly one-third of layoffs among white-collar workers in 2023, an analysis by Live Data Technologies for Bloomberg found.

Match Group, the parent company of dating apps like Tinder and Hinge, announced this week a 13% reduction in its workforce, affecting one in five managers.

Beyond tech, the focus on flattening has extended to behemoths of other industries.

Citi in 2023 announced it was paring back its layers of management from 13 to eight; the company later announced cuts affecting 1,500 managerial roles. At the start of 2024, UPS said it was laying off 12,000 of its 85,000 managers.

Some workplace experts have said the Great Flattening targeting middle managers could hurt workforces, as middle managers often carry out vital responsibilities like executing on upper management's goals and boosting employees' morale and performance.

The trend is continuing as companies decide that restructuring to decrease the number of managers is the right move to appease investors who are zeroed in on efficiency, especially after the pandemic hiring boom in tech.

Or as Zuckerberg previously said:

"I don't think you want a management structure that's just managers managing managers, managing managers, managing managers, managing the people who are doing the work."

• Our son was a pampered, only child for four years — and then we had twins.
• Keeping jealousy at bay was important to our family, so we used four strategies to keep the peace.
• Involving our eldest in caring for the twins has helped strengthen family bonds.

We have a house full of boys—three of them, to be exact.

Before the twins came along, our eldest had enjoyed four years of undivided attention being a pampered, only child. He was the center of my world, my little shadow.

When the twins arrived, he was genuinely excited to meet his new siblings. He even joked, "It's great we got two babies. One can bowl and the other can field while I bat!"

Behind the smile, however, I sensed a quiet worry in his eyes, and one of our biggest concerns became how he would adjust to sharing us with two newborns. The shift in family dynamics was undoubtedly going to be a challenge, and we knew we had to be attentive, not just to the babies, but, just as importantly, to his emotions.

Over the last 10 years, we've learned a few things and made conscious, thoughtful choices — choices that have helped prevent sibling jealousy, ensure that all three of our children feel equally valued, and that they bond deeply with one another.

The approach wasn't a one-time fix but a series of small, intentional choices that made all the difference. Here's how we navigated the transition.

We make small moments count

With two newborns demanding constant care, we knew how important it was to carve out one-on-one time with our oldest child every day. Whether it was reading his favorite book, playing a quick game, or simply chatting about his day, these small moments helped reassure him that he was still our "little one."

I also made it a point to be available when he got back from school, just sitting with him while he had lunch and talking about his day. Those little routines reminded him that his special place in my life hadn't changed and never would.

We asked him to help care for the twins

We also made sure to involve our eldest in caring for the twins. From the very start, I encouraged him to help with simple, age-appropriate tasks like picking out clothes for them or fetching diapers. This not only made him feel important but also allowed him to develop a bond with his new siblings. He took pride in his big brother role, which helped him feel included and valued.

We made sure to validate his feelings

One of the important parts of the transition was reassuring our eldest that our love hadn't been divided, but multiplied. Sounds cliché? Maybe. But trust me, small — seemingly clichéd — actions made a big difference. Even when the twins needed attention, we made sure to check in with him and express our appreciation for his patience.

Still, there were moments when he felt frustrated or left out, and his emotional needs were sometimes unintentionally overlooked. I remember him saying, "They're crying too much… maybe we should just return them to the doctor." I reassured him that babies cry sometimes because they're little and still learning how to behave. I also reminded him of the joys of having siblings, like how they smile at him when they see him, and we talked about the fun they would have playing together and the special bond they would share.

We knew we were playing the long game

Our ultimate goal was to nurture a strong sibling bond. As the twins grew, we emphasized equity and respect in our household. The eldest had responsibilities, but we also gave him the authority that comes with being the oldest. We taught him to love and be kind to his younger brothers, and we made sure the twins learned to respect and love their older brother. When disputes arose, we listened to all sides and made decisions without age discrimination.

Over time, the twins naturally formed a strong bond with each other, but fortunately, they also developed an equally strong bond with their older brother. Now, they talk, share things, play together, have their own secrets, and even manage their little disputes on their own. Watching this has been such a joy, and it fills me with pride to see the special connection they've created.

It's an ongoing journey

The arrival of the twins undoubtedly changed our family dynamic, but it also brought immense joy. Watching my children grow and bond, both as individuals and as siblings, has been an incredible experience.

