• Lawyer Erik Bolog is a beneficiary of a $10 million "gift" from Claudia Engelhorn, a pharma heir.
• Engelhorn has said the gift was "alcohol induced," while Bolog says it was legitimate.
• Engelhorn is suing Bolog and his ex-firm. The firm says it's caught in the middle.

Claudia Engelhorn, a daughter of a German pharmaceutical tycoon, claims she was duped into handing over $10 million to her former attorney Erik Bolog — and alleges that his former law firm looked the other way while he pocketed the cash.

The heir has been litigating for months against Bolog and the law firm, Whiteford, Taylor & Preston. The dispute is over the "gift" Bolog says she gave him as thanks for helping her win a $130 million case in Monégasque and Swiss courts during the pandemic.

Bolog's defense hinges on a three-page document signed by Engelhorn that says she insisted on making the gift and did so without consulting anyone. "You advised (begged) me to hire independent counsel," the document, which was included in court filings, says. "As you have learned over the past several years, I am not easily discouraged and once I have decided to do something, I do it."

Bolog said in court filings that the gift was legitimate and Engelhorn turned on him after he scolded her for what he said was "a racially hateful statement" that she made at a restaurant. He said she told a Black family "that it was nice that they were allowed to eat in restaurants."

One of Engelhorn's lawyers, Tony Williams, says the heir was "tricked" into signing the gift paperwork when Bolog gave it to her one morning while she was vacationing on Cape Cod in Massachusetts. He called the claim about her remark to a Black family "absolutely false."

In an email to Bolog that was included in court records, Engelhorn wrote: "You took an alcohol induced statement for your benefit." Bolog has claimed in court documents that her story shifted.

Williams also said in a meeting that Engelhorn was on the autism spectrum. "She's not a sophisticated investor," Williams told Business Insider. "She's a woman who has spent her life raising a family, and he should've known that. We did say, with her permission, that she's on the spectrum, and we know that she is, and he knew that."

"The whole thing's meshugganah," said Doug Gansler, one of Bolog's lawyers, using a Yiddish word for craziness. "She's a sophisticated businesswoman. She's not someone who doesn't know what she's doing or understand the value of money."

Engelhorn couldn't be reached for comment. Bolog didn't respond to a request for comment.

The existence of the case, which was filed in Baltimore in September, hasn't previously been reported.

Engelhorn's father, Curt Engelhorn, led a German pharmaceutical company that was sold to the healthcare giant Roche in 1997 for a reported $11 billion. Bolog says she's the "life trustee" of an entity called the Mannheim Trust that has paid her $1 million a year and lent her another $30 million.

Williams, meanwhile, said Bolog vastly overstated Engelhorn's fortune. He said the Mannheim Trust, which Bolog said held $500 million to benefit Engelhorn and others, had been divided among three of her children. Only the money from the Swiss case remains for Engelhorn, Williams said, and it's now "substantially less" than $130 million.

Bolog's former law firm, Whiteford, said it had nothing to do with his dealings. The firm said in a court filing it fired Bolog in May 2023 over issues including how he accounted for expenses. (Gansler denied wrongdoing by his client.)

In her lawsuit, Engelhorn said Whiteford bore some responsibility for Bolog's actions. She said billing records showed that other people at the firm were aware of and contributed to the deception.

The firm said in court filings that the other Whiteford lawyers who appeared to have helped draft the gift paperwork were under the impression that Engelhorn wanted to give a much smaller gift to a member of her staff. They say Bolog edited the documents to reroute the money to himself and his family, something Whiteford said it didn't learn about for two years.

The firm didn't respond to a request for comment.

Gansler is a former Maryland attorney general who's now at the white-shoe firm Cadwalader. Another lawyer for Engelhorn, Wes Henderson, is described on his website as "one of the most experienced and knowledgeable car accident attorneys in Crofton," a sleepy Maryland community of about 30,000 people. He also handles legal malpractice cases, the website says. He declined to comment.

Bolog has had various business interests over the years. His main pursuits have been contingency-fee injury lawsuits and a real estate firm called Tenacity that financed tenant acquisitions of their apartment buildings. In 2005, he was listed in Securities and Exchange Commission records as part of a bank's ownership group.

Gansler said Bolog recently moved to California to do plaintiff-side litigation there.

Bolog has had a colorful legal career. In the late 1990s, he helped a Maryland politician get off with a light sentence after she was accused of hiring a contract killer to whack her husband. The trial ended in a hung jury and she later pled no-contest, according to news reports. He was also among a group of lawyers hoping for a payout from a $120 million judgment against Iraq now pending in the US Supreme Court.

He has had gambling debts, though Gansler said he now has none and had no debt at the time he received Engelhorn's gift. In 2019, Harrah's Philadelphia Casino claimed in a lawsuit that Bolog owed $34,000 for a cash advance, and in 2022, a Caesars casino in Indiana sued him for $45,000. Gansler said that the Caesars lawsuit was filed by mistake. The debts in both cases were several years old, and both lawsuits have been resolved.

Engelhorn has had previous legal issues as well.

In 2007, she agreed to let a revivalist preacher named Tommie Zito and his wife live in a $3.2 million six-bedroom Florida mansion for $300 a month. She claimed that he abused her trust and manipulated her into buying the property and letting his family stay there "for a value far below the property's market value." She sued him twice to try to get out of the deal; both times, she lost.

Zito didn't respond to calls and text messages.

Madeleine O'Neill contributed reporting.

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Former President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with "aggressive" prostate cancer, his office said. Here are five symptoms of prostate cancer that are easy to miss.

• JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon addressed a range of topics at the firm's Investor Day meeting on Monday.
• He said the bank will allow investors to buy bitcoin, while warning against stagflation.
• He sounded dour on the economy but hopeful on the potential for a regulatory reset.

Jamie Dimon isn't a fan of bitcoin, but he plans to start offering it to clients of JPMorgan Chase nonetheless.

"We are going to allow you to buy it," Dimon said at the bank's annual presentation for investors on Monday. "We're not going to custody it. We're going to put it in statements for clients."

"I don't think you should smoke. But I defend your right to smoke," he said in explaining his position.

The bitcoin comments came as the JPMorgan CEO, often considered Wall Street's elder statesman, took the stage to answer questions from investors and research analysts. In the roughly 40-minute session, he touched on a range of topics, from the economy to what he expects from Trump's regulators.

Dimon sounded a dour note on the economy, saying he thinks the risk of stagflation is "two times" higher than many think, and making dire predictions on credit as an investment class.

"I think the worst one for a bank and for most companies is stagflation," he continued, warning: "I think the odds of that are probably two times what the market thinks."

He also said the bank had lost some commercial opportunities as a result of Trump's trade war. "We've lost business because of that," he said in response to an analyst's question.

He sounded upbeat, however, when it came to the president's regulatory agenda.

"I think that the Secretary of Treasury, the president of the United States, the new head of the OCC, the new head of the CFPB, Michelle Bowman at Federal Reserve, and the SEC have all made it clear that they want to fix some of the things they think are broken," he said. "I think they'll accomplish some of that. Some will take longer than others, but they all want to do it."

He called on regulators to consider lightening regulations for publicly traded companies, which he said have been halved since the 1990s, from 8,000 to 4,000.

"We're driving companies out of the public marketplace because of expensive reporting, litigation, cookie-cutter approaches to boards, compensation, and litigation," he said.

"I would love to be a private company," he added.

Dimon also raised questions about the rapid expansion of investments in credit, including through funds raised to make nonbank loans, or private credit.

"I don't like making forecasts," Dimon said, "but I am not a buyer of credit today. I think credit today is a bad risk," he said, adding, "I think that people who haven't been through major downturns are missing the point about what can happen in credit."

As interest rates rise and economic conditions soften, the risk of credit defaults rises, sometimes leaving borrowers strapped for cash and lenders struggling to recoup capital.

Earlier in the day, Marianne Lake, JPMorgan's CEO of consumer and community banking, said the firm was "closely monitoring the whole ecosystem" of lending but not giving up in spite of warning signs.

"The environment is very challenging for home lending and auto," she said, adding, "but we remain committed."

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• Elon Musk was a star at the US Open in September 2024, media mogul Barry Diller said.
• Diller said the public turned on Musk as his influence over the government grew.
• The billionaire advised Musk to address government waste with care, not aggressive measures.

Barry Diller said he witnessed Elon Musk's popularity firsthand at the US Open in 2024 — but less than a year later, it's a different story.

The public's perception of Musk has had a major shift since Donald Trump won the presidential election, Expedia Group chairman Diller said during Monday's episode of the "On with Kara Swisher" podcast.

The pair sat in the same luxury box to watch the US Open men's singles final match in September, where Diller said he was "amazed" by Musk's celebrity.

"A third of the faces in that audience were looking at him and not at this champ game that was taking place," the 83-year-old said.

He recalled hundreds of people gathering to take pictures and ask for Musk's signature during a break in the game.

Eight months, one election, and a controversial plan to cut government spending later, Diller says an appearance like that wouldn't play out the same way it did last year.

"If today he was in that box, they'd throw tomatoes at him," Diller said. "It's only September to May. I've never seen anything as swift as that."

Neither Musk nor representatives for Expedia Group immediately responded to Business Insider's request for comment.

Musk set out to cut $2 trillion in government spending with his involvement in the White House DOGE office, and he's faced backlash since then in the form of protests and movements like Tesla Takedown. Such resistance has made it harder to execute his plans, he told reporters during an April Q&A session.

"Being attacked is not super fun," Musk said. "Seeing cars on fire is not fun."

Diller, who cofounded the Fox TV network with Rupert Murdoch, previously said Musk has "a form of megalomania" and backed Trump out of bitterness toward the Democrats in October. He doubled down on Monday, telling Swisher that Musk is entitled to his megalomania, but it has its consequences.

"I personally like him," Diller said. "Unfortunately if you are a megalomaniac, your tuning fork ear is lost, and he lost it."

Enter the proverbial tomatoes prompted by Musk's slashes to government spending through DOGE, Diller said.

His advice? Work to eliminate government waste "with a thoughtful, kind hand" instead of a "chainsaw."

• Sean "Diddy" Combs listed his Los Angeles mansion for sale a week before he was arrested.
• As his trial proceeds, the house is still on the market with the same asking price: $61.5 million.
• Cassie Ventura said "freak offs" weren't held there, but its link to Combs might still deter buyers.

Sean "Diddy" Combs is sitting in a Manhattan courtroom, facing off with his sexual abuse accusers at trial.

His mansion in Los Angeles, however, is sitting empty.

Combs listed the 10-bedroom, 13-bathroom mansion in LA's ritzy Holmby Hills neighborhood for $61.5 million a week before his arrest in September 2024 — and it's unlikely to sell anytime soon.

His ex-girlfriend, the R&B singer Cassie Ventura, testified last week that Combs' South Mapleton Drive home was not used for any "freak offs," the dayslong sex performances that the trial centers on. In general, homes priced in the eight-figure range don't fly off the shelves that quickly. Still, most homebuyers are put off by its association with an accused sex trafficker, according to a consultant who specializes in selling homes tainted by murder or other disasters.

"When they buy a home at that price point, they like to brag about it," Michael Tachovsky, a partner at Landmark Research Group, told BI. "P. Diddy's reputation, at the current time, really isn't a positive bragging point for a potential buyer. It can play into perceptions, and when there's a negative perception with a property, it just makes it harder to sell."

Two Los Angeles-area real estate agents reached by Business Insider declined to go on record about Combs' property to avoid any association.

Combs has denied all wrongdoing. The music tycoon has consistently argued that all sexual encounters were consensual. The defense also argues that any violence fell far short of sex trafficking and that his accusers have a financial motive to implicate him.

The listing agent, Kurt Rappaport, didn't return multiple requests for comment by email and phone. A rep for Combs and his lawyer also didn't return requests for comment by email.

The history of Combs' LA mansion

Combs purchased the property on Mapleton Drive in 2014 for just over $39 million, according to Los Angeles County property records.

The main house's architecture excludes European vibes and contains a formal dining room, a wine cellar, a theater that fits 35 people, a kitchen, and a separate catering kitchen. A two-story guest house has bedrooms, a gym, and a recording studio.

The grounds, over 1.3 acres, have an oversize statue of a woman seemingly made from similar material to a disco ball, plus a swimming pool with a waterfall and grotto, a basketball court, a spa house, and an outdoor loggia with a barbecue, bar, and pizza oven.

Other homes for sale on the same street are asking similar prices.

Jack Harris, a real estate agent with The Beverly Hills Estate, has an eight-bedroom listing on Mapleton Drive just a few doors down from Combs' house, priced at $62.5 million.

"You normally can't buy into Holmby Hills for less than $20 million — Mapleton being one of the most prestigious streets in Holmby Hills," Harris told BI.

"It's a little pocket that's right between Beverly Hills and Bel Air — there's only a handful of streets," he added.

Combs hosted parties at his house, including a 2017 Grammys afterparty.

Combs also owns a seven-bedroom, 14,800-square-foot home on Star Island in Miami, where Ventura said in court last week that "freak offs" did take place. He bought the home in 2023 for $14.5 million and satisfied the $18.8 million left on his mortgage in August of 2024 to sure up his proposed bond package.

In March 2024, law enforcement officials seized "narcotics and more than 1,000 bottles of baby oil and lubricant" from his Los Angeles and Miami residences.

A buyer could be drawn to the renovation potential

Real estate investor Steven "Bo" Belmon made a lowball offer of $30 million in November of 2024.

Belmont said in a press release that he planned to renovate.

"I want to remove the stigma and focus on the charming elegance of this remarkable property," Belmont said in the release.

Belmont is no stranger to controversial properties purchased at a hefty discount. In 2024, he bought Kanye West's abandoned Malibu mansion for $21 million, less than half of its original asking price of $53 million.

Tachovsky pointed to other properties where negative events have taken place that sold years after they hit the market for well below the asking price.

The ongoing legal battles will inevitably limit the pool of buyers, he added.

"At the moment, it doesn't sound like anything nefarious happened at the property, but I don't think there's any certainty yet," he said. "When you've got notorious issues, like the Diddy case, that's not a no-name person. That can linger for some time."

• President Joe Biden and former first lady Jill Biden have been married for almost 50 years.
• Joe had to propose five times before she said yes. They eventually married in 1977. 
• They have been at each other's sides through celebrations and challenges.

Over the course of their nearly 50-year marriage, former President Joe Biden and former first lady Jill Biden have been through a lot together.

They've celebrated triumphant victories such as Joe Biden's two terms as vice president and his 2020 presidential election win. They've also weathered devastating losses such as the death of their son, Beau Biden, and setbacks such as Joe Biden's withdrawal from the 2024 election.

Joe Biden's prostate cancer diagnosis, announced on Sunday, is the latest challenge the couple faces in their lives together.

Joe Biden often refers to Jill Biden as "the love of my life and the life of my love." Here's a timeline of their love story.

1975: Joe Biden's brother introduced him to Jill Taylor Jacobs.

Joe Biden was a 33-year-old US senator, and Jill Biden, whose maiden name is Jacobs, was a 24-year-old college senior. Both had been married before. Joe Biden's wife and daughter died in a car crash in 1972, leaving him a widower with two sons, and Jill Biden and her husband filed for divorce in her junior year. 

"I was a senior, and I had been dating guys in jeans and clogs and T-shirts, he came to the door and he had a sport coat and loafers, and I thought, 'God, this is never going to work, not in a million years,'" Jill Biden told Vogue in 2016. "He was nine years older than I am! But we went out to see 'A Man and a Woman' at the movie theater in Philadelphia, and we really hit it off."