Preventing sibling jealousy is an ongoing journey, but by making small, intentional choices and fostering equity, I can see that they now share a deep, supportive bond with each other. They are not just siblings, but also friends, and I'm confident that this connection will only grow stronger.

• I paid $45 for an upgraded seat on a high-speed Italo train from Rome to Florence.
• The upgraded ticket gave me access to extra legroom and delicious free snacks.
• I thoroughly enjoyed my experience and would definitely spend the extra money to do this again.

Living in Italy, I've taken countless train rides across the country, and I firmly believe it's the best way to travel comfortably from region to region.

While looking for a train ticket from Rome to Florence in January, I noticed I could pay an extra 10 euros ($11 USD) to book an upgraded seat with Italo, a high-speed Italian train company.

So, rather than booking a standard, smart-class ticket, I booked a prima-business-class seat for a total of 40 euros ($45 USD). I was excited to enjoy perks like ample legroom and complimentary snacks.

Here's what my experience was like.

The boarding process felt fast and easy

The train arrived on time, and my digital ticket provided clear instructions for finding my assigned coach and seat.

One of the perks of the prima-business-class ticket was that I was able to board before the smart-class ticket passengers. It was nice having extra time to get myself and my belongings situated.

My seat felt extremely comfortable

I enjoyed having extra legroom and a wide seat. The chair was comfortable, and I liked that it reclined and had spacious armrests.

I also had a large tray for drinks and personal items, and access to a small coat hook.

During the ride, I got snacks and a boxed lunch

About 30 minutes into the trip, Italo staff members came by my seat with a trolley of snack options, which were included in the price of my prima-business-class ticket.

The menu (which was available via a link with my digital ticket) included a wide variety of options, including pastries, small gourmet sandwiches, and taralli (wheat-based crackers). Drinks, like water, wine, and Coca-Cola, were also available.

I enjoyed a focaccia with olives, a croissant filled with pistachio cream, some taralli, and a glass of white wine.

Then, halfway through the trip, I was handed a lunch box complete with a cheese and mortadella sandwich, two packs of chocolate cookies, and a bottle of water.

I wasn't expecting to have so many options, and felt very satisfied and full.

Overall, the $11 upgrade made my 2-hour ride a dream

In less than two hours, the train arrived at the station in Florence.

Spending the additional 10 euros ($11 USD) definitely made this trip worth it, thanks to the wider seats, extra legroom, and food service I wouldn't have had access to otherwise.

I'd definitely pay the extra money to gain access to these upgrades again.

• I went to Cabo in Mexico with my fiancé and, looking back, I made a few mistakes.
• Turns out, many resorts, including the one we booked, are on beaches where swimming isn't allowed.
• I wish we'd left the property for some meals, and I'd realized how intense a sailboat ride could be.

"Never have I ever been to Mexico."

For years, this was my go-to kill shot in the quintessential party game, since it seemed like I was the only one among my friends who could say it.

Although we lived in the US, most of them had vacationed in Mexico at some point in their lives. However, I joined the club in late 2023 when I finally had the opportunity to go to Cabo with my fiancé.

The all-inclusive property we stayed at was stunning, and we had a good time. However, looking back, I made a few mistakes that could've been easily avoided.

Here are three missteps from my trip that could happen to anyone — and what I'd do differently next time.

I didn't realize we wouldn't be able to swim in the ocean near our beachfront resort

Cabo's beachfront resorts have incredible ocean views — but, at some locations, you'll only be able to look at the water.

During the trip, I learned it's unsafe to go swimming at many of the beaches along the Sea of Cortez due to strong currents, steep drop-offs, and dangerous riptides.

Where we stayed at El Médano Beach at Pueblo Bonito Pacifica turned out to be one of those "lounge-only" spots. Although we were able to walk and sunbathe on the nearby beach, I was disappointed I couldn't go in the water.

Although this is mentioned on the hotel's website, I didn't think to check before booking because I hadn't anticipated not being able to swim in the ocean at a resort that's on a beach.

Luckily, the property had two massive pools where we spent most of our time instead. They were great and I loved sipping cocktails poolside, but I missed the feeling of salt water on my skin.

Looking back, I wish I'd done more research on the location so I could've mentally prepared or made plans to visit one of the area's swimmable sections of beach.