When she got home from the date, Jill Biden told Vogue, she called her mother and said, "Mom, I finally met a gentleman."

1977: The couple married after Joe Biden proposed five times.

"I said, 'Not yet. Not yet. Not yet,'" Jill Biden told Vogue of Joe Biden's proposals. "Because by that time, of course, I had fallen in love with the boys, and I really felt that this marriage had to work. Because they had lost their mom, and I couldn't have them lose another mother. So I had to be 100 percent sure."

When she did eventually agree to marry him, they held their wedding ceremony at the United Nations chapel and a reception lunch at Sign of the Dove in New York City. They took sons Beau and Hunter on their honeymoon.

1981: The couple welcomed daughter Ashley.

In a video shown at the 2020 Democratic National Convention, Jill Biden said that Ashley Biden's birth made the family "complete."

June 1987: When Joe Biden announced his candidacy for president, Jill Biden was by his side.

He announced his presidential run in Wilmington, Delaware.

September 1987: They presented a united front when he withdrew from the race.

His short-lived campaign had been enveloped in scandal, with allegations of plagiarizing his speeches and exaggerating his academic records from college and law school, The New York Times reported.

"'I made some mistakes,'' he said as he announced the end of his campaign.

The New York Times described Jill Biden's face as "a study in dejection." Jill Biden later wrote about controlling her emotions in her 2019 memoir, "Where The Light Enters."

"As a political spouse, I've found that my stoicism often serves me well," she wrote. "In 1988, when Joe's first presidential campaign started to look bleak, people were constantly looking for cracks in our team. We all felt scrutinized, but I refused to show weakness."

1988: Joe Biden had two brain aneurysms. The couple posed outside the hospital when he was discharged after the first of two operations.

Joe Biden had a pulmonary embolism later that year as he recovered. In her book, Jill Biden writes about watching as "EMTs carried him down the steps of our house on a stretcher."

January 2007: Jill Biden earned her Ph.D. in education from the University of Delaware. At the graduation, Joe Biden handed Jill Biden her doctorate.

She became Dr. Jill Biden.

July 2007: Joe Biden wrote about his love for Jill Biden in his memoir, "Promises to Keep."

"She gave me back my life," he wrote. "She made me start to think my family might be whole again."

2008: Barack Obama chose Joe Biden as his running mate, and the two families developed a close bond.

The "bromance" between the two politicians went viral.

2009: Jill Biden held the family's Bible when her husband was sworn in as vice president.

Joe Biden supported her career, too. She made history as the first known second lady to hold a full-time job, teaching English at Northern Virginia Community College.

"As second lady, she was teaching full time for eight years, 15 credits a semester," Joe Biden said in a video shown at the 2020 Democratic National Convention.

"I said, 'I know I can do both jobs,'" she said.

She encouraged students to call her "Dr. B.," The Los Angeles Times reported. 

February 2010: On Valentine's Day, Joe Biden surprised her with a tree swing marked with a commemorative plaque on the grounds of the vice president's residence.

The plaque reads "Joe loves Jill. Valentine's Day 2010."

March 2010: They took diplomatic trips together, such as their visit to Israel.

They took other trips together, such as attending the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver.

September 2012: Jill Biden elicited giggles when she told a crowd in New Hampshire, "I've seen Joe up close."

An ABC News camera panned to Joe Biden, who could be seen laughing good-naturedly at the unintended double entendre as the audience cheered.

"It's in my remarks, really," she said, before continuing with her speech amid chuckles from the crowd.

September 2012: At the Democratic National Convention, Jill Biden spoke about Joe Biden's support for her career and his strength in the face of loss.

"After Joe was elected vice president, people started questioning whether I could keep teaching," she said. "Not Joe. He was there standing by my side saying 'Of course you should. It's who you are, Jill.'"

2013: When Obama won a second term, Jill Biden held the Bible again when Joe Biden was sworn in at the inauguration.

As they had in 2009, they danced together at more inaugural balls.

2015: Tragedy struck when their son Beau Biden died of brain cancer.

Still reeling from the loss, Joe Biden decided not to run for president in 2016.

2019: Jill Biden released her own book, "Where The Light Enters," in which she wrote about falling in love with Joe Biden.

"After the disappointment of my divorce, I never wanted to feel so out of control of my heart again," she wrote. "But in the months that Joe and I were dating, that desire ran up against a new reality: I was falling in love."

April 2019: When Joe Biden entered the 2020 presidential race, Jill Biden became an important voice in his campaign.

For the first time since 1981, she took a break from teaching to help him on the campaign trail.

December 2019: In an unusual campaign stop moment, Joe Biden nibbled on his wife's finger as she spoke to a crowd in Iowa.

Jill Biden was gesturing behind herself as she spoke, barely missing Joe Biden's face as he pretended to dodge. Joe Biden then leaned forward while her arm was outstretched and bit down on the tip of her index finger. She appeared to laugh it off.

Jill Biden later reposted a video on X of the hosts of "The View" discussing the moment, where Meghan McCain said, "I thought it was silly, and they clearly still love each other and are playful," and replied, "Guilty, we do still love each other!"

March 2020: Jill Biden fought off protesters, leading Joe Biden to joke, "I'm probably the only candidate running for president whose wife is my Secret Service."

"Whoa, you don't screw around with a Philly girl, I'll tell you what," he said after the protesters were removed from the stage on Super Tuesday. "I thought I heard on the news on the way over that the committee in charge of Secret Service decided they have to start providing Secret Service for us. I think that's because they're afraid Jill's going to hurt someone. I tell you what man, I married way above my station."

August 2020: Jill Biden delivered a keynote speech at the DNC from the school classroom in Delaware where she used to teach English.

"Love makes us flexible and resilient," she said in the speech. "It allows us to become more than ourselves, together, and though it can't protect us from the sorrows of life, it gives us refuge, a home. How do you make a broken family whole? The same way you make a nation whole: with love and understanding and with small acts of kindness."

November 2020: Joe Biden won the presidential election, and called himself "Jill's husband" in his victory speech.

"Jill's a mom — a military mom — and an educator," he said. "She has dedicated her life to education, but teaching isn't just what she does — it's who she is. For America's educators, this is a great day: You're going to have one of your own in the White House, and Jill is going to make a great first lady."

December 2020: After a Wall Street Journal op-ed urged her to drop her "Dr." title since she's not a medical doctor, Jill Biden remained proud of her doctorate, and Joe Biden backed her up.

In an interview on "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert," they responded to the controversy.

"That was such a surprise," Jill Biden said of the op-ed. "It was really the tone of it. He called me 'kiddo,' and one of the things I'm most proud of is my doctorate. I mean, I've worked so hard for it. And Joe came when I defended my thesis."

"I got to hand her her doctorate on the stage at the University of Delaware," Joe Biden added.

Colbert jokingly asked if Joe Biden ever wanted to "get out a length of pool chain and go full corn pop" on people who criticize Jill Biden's academic achievements. As he began to answer, she interjected with "No! The answer is no!" Joe Biden then quipped, "I've been suppressing my Irishness for a long time."

January 2020: Jill Biden held the Biden family Bible for Joe Biden's inauguration as president of the United States.

The Biden family Bible dates back to 1893. He has used it for his swearing-in ceremonies as a US senator and as vice president. 

April 2021: Joe Biden stopped to pick a dandelion for Jill Biden on the White House lawn as they boarded Marine One.

The then-president and first lady were traveling to Atlanta for a rally in Plains, Georgia, to meet with former President Jimmy Carter and former first lady Rosalynn Carter.

As they were boarding Marine One on the White House Ellipse, Joe Biden bent down and picked a dandelion for his wife. Jill Biden stopped to accept the flower, and she held on to it as she boarded the helicopter.