If you plan to visit Los Cabos and want to swim in the ocean, I suggest researching beforehand to see where that's possible.

We should've made plans to dine outside our all-inclusive resort

When staying at an all-inclusive resort with multiple dining options, it's easy to opt for convenience over having to seek out local flavors.

Between breezy poolside brunches at Siempre and upscale dinners at Península or Quivira Steakhouse on the property, I felt pretty well taken care of in the food department.

That said, I'm still kicking myself for not venturing off-site at least once to explore downtown Cabo's vibrant dining scene.

It wouldn't have been difficult to call a cab or take the resort's complimentary shuttle downtown, but I got caught up in the ease of on-site dining and skipped the chance to taste local cuisine.

After learning more about the fresh seafood at Mariscos Las Tres Islas, huge portions at Campestre, and street tacos at Tacos Gardenias, I definitely feel like I missed out.

For a more well-rounded experience, I'd recommend planning ahead to dine where the locals do.

The sailing cruise wasn't what I expected, and I wish I'd known my limits

I've always loved exploring new destinations from the water and have never struggled with motion sickness, so I wasn't worried when my fiancé and I booked a sunset cruise during our stay.

The first half of the excursion was amazing. We saw striking rock formations (like the famous "El Arco"), sunbathing sea lions, and mesmerizing views of the coastline.

Then, the crew opened up the sails, and our ride dramatically changed. When the boat became fully dependent on the wind and waves, the unpredictable movement and sudden jerks made me instantly sick to my stomach.

Most sailboats in Cabo are designed to tilt with the wind without capsizing, but the extreme tilting had me clinging to the rails for dear life anyway.

It was on this day that I learned I am not a sailboat girl — at least, not when the sailboat is in choppy Pacific waters.

If I could do it over, I would opt to take a catamaran or sail in the morning when it's less windy and the waters are calmer. I'd also stock up on Dramamine to help with motion sickness.

• Radar screens went dark early Friday at an air traffic facility that guides planes around Newark.
• The outage, which lasted 90 seconds, is the second since April.
• Newark has faced a host of problems in recent weeks, from operational issues to bad weather.

The problems keep piling up at Newark Liberty International Airport.

The Federal Aviation Administration said that an air traffic control equipment outage at the Philadelphia approach control facility, which guides aircraft in and out of Newark, occurred around 3:55 a.m. on Friday morning.

The agency said it affected communications and radar displays for "approximately 90 seconds."

It's the facility's second outage since April 28, when screens went dark for 60 to 90 seconds and prevented controllers from talking to aircraft.

Operational issues, coupled with bad weather and runway construction, have caused hundreds of delays and cancellations at the airport over nearly two weeks.

United CEO Scott Kirby has called on the government to designate Newark as a "level 3" airport, meaning it would run on a slot system that limits the number of planes that could take off and land at certain times to manage capacity.

What is going on at Newark?

In July, some controllers were moved from an approach control facility in New York to one in Philadelphia to address understaffing issues, but the facility is still facing shortages.

Kirby said in a letter to customers in May that the Philadelphia center has been "chronically understaffed for years" and that Newark "cannot handle the number of planes that are scheduled to operate there in the weeks and months ahead."

The airline, which holds the largest market share at Newark, has since axed 35 daily flights, or about 10% of its schedule at the airport, to deal with overcapacity and compounding air traffic problems.

The airport is also grappling with the closure of its main runway, which won't be operational until at least mid-June.

An FAA advisory said that as of 12 p.m. ET on Friday, Newark is facing arrival and departure delays of up to four hours because of overcapacity, runway construction, and bad weather.

United does not fly out of New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport, which has not been affected by the Philadelphia control problems, meaning rivals Delta and American have not experienced the same disruptions to flights and customers.

The US has a major ATC problem

Recent air traffic control issues have highlighted the US's ongoing battle to update aging equipment and hire more controllers at facilities around the country.

The FAA said in May 2024 that it was short about 3,000 controllers but was meeting its hiring goals to catch up.

Still, the entire infrastructure needs work, an issue made clear by the recent problems in Newark and the January midair collision over Washington, DC. A preliminary investigation found that the DC airport tower was understaffed at the time of the crash.