December 2021: They welcomed a new German shepherd puppy, Commander.

The Bidens entered the White House with two German shepherds, Champ and Major. Champ passed away at the age of 13 in June 2021, and Major was rehomed due to behavioral issues. 

The Bidens also adopted a cat, Willow, in January 2022.

Commander was moved out of the White House in October 2023 after numerous biting incidents.

February 2022: Jill Biden was spotted wearing a corsage from Joe Biden in a sweet Valentine's Day tradition.

While exiting Marine One on Valentine's Day, the then-first lady was photographed wearing a corsage of what appeared to be white gardenias, her favorite flower.

In an interview with People magazine shortly after Joe Biden took office, Jill Biden shared that the corsages began as a Valentine's Day tradition, and that he had surprised her with a corsage of gardenias at the inauguration.

"I don't know when it started — a long, long time ago. I think it was for Valentine's Day," she said. "I love gardenias and so Joe would buy me a wrist corsage of gardenias. I wore it to school to teach!"

Joe Biden also shared a Valentine's Day message for his wife.

"You're the love of my life and the life of my love, Jilly. Happy Valentine's Day," he wrote on X.

May 2022: Jill Biden told Harper's Bazaar she and Joe Biden fight over text, or "fext," to avoid arguing in front of their Secret Service detail.

Jill Biden, who appeared on the June-July cover of Harper's Bazaar, told the magazine that she and Joe Biden fight via text in what they call "fexting" to avoid arguing in front of their Secret Service detail — a method they've used since he served as vice president.

In one particularly heated exchange, Joe Biden reminded her that presidential communications like texts and emails are kept as part of a historical record of each presidency.

"Joe said, 'You realize that's going to go down in history. There will be a record of that,'" she told Harper's Bazaar. "I won't tell you what I called him that time."

While they did occasionally "fext," Jill Biden also spoke about supporting her husband's work during his presidency.

"I try to be a support for Joe because I don't know how many people are saying to him, 'That was great. That was brilliant.' I try to be that person for him," she said. "Some days, I see Joe and I'm just like, 'I don't know how you're doing it.' It's the pandemic and then it's the war and then it's the economy and then it's the gas prices. You feel like you're being slammed."

June 2022: They celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary.

The Bidens celebrated their anniversary at their beach house in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. During their trip, Joe Biden fell off his bike but quickly got back up and chatted with reporters. A White House spokesperson said that the president did not require medical attention.

April 2023: Joe Biden announced he would run for reelection in 2024.

Jill Biden's support was widely regarded as a determining factor in Joe Biden's decision to run again in 2024.

South Carolina Sen. Dick Harpootlian, a former state party chairman and Biden 2020 finance committee member, told Business Insider in 2022 that "Joe Biden wouldn't have run in '20 if Jill Biden had not wanted him to run and he won't run in '24 if Jill Biden doesn't want him to run."

June 2024: Jill Biden defended Joe Biden after his disastrous presidential debate against Donald Trump.

During the first presidential debate of 2024, Joe Biden spoke with a hoarse voice, offered convoluted answers, and appeared disoriented at times. His poor performance sparked panic among Democrats about whether he should stay in the race.

Jill Biden defended Joe Biden in the face of widespread criticism, telling Vogue that the Biden family "will not let those 90 minutes define the four years he's been president. We will continue to fight."

"When he gets knocked down, Joe gets back up, and that's what we're doing today," Jill Biden said at a New York City fundraiser the day after the debate.

Joe Biden also acknowledged that his age impacted his debate performance, but remained firm in his commitment to stay in the race.

"I know I'm not a young man, to state the obvious," he said during a rally the day after the debate. "I don't walk as easy as I used to. I don't speak as smoothly as I used to. I don't debate as well as I used to. But I know what I do know: I know how to tell the truth. I know right from wrong. And I know how to do this job. I know how to get things done."

July 2024: Jill Biden expressed support for Joe Biden after he withdrew from the 2024 election.

On July 21, Joe Biden announced that he was dropping out of the presidential race and endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris.

"While it has been my intention to seek reelection, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and to focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term," Biden wrote in a letter posted on social media.

On July 24, Jill Biden posted her first public statement since her husband's announcement.

"To those who never wavered, to those who refused to doubt, to those who always believed, my heart is full of gratitude," Jill Biden wrote in a statement on X. "Thank you for the trust you put in Joe — now it's time to put that trust in Kamala."

August 2024: Jill Biden and Joe Biden spoke about each other in their speeches at the Democratic National Convention.

The first night of the Democratic National Convention was dedicated to recognizing Joe Biden's legacy throughout his decades of public service.

"Joe and I have been together for almost 50 years, and still there are moments when I fall in love with him all over again," Jill said in her speech.

In his convention speech, Joe Biden said that his wife "still leaves me both breathless and speechless."

January 2025: They attended Trump's second inauguration together.

The Bidens greeted Donald Trump and Melania Trump at the White House before heading to the inauguration, which was held in the Capitol Rotunda due to frigid temperatures.

May 2025: Joe Biden's office announced he had been diagnosed with an "aggressive form" of prostate cancer.

The cancer has metastasized to the former president's bones, Joe Biden's office said in a statement released on Sunday.

"While this represents a more aggressive form of the disease, the cancer appears to be hormone-sensitive, which allows for effective management," the statement read. "The president and his family are reviewing treatment options with his physicians."

On Monday, Joe Biden posted a selfie on X of himself with Jill Biden and their cat, Willow, and thanked well-wishers for their support following his diagnosis.

"Cancer touches us all. Like so many of you, Jill and I have learned that we are strongest in the broken places," he wrote. "Thank you for lifting us up with love and support."

• I live about five minutes from my mom and have never really left.
• I dream about living far away in Australia or Mexico, but my anxiety prevents me from leaving.
• I'm raising my child differently. I hope she doesn't consider my feelings when choosing where to live.

Over breakfast, a friend told me she wished she'd slept around more before getting married. I passed the syrup and nodded, then surprised myself by saying, "I wish I'd moved around more."

I live in Denver, about five minutes away from my mom. And I've never really left.

I went to college an hour away. I traveled a little in my 20s, but never for long, and always with the knowledge that I'd return.

"Don't fall in love and move away" was my mother's one rule before any trip. And I followed that rule.

Never mind that my parents moved away from their small towns in Indiana in their 20s, or that my close friends from high school moved to London and Sydney. Their lives make me feel a complicated mix of envy and awe.

Of course, I've felt the call to move. One of my favorite activities on vacation is to look at homes nearby for sale on Zillow. Cannon Beach, Oregon; Sydney, Australia; Guanajuato, Mexico; even the Twin Cities — they're all places I've visited and thought, "I could live here."

But that's not my lot in life.

Responsibility was baked into my childhood

Clinically, it might be called "parentification" or "codependence," but I knew it as love.

My dad struggled with mental illness and holding a job. He was exciting but also known to bankrupt us with one manic trip to Williams and Sonoma.

My kid sister had chronic health issues. My mom worked for a nonprofit and, despite her best efforts, we struggled financially.

Being the oldest daughter, I was the one who took myself to school and kept things quiet at home when they needed to be. I sat beside my sister in hospital rooms and explained to teachers why my parents couldn't come to conferences.

Walking on eggshells and anticipating people's needs are what I know.

My parents might have seen my decision to stay as an act of love, but it was also driven by my own anxiety and the gnawing feeling that if I left, my family might fall apart.

I believed my presence would prevent disaster. That by staying nearby, I could keep the people I loved safe.

So I stayed.

Now, I'm a mom myself

My daughter is seven and she's already making plans to leave.

When she grows up, she wants to design a house to live in with her best friend and "lots of cats." She's considering Vail or maybe California.

Like my mother, I also (secretly) hope that my daughter will live near me forever. I even considered delaying her start in kindergarten just to get an extra year with her, but didn't go through with it.