The Trump administration announced a "supercharge" program in February to accelerate hiring. This program includes offering bonuses to new hires, reducing the hiring process by months, and creating new opportunities for veteran controllers.

In March, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced a plan to upgrade the national airspace system with modernized technology and infrastructure.

• Taylor Sheridan is one of Hollywood's most prolific screenwriters.
• The "Yellowstone" co-creator has a number of other projects in various stages of production.
• This includes several stand-alone TV series and multiple "Yellowstone" spinoffs.

When "Yellowstone" ended its five-season run, viewers didn't have to say goodbye—they just had to saddle up for more.

Thanks to Hollywood's busiest cowboy, Taylor Sheridan, there's now a whole herd of spinoffs ready to stampede into your watchlist.

Since moving away from acting, Sheridan has become one of the most prolific screenwriters in Hollywood, including with "Yellowstone" spinoffs "1883" and "1923."

The Wall Street Journal reported that Paramount spent more than $500 million producing his shows in 2023. That figure is likely larger now that his slate of "Yellowstone" spinoffs has grown.

Here's what we know about the projects he's working on.

1. 'Y: Marshals'

CBS announced in May that Luke Grimes will reprise his role as Kayce Dutton in a "Yellowstone" spinoff titled "Y: Marshals."

Per its logline, "Y: Marshals" will see the character join an "elite unit of US Marshals, combining his skills as a cowboy and Navy SEAL to bring range justice to Montana."

Sheridan will executive produce the drama alongside Grimes.

It's set to premiere in spring 2026.

2. 'The Madison'

While announcing that "Yellowstone" would be drawing to a close in 2023, Paramount bosses promised "expansions of this incredible world" that Sheridan had built.

In February 2024, Puck reported that Matthew McConaughey and Michelle Pfeiffer were in negotiations to lead the cast of a present-day continuation titled "2024."

In August 2024, it was announced that Pfieffer will star in and executive produce the new series, which has been renamed "The Madison."

Sheridan will write the series, which is set to follow a family of New York City natives who live in the Madison River valley of central Montana.

Per Paramount Network, "the series is a heartfelt study of grief and human connection."

Chris McCarthy, the co-CEO of Paramount Global, said of Pfieffer's casting: "She is the perfect anchor to the newest chapter of the 'Yellowstone' universe, 'The Madison,' from the brilliant mind of Taylor Sheridan."

As of 2025, McConaughey hasn't been cast in the series.

3. '1944'

"1944" is yet another "Yellowstone" spinoff series that has been greenlit by Paramount. It's also the one we know the least about.

It's expected that it will, like the previous prequels "1883" and "1923," take place in the titular year and focus on the difficulties the Duttons faced during the wartime period.

4. '6666'

This long-teased "Yellowstone" spinoff is set to revolve around the history of a real Texas-based ranch that Sheridan purchased in 2022. It was first announced in early 2021 and originally set to debut in 2023.

However, the future of the show remains up in the air. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter in 2023, Sheridan explained the delays in getting "6666" (pronounced "four-sixes") off the ground.

"That, for a number of reasons, needs a unique level of special care because this is a real place with real families working here. You have to respect the lineage," he said, adding that he had told Paramount to "be patient."

5. 'Landman'

Based on the podcast "Boomtown," the series was billed as a "modern-day tale of fortune seeking in the world of oil rigs" in Texas, per a synopsis from Paramount+.

Demi Moore and Billy Bob Thornton starred in the first season of the show, which debuted in 2024. A second season was announced in early 2025, with Sam Elliott — who previously appeared in "1883" — joining the cast.

6. 'Lawmen: Bass Reeves'

The first season of the series, on which Sheridan served as an executive producer, told the story of legendary lawman Bass Reeves, one of the first Black US marshals west of the Mississippi River.

David Oyelowo, who starred in the lead role and served as an executive producer, said the series was set up to be an anthology, with each season focusing on "other lawmen in history whose story should be told."

Chad Feehan, the show's creator, showrunner, and executive producer, echoed this in an interview with Deadline shortly after season one finished airing.

"There are several figures in history much like Bass who deserve their day in the sun. As much as it pains me that this marriage is taking a hiatus, that is the reality," he said.

"Lawmen" hasn't been renewed for a second season.

7. 'Special Ops: Lioness'

The first season of the espionage thriller, which Sheridan created, wrote, and executive produced, premiered in the summer of 2023, and a second season began airing in October 2024.

The series was inspired by a real-life US military program focused on bringing down terrorist organizations from within. The first season starred Zoe Saldaña, Laysla De Oliveira, Nicole Kidman, and Morgan Freeman.

It's unclear whether a third season is on its way, but the ending of season two left the door open for more installments.

8. 'Tulsa King'

"Tulsa King," which featured Sylvester Stallone in a leading role in a scripted television series for the first time, debuted in late 2022.

The series focuses on an aging mafia capo who is released from a 25-year prison sentence and sent to Tulsa, Oklahoma, to set up a new criminal organization. Sheridan created and executive-produced the series.

A second season premiered in September 2024, while a third went into production in March in Atlanta and Oklahoma.

9. 'Mayor of Kingstown'

"Mayor of Kingstown" was the first series Sheridan created as part of his deal with Paramount. It premiered in late 2021.

Starring Jeremy Renner, the series is set in the fictional town of Kingstown, Michigan, and follows the powerful McLusky family as they attempt to bring justice and order to a community rife with corruption.

The show's fourth season is currently in production.

10. 'The Road'

Sheridan has teamed up with "The Voice" coach and country star Blake Shelton for a new singing competition show for CBS.

"The Road," which will launch as part of the network's fall 2025 schedule, will follow "a headlining superstar on their journey to discover the next big artist," per a press release.

Competitors will perform as opening acts for the headliner's tour at venues across the US and will have to win over local fans to advance to the next location, the press release says.

Sheridan and Shelton will executive produce the series along with "The Voice" producer Lee Metzger and "Yellowstone" producer David Glasser.

11. 'Empire Of The Summer Moon'

As if all of Sheridans' existing commitments weren't enough, it was announced in January 2024 that he and his Bosque Ranch production company had optioned the Pulitzer Prize finalist book "Empire of the Summer Moon: Quanah Parker and the Rise and Fall of the Comanches, the Most Powerful Indian Tribe in American History," by S.C. Gwynne.

Sheridan will produce the project alongside Jenny Wood, Deadline reported.

The book recounts the story of Quanah Parker, a chief of the Indian Comanche tribe, and the tribe's forty-year battle against white settlers for control of the American West.

• Western militaries are trying to develop drones capable of operating in the Arctic.
• Tough weather conditions can impact a drone's batteries and navigation systems.
• There's growing competition in the region between Western countries, Russia, and China.

Drones are transforming warfare, and Western militaries are now in an intensifying race to develop models capable of operating in one of the harshest environments on Earth: the Arctic.

NATO countries are fast discovering the potential, as well as limits, of drones in the Arctic, where geopolitical competition is intensifying.

Russia and China have increased their military presence in the region, and the Pentagon said last year it will be relying more on unmanned technologies to monitor regional threats.

Military analysts told Business Insider that drones could be crucial in any military confrontation in the region.

However, there are major obstacles to deploying the technology at scale in an area where winter temperatures can drop to -40 degrees.

A new race for Arctic dominance

In Ukraine, drones, both aerial and naval, have been heavily used for surveillance as well as being fitted with explosives to strike targets.

The challenge of using drones in the Arctic comes down to the region's "harsh environment and its lack of connectivity," Nicolas Jouan, a defence and security analyst at RAND Europe, told BI.

Most Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles, or UAVs, are powered by batteries, which are badly affected by cold weather, he said.

Another issue is communication, with most drones directed by controllers using GPS signals. Satellites, though, can provide only "reduced and unreliable" GPS coverage in the Arctic, Jouan added.

In late April, the UK's 30 Commando Information Exploitation Group said it had been testing the limits of drone technology in extreme cold weather training in Norway, as well as testing new models there.

Around the same time, Col. Joshua Glonek, the commander of the US 3rd Brigade Combat Team of the 10th Mountain Division, told reporters that during recent extreme cold-weather training in Germany, drone operations were severely impacted.

"What we found was battery life was significantly degraded in the cold and affected the flight time and the ability of us to employ some of our drones," he said.

Zak Kallenborn, a drone warfare analyst, told BI that the commercial drones that have become ubiquitous in the war in Ukraine struggle to handle the cold.

"Some small drones have been developed to handle cold weather conditions, but I don't know if they can handle as cold as the Arctic," he said.