When she grows up, I think I need to be nearby in case she needs me. There's that codependence again — but I catch myself.

More than anything, I hope my daughter grows up without my same anxiety and has the peace of mind to leave, if she wants.

I want her to trust that she's allowed to grow out of me and her dad. If she never once considers my feelings when choosing where to live, I'll have succeeded (and hate it).

I regret never moving away, but I have found the silver lining

I attend family dinners and get to watch my nephews grow up — not in jarring leaps between holidays, but in the slow unfolding of ordinary days.

I know what they look like when they're sleepy before bedtime or proud from playing a tough soccer game. My kid knows her grandparents, and someone is always around to lend a rake or give a hug.

I didn't move. I bought into the idea that love meant staying close. However, I hope my daughter knows that love knows no boundaries. It can mean building a full and joyful life from anywhere — and that I'll be just fine watching her go.

• We spoke to fashion designers and stylists about which sandal trends are in and out this summer.
• According to the pros, fisherman sandals are making a big comeback thanks to their versatility.
• On the other hand, lace-up gladiators and chunky platforms are being replaced by minimalist styles.

Summer is almost here, which means it's time to break out your warm-weather wardrobe — including sandals.

But before you reach for last year's go-to pairs, keep in mind that some styles are fading while others are taking a step back into the spotlight (hello, '90s revival!).

To help you navigate what's trending now, Business Insider spoke with fashion designers and stylists about which sandal styles are in and which you may want to leave in your closet.

Warm and understated, brown sandals are redefining summer neutrals.

Brown sandals are stepping in as a softer, more versatile alternative to black this summer, according to Natalie Tincher, founder and principal stylist at BU Style.

She told BI that sandals are becoming popular in "shades from light tan to deep espresso" and "taking a cue from Pantone's Color of the Year, 'Mocha Mousse.'"

These earthy tones pair well with natural fabrics, relaxed tailoring, and minimalist looks, grounding an outfit without overpowering it, the stylist said.

Fisherman sandals are back in a big way.

Offering a stylish balance of structure, breathability, and comfort, fisherman sandals are going strong this summer

"Characterized by their closed toe and interwoven straps, they're ideal for city wear or summer holidays," Hellana Mardasian, personal stylist at Styled by Hellena, told BI. "They suit both tailored and relaxed summer looks."

The stylist recommends looking for fisherman sandals in neutral colors that are made from quality leather for a modern and elevated feel.

Leather slides remain a polished wardrobe staple.

Tincher said leather slides continue to trend as a refined alternative to flip-flops.

"They're incredibly versatile and comfortable, and come in a range of silhouettes — some more substantial, others sleek, which makes them a go-to for many of my clients," she told BI.

Sleek leather slides are an easy way to add polish to everything from tailored shorts and resort-inspired outfits to breezy dresses or a classic jeans-and-tee combo, the stylist said.

Raffia sandals can bring an elegant touch to any summer outfit.

Celebrated for their breezy texture and artisanal vibe, raffia sandals are another popular summer trend, both Mardasian and Tincher told BI. They blend lightweight comfort and effortless style, making them an easy upgrade for warm-weather looks.

"The woven texture adds dimension and visual interest without overwhelming an outfit," Tincher said.

Mardasian recommends styling them with linen or denim for a polished but relaxed summer outfit.

However, chunky platforms are on their way out.

Towering flatforms and mega-platform espadrilles are likely to be less popular this season, according to Danielle Yates, fashion designer, stylist, and cofounder of Headcovers Unlimited.

"After a few summers of rolled ankles and cobblestone mishaps, shoppers are gravitating toward lower, more stable soles that still provide a bit of height," the designer said.

Sleek silhouettes, like minimalist walking sandals or low-profile heels, offer a more wearable update that fits seamlessly into 2025's shift toward functional, everyday style.

Many are swapping PVC sandals out for jelly shoes.

All of the professionals we spoke to agreed that PVC sandals are out this summer as shoe trends move toward comfort, breathability, and more tactile materials.

"While they had a fashion-forward moment, their synthetic feel and lack of wearability in heat made them a tough long-term sell," Tincher told BI.

Instead, many will opt for woven-leather or jelly sandals, which can offer more personality and practicality.

Velcro "dad" sandals had their moment.

Bulky Velcro "dad" sandals — the ultra-padded, rubber-soled kind — are starting to fall out of favor, Yates said.

"With quiet-luxury dressing still going strong, shoppers want a sleeker silhouette that doesn't shout 'hiking shop,'" Yates told BI.

For an updated look, the designer recommends a slim sport sandal or a leather fisherman instead, as both can serve a similar purpose with less heft.

It's time to retire the lace-up gladiators.

Once a go-to for festival season in the 2010s, lace-up gladiator sandals are starting to feel overly complicated next to 2025's more streamlined shoe aesthetic, according to both Yates and Mardasian.

For a fresher take, the stylists suggest opting for sleek Grecian silhouettes or minimalist leather slides instead.

• TSA PreCheck is an airport-security express lane that can save you time while traveling.
• The program has more members than ever — over 20 million passengers are enrolled.
• Travel expert Gilbert Ott said these etiquette tips can keep you from holding up the line.

Those of us who've had TSA PreCheck for a while have seen the express airport security line moving slower than it should. We've had our patience tested by first-time users fumbling for passports at the counter, removing their coats when it's their turn to be scanned, and waltzing on through with a belt on.

These days, you're more likely to encounter newbies in the fast-pass lane than ever.

The TSA reported in August 2024 that program enrollment reached a record 20 million travelers. And roughly 2 to 3 million flight passengers used the faster security line per day so far in 2025.

In the TSA PreCheck line, pre-screened travelers can go through security quickly without taking off their shoes or removing electronics or liquids from their carry-on bags. With more travelers than ever signing up for the program, you're likely to encounter more newbies in the express lane these days.

It costs about $80 to enroll for five years, but you can get the service essentially for free through credit cards such as Capital One Venture, Capital One Venture X, Chase Sapphire Reserve, Delta SkyMiles, and American Express.

Gilbert Ott, who says he flies more than 200,000 miles a year and has been blogging about flying for the past decade, told Business Insider that the express airport security lane makes his life easier. Ott's blog, called God Save the Points, covers everything from airline news and flight reviews to travel tips and money-saving hacks, such as how to best use credit-card points. 

"I spend too much time in airports. As much as I may love them, sometimes the less time I spend in them, the happier I am," Ott said. "So the quicker I can get through and just be on a plane, the better."

While the TSA PreCheck line is often full of frequent flyers, those new to the program, which requires a background check, may not be as savvy about security etiquette, especially during busy travel times like summer. Ott said this can cause the line to move more slowly, but he shared his best tips for TSA PreCheck travelers.

Pre-strip before you even get to the airport

Pre-stripping is removing everything you may need to take off at security, from big jackets to the contents of your pockets, before you get in line.

"When I go to the airport, I take my belt off before I get there. I have it in my backpack, knowing I'll put it on as soon as I get through PreCheck," Ott told BI. "So keep the jewels and the watch in your bag. Then, when you get to the other side of security where you're not holding people up, you can do the glamour."

Ott said this process will make people move through the line quicker. 

"My routine is somewhere along the lines of comfy jeans, a T-shirt or hoodie, and then a bomber jacket," he said. "Essentials like my phone and passport go in my bomber jacket pockets while I wait in the queue so that when I step up to the scanners, my jacket is off, pockets are empty, my bags go on the trays, and off we go."

Leave the flashy shoes in your bag

TSA PreCheck passengers aren't required to take off their shoes. But in Ott's experience, passengers who wear fancy loafers or shoes with buckles or studs often get stopped because they set off the scanner. 

"The main thing is metal, either as part of the shoe or in the boot or heel of the shoe," Ott said. "Ceramic and rubber are usually fine. Basically, sneakers tend to always work."

Be ready before it's your turn

When you first get in line, Ott recommends having your boarding pass and identification out before it's your turn to show them. That way, you won't spend time searching for these documents while others wait behind you. 

If everyone followed Ott's advice, he thinks we'd all get through security faster. 

"If you think of the 20 seconds it takes somebody to do this very basic thing, and you'd multiply that by 50,000 people going through an airport's screens a day, you could pretty much just walk through an airport without stopping," Ott told BI. "We can all have a better time."

• Jensen Huang, the CEO of Nvidia, believes Chinese AI researchers are "world class."
• US-based AI companies like Anthropic and OpenAI are hiring them, he said in an interview with "Stratechery."
• International competition is healthy — but only if regulations don't prevent the US from keeping up, he said.

Jensen Huang, the CEO of Nvidia, thinks that China's AI researchers are some of the very best in the world — so it's no surprise that US companies are bringing them on board.

"The researchers, the AI scientists in China, they're world-class. These are not Chinese AI researchers, they're world-class AI researchers," Huang said in an interview with Ben Thompson, author of "Stratechery." "You walk up and down the aisles of Anthropic or OpenAI or DeepMind, there's a whole bunch of AI researchers there, and they're from China. Of course, it's sensible, and they're extraordinary, and so the fact that they do extraordinary work is not surprising to me."

As a whole, the country is doing "fantastic" in the AI market, Huang said, with models from Chinese-based companies — such as DeepSeek and Manus — emerging as powerful challengers to systems designed in the US.

"Let's face it, DeepSeek is deeply excellent work," Huang said. "To give them anything short of that is a lack of confidence so deep that I just can't even tolerate it."

The challenges presented by international rivals, Huang added, are absolutely essential to the continued improvement of AI companies in the US.

"Everybody loves competition. Companies need competition to inspire themselves, nations need that, and there's no question we spur them," he said. "However, I fully expected China to be there every step of the way. Huawei is a formidable company. They're a world-class technology company."

Intense competition could become problem though, Huang said, if US-based companies don't have all the tools they need. Building out the "ecosystem" required to support AI, he said, is already difficult — and Huang believes operations could be kneecapped by restrictive regulations. He was particularly critical of the "Diffusion rule," a Biden-era policy that would've established limits on exports of US-made AI chips come May 15.

"You can't just say, "Let's go write a diffusion rule, protect one layer at the expense of everything else." It's nonsensical," he said. "The idea that we would limit American AI technology right at the time when international competitors have caught up, and we pretty much predicted it."

On May 12, the White House announced it would rescind the rule, mere days before it was set to go into effect.

"The idea of AI diffusion limiting other countries access American technology is a mission expressed exactly wrong. It should be about accelerating the adoption of American technology everywhere before it's too late," Huang said. "If the goal is for America to lead, then AI diffusion did exactly the opposite of that."

Competition flows both ways, he said — and American companies should be battling it out in the Chinese market.

"The idea that we would have America not compete in the Chinese market, where 50% of the developers are, makes absolutely no sense from a computing infrastructure, computing architectural perspective," Huang said. "We ought to go and give American companies the opportunity to compete in China, offset the trade deficit, generate tax income for the American people, build, hire jobs, create more jobs."

• Some of the most beautiful sights in nature are also mysterious.
• These include sand dunes that seem to sing and a dazzlingly pink lake in Australia.
• While researchers have theories for many of them, questions remain.

Whether it's the cause of a flamingo-pink lake or the source of splotchy circles in the desert, nature holds countless secrets that scientists are still trying to figure out.

While people have cited UFOs or legendary creatures to explain some aspects of these unusual sights, scientists have called on physics, genetic testing, and other scientific methods to develop theories.

Such research has gone a long way in solving some of these mysteries, but often, questions still remain.

Here are nine natural mysteries across the world that scientists have yet to fully explain.

Eternal Flame Falls, New York

In New York's Chestnut Ridge Park, a flickering fire lends its name to the Eternal Flame Falls. Protected from the waterfall in a rocky alcove, it can burn on its own indefinitely, though it does sometimes go out.

It's an extremely rare phenomenon. There are fewer than 50 eternal flames around the world, geologist Giuseppe Etiope told National Geographic in 2024. Flammable natural gas, created when extremely high temperatures cook organic materials, seeps out from underground, constantly fueling the flame. Humans, forest fires, or lightning might set them alight.

What's unusual about the flame in New York is that its source, over 1,300 feet below the surface in the Rhinestreet Shale formation, is comparatively cool.

"The traditional hypothesis of how natural gas forms is, you have to heat to more than boiling water," researcher Arndt Schimmelmann told State Impact Pennsylvania in 2013. "But our rock here is not that hot and has never been that hot."

One of the researchers' theories was that minerals like iron or nickel could provide the flame's catalyst.

European eels, Sargasso Sea

Ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle wrote, "Eels are derived from the so-called 'earth's guts' that grow spontaneously in mud and in humid ground."

Over 2,000 years later, scientists knew that wasn't true, but they still had no idea how eels reproduced. Danish biologist Johannes Schmidt traced migrating European eels to what he believed was their spawning location in the Sargasso Sea. Some travel over 3,000 miles to reach the region of the North Atlantic bounded by four currents.

That discovery was over 100 years ago, and scientists still have questions about how European eels travel, including how they navigate, their routes, and how quickly they swim.

Learning more about how these eels reproduce is critical because the number arriving in Europe has plummeted by 95% since the 1980s.

In 2022, scientists published a paper describing how they had tagged eels and confirmed that adults do migrate to the Sargasso Sea, possibly to spawn. Despite years of research, no one has found adult eels or eggs at the location, causing some to doubt it's the site of reproduction. Slippery as an eel, indeed.

Savonoski Crater, Alaska

Fly over Katmai National Monument in southwestern Alaska, and you'll see a lake that looks almost too perfect not to be human-made. It's over 1,600 feet across and more than 360 feet deep.

Melting snow and rain have filled in a crater, which formed sometime during or before the last ice age. In the 1960s and '70s, scientists studying the Savonoski Crater tried to find evidence of a meteoric impact. It does seem possible a meteor caused the deep, round hole.

However, receding glaciers likely took any remnants of the impact with them.

The crater could also be the result of a volcanic maar, which University of Alaska Fairbanks professor T. Neil Davis described as a "volcano that tried but failed" in a 1978 article on the mysterious Savonoski puzzle.

When a magma pipe hits a water table near the earth's surface, it erupts in an explosion of steam, forming a rock pit. The maar continues to spew smoke and ash before subsiding due to a lack of pressure.

Singing sand, China

In Josephine Tey's 1952 novel "The Singing Sands," a police inspector gets caught up in a murder investigation involving an enigmatic poem: "The beasts that talk, The streams that stand, The stones that walk, The singing sand…"

While the story is fiction, singing sand is very real, found in Indiana, Japan, Egypt, and California. Many, like those in Dunhuang, China, have become tourist attractions.

A low, vibrational hum emanates from sand spilling down dunes in these locations, sometimes loud enough to be heard 6 miles away. Certain conditions, like the size, shape, and silica content of the sand, have to align to produce the singing, according to NOAA.

Just why the frequencies of the tumbling sand sound like music is still a mystery, according to a 2012 study.

Fairy Circles, Namib Desert

For decades, barren patches in the Namib Desert's arid grasslands have baffled scientists. Nicknamed "fairy circles," they stand out against the surrounding Southern Africa's green vegetation.

Some scientists have suggested that colonies of termites consume the plants and burrow in the soil, creating a ring that grows larger and larger. In a 2022 study, a group of researchers said they found no evidence of the insects in the circles they studied. Instead, they used sensors to monitor the plants' moisture uptake.

Their results suggested that ecohydrological feedback caused the bare circles. Essentially, these patches sacrificed having vegetation to divert more water to areas with grasses.