Russia's advantage

Gregory Falco, an assistant professor at the Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Cornell University, told BI that the systems used by drones to collect data, such as cameras and lidar — which uses lasers to register distance and chart territory — can also be affected by adverse weather.

The "biggest challenge for developing drones for Arctic warfare is the sensing in a heavily denied environment," he said.

Complicating the situation, at least for Western countries, is the fact that Russia appears to have a drone technology advantage in the region.

The Russian military has deployed UAV models, including the Orlan-10 and Inokhodets, in the Arctic, and is developing a specialized combat drone, the S-70 Okhotnik.

The S-70 is a plane-sized drone that can be deployed for attack missions or surveillance. It has reportedly been tested in Arctic conditions, though its technology is a closely guarded secret; Russia shot one down in 2024 to stop it falling into Ukrainian hands.

Working together

The fears are that Russia could use its Arctic drone strength to expand its regional power.

James Patton Rogers, a drone expert at Cornell University, told Reuters in January that Russia would likely soon be able to monitor the North Sea route, connecting Europe and Asia, with drones.

"We're moving towards a point where Russia will not only have unarmed surveillance drone systems along the Northern Sea Route, but potentially armed systems that are constantly patrolling those areas," he said.

In the race to boost their presence in the Arctic, and integrate new drone technologies, some Western countries are cooperating closely together.

In May 2024, Denmark and Norway announced that they'd be launching joint drone reconnaissance operations in the region, with the MQ-4C Triton among the models being considered.

A report last year for the Center for Strategic and International Studies found that Northrop Grumman's long-range MQ-4C Triton was among the few Western-made drones capable of operating effectively in Arctic conditions.

But they're designed for high altitude surveillance, and would be attractive targets for Russia, it said.

Norway is also set to open a drone surveillance base in Andøya, the hub of its military in the region, The Barents Observer reported.

And some Scandinavian countries are seeking to develop their own drones capable of withstanding Arctic conditions.

"Russia has been working on Arctic-rated drones for longer than the US, but Sweden and Finland have been working on this too," Falco said.

Quantity, not just quality

In its 2024 report, the Center for Strategic and International Studies said that, when it comes to the Arctic, drone numbers will count as much as they have in Ukraine, and that Western countries should prioritize scale, not just quality.

"Rather than opting for fewer numbers of expensive drones, which do not capture the military-technological advantages of evolving drone capabilities, the Arctic should choose instead to adopt many less-expensive variations," it suggested.

But, according to Falco, the US will have to work closely with its Arctic region allies if it wants to compete with Russia.

"We need to rely on these partners to be at parity in the Arctic domain," he said.

• Sam Altman told senators he does not want his son's best friend to be an AI bot.
• More people are forming personal relationships with AI, the OpenAI CEO said Thursday.
• Altman said he thinks kids need "a much higher level of protection" than adults using AI tools.

Sam Altman's friendship goals for his infant son do not include AI.

The OpenAI CEO was asked Thursday while giving Senate testimony whether he'd want his child to form a best-friend bond with an AI bot.

"I do not," Altman replied.

The question, from Sen. Bernie Moreno, came during a broader discussion about how to shield children from harm in the AI era as people trust chatbots with more personal information.

"These AI systems will get to know you over the course of your life so well — that presents a new challenge and level of importance for how we think about privacy in the world of AI," said Altman, who became a father in February.

Altman said that people were already forming deeply personal relationships with artificial intelligence and essentially relying on it for emotional support.

"It's a newer thing in recent months, and I don't think it's all bad," he said. "But I think we have to understand it and watch it very carefully."

Altman said there should be greater flexibility for adults using AI tools, while children should have "a much higher level of protection."

But, as with other online services, it can be difficult to know a user's age.

"If we could draw a line, and if we knew for sure when a user was a child or an adult, we would allow adults to be much more permissive and we'd have tighter rules for children," Altman added.

He has previously spoken about what it means to raise a child in the AI era.

"My kid is never going to grow up being smarter than AI," he said during a January episode of the "Re:Thinking" podcast with Adam Grant. "Children in the future will only know a world with AI in it."

Last month, Altman said OpenAI was no longer his proudest achievement after his son, who was born prematurely, learned to eat on his own.

On Thursday, Altman said his son was "doing well," adding that it's "the most amazing thing ever."