"These grasses end up in a circle because that's the most logical structure to maximize the water available to each individual plant," Stephan Getzin, an ecologist who led the study, told CNN in 2022.

Other researchers have posited that microbes could be a potential culprit for similar circles in Australia.

Devil's Kettle, Minnesota

For years, curious visitors to Judge C. R. Magney State Park flung sticks, ping-pong balls, and colorful dyes into the Brule River to try and trace its flow. As it moves through the park, it spills out into several waterfalls, including the Devil's Kettle.

Part of the water cascades into a hole, and no one knew exactly where it went afterward. Some thought it might stream underground toward Canada or Lake Superior.

In 2017, hydrologists compared the amount of water above and below the falls, and it was almost identical. In other words, the water wasn't leaving at all but fed right back into the river at the base of the waterfall.

Scientists think they have a pretty good idea where the water reemerges, but they don't know for sure, hydrologist Jeff Green told Vice's "Science Solved It" podcast in 2018.

So where did all those ping-pong balls end up? The powerful, swirling currents would have smashed them to pieces, Green said.

Earthquake lights, Mexico

When a 7.0 magnitude earthquake hit near Acapulco in 2021, people in Mexico City, hundreds of miles away, used their phone cameras to capture strange lights in the sky. Blue flashes lit up the sky like lightning.

Not all experts are convinced that earthquake lights exist, though they've been documented for centuries all over the world. Some scientists thought the flickers were from a damaged power grid or rainstorm, NPR reported.

Others are studying the phenomenon in hopes of using the lights, which sometimes occur prior to the earthquake, as a kind of early warning signal.

First, though, they would need to figure out why these flashes occur. A recent paper examined several possible causes of the lights, including escaping methane gas ignited by static electricity.

Lake Hillier, Australia

Off the coast of Western Australia is the vibrantly pink Lake Hillier. It looks surreal, as if someone dumped a massive amount of Pepto-Bismol into its super-salty waters.

Biologists have hypothesized that pigment-producing microbes are responsible for the lake's bright shade. In 2022, researchers published a study after looking at the water's microbiome. They found a number of bacteria, viruses, and algae. Some produced purple sulfur, and others were associated with a red-orange color. Together, they combined to make the pink color.

Researchers noted that other organisms could contribute, and further studies would have to be done.

That same year, there was a huge amount of rainfall, diluting the saltiness that's also a key factor in the color. Today, the lake is only tinged pink, but scientists think the brightness will return as more water evaporates, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported earlier this year.

Fosse Dionne, France

People have used the Fosse Dionne for centuries, drinking in the turquoise waters without ever knowing where the rushing spring originated. In the 1700s, residents built a laundry around it to take advantage of the flow, which pours out over 82 gallons a second.

Located in Tonnerre, France, the spring feeds into a basin. Depending on the weather and other factors, its hue can change from green to blue to brown, the city's mayor told the BBC in 2019. Local legends said a mythical, snake-like basilisk once made the pit its home.

About a quarter mile of its course is known, but divers have lost their lives exploring the flooded cave along the route.

A professional diver, Pierre-Éric Deseigne, has reached unexplored areas of the cave but couldn't find the Fosse Dionne's origin, the BBC reported in 2019.

• Wendy McMahon is quitting CBS News, citing disagreement with Paramount's direction.
• Her exit follows that of the "60 Minutes" vet Bill Owens and raises concerns about the show's future.
• CBS is facing legal issues with Trump, which could affect its merger plans with Skydance.

The prestigious news program "60 Minutes" is left without another key ally as CBS News' head, Wendy McMahon, has quit, citing disagreement with the company's path forward.

Her exit is the latest shocking turn of events in the face-off between CBS's parent company, Paramount, and President Donald Trump.

"It's become clear that the company and I do not agree on the path forward," McMahon, the president and CEO of CBS News and Stations and CBS Media Ventures, wrote in a memo obtained by Business Insider. "It's time for me to move on and for this organization to move forward with new leadership."

Her departure comes a month after the longtime "60 Minutes" executive producer Bill Owens quit the show, saying he could no longer run the program independently.

At the time, Owens said McMahon had the show's back, while McMahon praised Owens as having "unwavering integrity, curiosity, and a deep commitment to the truth." She said then that CBS remained committed to "60 Minutes" and would ensure that its mission and the work remain a priority.

"It is not a good sign," a "60 Minutes" employee told BI. "She and Bill were very close. Feels like he was the first target and they wanted her gone, too. But they spread it out. Also, they waited until the '60 Minutes' season was over, by hours."

The employee expressed concern that McMahon's promises to preserve the work of "60 Minutes" and promote from within to replace Owens could fall by the wayside.

CBS is in talks to settle a $20 billion legal battle with Trump. Last year, he sued the network over its "60 Minutes" preelection interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris.

The legal trouble has cast a shadow over Paramount's long-standing plan to sell to the Hollywood production company Skydance, which requires Federal Communications Commission approval.

Trump and his allies have repeatedly targeted the mainstream press.

George Cheeks, a co-CEO of Paramount and the CEO of the broader CBS organization, praised McMahon in a memo that was also seen by BI, saying her contributions improved the network's local news, competitiveness, and streaming operations. He said Tom Cibrowski, who oversees CBS News, and Jennifer Mitchell, who leads CBS Stations, would report directly to him going forward.

For CBS Media Ventures, which McMahon also oversaw, Cheeks said Scott Trupchak, who heads advertising sales, and John Budkins, who oversees programming and production, would report to Bryon Rubin, CBS's chief operating officer and CFO.

Here's the text of McMahon's full memo to staff:

Hi everyone,

Today, I am stepping down from my position as president and CEO of CBS News and Stations and CBS Media Ventures.

This has been one of the most meaningful chapters in my career. Leading this extraordinary organization has been the honor of a lifetime because I got to work alongside all of you. Your commitment to truth, fairness and the highest standards is unassailable.

Championing and supporting the journalism produced by the most amazing stations and bureaus in the world, celebrating the successes of our shows and our brands, elevating our stories and our people ... It has been a privilege and joy.

At the same time, the past few months have been challenging. It's become clear that the company and I do not agree on the path forward. It's time for me to move on and for this organization to move forward with new leadership.

I have spent the last few months shoring up our businesses and making sure the right leaders are in place; and I have no doubt they will continue to set the standard.

You are in incredibly good hands with Tom, Jennifer, John, Matt and Robert. They are phenomenal leaders and people who will continue to protect and celebrate your work. I am sure of it.

To George: Thank you for this opportunity.

To our viewers: Thank you for your trust. You hold us accountable, and you remind us why this work matters.

To the CBS News and Stations and CMV teams: Thank you for your passion, your professionalism and your partnership. It has been a privilege to walk this path with you.

Wendy

• Nearly 2 million student-loan borrowers are still waiting for their income-driven repayment applications to be processed.
• Trump temporarily removed the online forms in March, saying it was in compliance with a court order blocking SAVE.
• An Education Department spokesperson told BI the department hopes to clear the backlog in a few months.

Millions of student-loan borrowers are still waiting for cheaper monthly payments.

President Donald Trump's Department of Education wrote in a legal filing on May 15 that, as of April 30, nearly 2 million student-loan borrowers' income-driven repayment applications were still pending. The department said just over 79,000 applications were processed during the month of April.

This data is the first glimpse into the Department of Education's work to process income-driven repayment applications since the department initially removed online access to the forms for a couple of weeks beginning in late February.

The department said at the time that it took down the applications to comply with a federal court's preliminary injunction on SAVE, one type of income-driven repayment plan created by former President Joe Biden. The court did not explicitly direct the department to remove the online forms.

An Education Department spokesperson told Business Insider that Biden's administration caused the backlog.

"The Trump Administration is actively working with federal student loan servicers and hopes to clear the Biden backlog over the next few months," the spokesperson said.

In the meantime, some borrowers have been placed on processing forbearance, during which servicers recalculate their monthly payments, and interest still accrues. In contrast, borrowers enrolled in the SAVE plan are in a forbearance during which interest will not accrue, and they will not receive credit toward loan forgiveness.

It is possible that the backlog began last summer when a federal court blocked implementation of Biden's SAVE plan, which was intended to give borrowers cheaper monthly payments and a shorter timeline to loan forgiveness. The ruling also blocked income-driven repayment plan processing, and while Biden's Department of Education said in December that processing had resumed for some repayment plans, it would take time for servicers to work through the applications.

The American Federation of Teachers filed a lawsuit against the Department of Education for initially removing online access to income-driven repayment applications. These applications allow borrowers to receive more affordable monthly payments that count toward Public Service Loan Forgiveness.

As part of the ongoing litigation, the department is required to provide updates on the number of applications it processes every 30 days. AFT President Randi Weingarten said in a statement that the backlog is "outrageous and unacceptable."

"It is all the more concerning that until their applications are processed, these borrowers are being denied credit toward debt cancellation under the PSLF program," Weingarten said.

This data came just 10 days after the Trump administration restarted collections on defaulted student loans after a five-year pause that began under Trump and was continued under Biden. The department already sent notices to nearly 200,000 borrowers that their federal benefits are at risk of garnishment in early June, and 5 million defaulted borrowers could see wage garnishment later this summer.

Are you a student-loan borrower with a story to share? Reach out to this reporter at [email protected].

• I'm a chef who has tips for making a perfectly cooked, juicy burger with great flavor.
• Choose ground beef with an 80% meat to 20% fat ratio for optimal taste and texture.
• Only salt your patties right before grilling, and pay attention to their temperature as they cook.

As a chef, I strongly believe the best way to feed a crowd is to have all of your party foods prepped and ready to go — and that includes your burger patties.

When I worked as a line cook a few years ago, I learned the subtle art of working with ground meat and making the perfect burger that's nice and juicy.

As you prepare to make those burger dreams a reality, remember these tips.

Thaw your meat completely

Whether you ordered good-quality ground meat from your local farmer or stocked up at the grocery store during a sale, the most important thing to do is fully defrost it before cooking.

There are three main ways to defrost ground beef: in the refrigerator, in the microwave, or in cool water.

I recommend the refrigerator method, which is great if you're planning a day or two in advance. Simply place your frozen meat into a bowl or container, leave it on the bottom shelf of the fridge, and your meat should be fully thawed the next day.

If you're using a microwave, use the defrost setting and thaw the meat in three- to four-minute increments, remembering to turn it over. Microwave for as long as 12 minutes or until the meat is thawed.

For the cool-water method, place the sealed package of meat in a large bowl and weigh it down. Fill the bowl with cold, running water, turning it on and off. Refill the bowl with fresh water every 20 to 30 minutes until the meat completely softens.

Pay attention to the grind of your meat — and consider trying to do it at home

If possible, ask your grocery-store butcher if they'll grind fresh beef chuck to medium-coarse to coarse, about ¼ inch, for you.

This grind allows the fat to appropriately integrate with the meat and retain a beefy texture and moisture, even when it's dripping juice on a hot grill.

You can also ask your butcher if they suggest any other meat combination or if they can throw in some fancy scraps at a lower cost. 

If you can, try grinding it at home with a hand-crank meat grinder, food processor, or attachment on a KitchenAid mixer.

Simply dice cold meat into 1-inch chunks, freeze on a sheet pan for about 10 minutes, and then grind.

Pay attention to the meat's fat percentage

Good beef just tastes better, and the best butchers know how to balance tender or sinewy meat with fat to enhance its potential.

If you can, try to find a local farm that sells whole cuts or its own frozen ground meat. The most common burger cut is chuck steak, which has 80% meat and 20% fat.

In a pinch, 85% ground meat will do just fine, but be very cautious about overcooking, and don't go higher than a medium-level temperature to retain moisture and flavor.

Remember that the shapes of the patties matter

To avoid dry patties or ones that bulge and resemble meatballs, you want to be careful shaping your burgers.

Gently shape your meat into evenly round, 1-inch-thick, flat discs. Once those patties are formed, press your thumb in the center to make a dimple to help it cook evenly.

Be careful not to overwork the meat when forming your patty, since this can lead to a dense, tough burger.

Only use salt right before cooking

Once you've got your formed burger disks, it's time to add some salt.

Right before placing it on the grill, take a large pinch of kosher salt and gently cover the outside of the patty with a thin layer. Add the burger salt-side down on the grill and sprinkle some on the other side.

This shouldn't make the burger overly salty — it should help the meat be more flavorful.

Cook everything to the right temperature, or just below

Keep in mind that a big burger's temperature will go up a few degrees after cooking. So, you may want to stop grilling your patty just before it hits the ideal internal temperature.

Medium-rare burgers are cooked to 130 degrees Fahrenheit and have a cool, pink center with a charred exterior and a beefy taste with tons of juices.

A medium-well burger is cooked to 150 degrees Fahrenheit and has a hot pink center. However, this can quickly lean toward tasting dry, especially if the fat content is low.

Feel free to go above those temperatures to enjoy a well-done burger, but don't expect it to be the juiciest of the bunch.

This story was originally published on July 1, 2022, and most recently updated on May 19, 2025.

• My daughter and I spent four nights at The Crane, a luxurious resort in Barbados.
• Our two-bedroom deluxe suite was huge and had a private garden with a pool.
• The resort is family friendly and I was impressed by the on-site day-care center.

I love connecting with my 3-year-old daughter through travel. We've been exploring together since she was six months old and have been everywhere from Orlando to Morocco.

We enjoy staying at resorts, so when I found a deal for 40% off a stay at The Crane Resort in Barbados, I knew I had to book a trip.

The resort, which was founded in 1887 and is the oldest continuously operating hotel in the Caribbean, was charming, serene, and unexpectedly child-friendly. Here's what our $2200 four-day stay was like.

We stayed in a two-bedroom deluxe suite.

As soon as I entered our deluxe two-bedroom suite, I thought, "Wow." The space was massive, and I felt we got so much value for what we paid.

The elegant space was outfitted with mahogany furniture, a raised four-post king bed, wide wooden shutters, and coral stone walls.

The primary room had a king bed and the secondary had two twin beds and a crib for my daughter. There was also a fully equipped kitchen, a bathroom, and spacious dining and living room areas.

The best part of our room was the private outdoor garden with a pool.

Our favorite part of our room was the private tropical garden with a patio deck, gazebo, and pool. Because we were surrounded by greenery, it felt like our own private little getaway.

There was so much to do on the property that we didn't use this as often as I'd have liked, but we did spend some time relaxing out here.

We enjoyed many of the resort's restaurants.

On our first night at the resort, we tried Zen, a restaurant that serves Japanese and Thai cuisine.

Although the restaurant didn't offer a kid-friendly menu, my daughter absolutely loved the chicken katsu dish, which included fried cutlets with white rice. My sushi rolls also tasted incredibly fresh and delicious.

My daughter really enjoyed eating at D'Onofrio's, a restaurant serving Southern Italian fare. The staff immediately noticed I had my little one with me and quickly asked to take her order, which I appreciated.

We didn't love the breakfast buffet, so we spent a lot of time at the café instead.

One thing I was disappointed by was the resort's breakfast buffet. Although the views of the beach were spectacular, I found the food to be inconsistent and thought the service was slow.

Eventually, we decided to go to the café for breakfast, which had quick service and everything we needed to start our day on a good note — fresh fruit and granola for my daughter and a croissant and an oat milk latte for me.

The resort's beach was gorgeous.

My daughter and I both enjoyed spending time on the resort's beach. Watching the waves crash against the shore was the perfect way to unwind.

I only wish the resort offered some loaner beach toys for my daughter to play with. I usually don't like to pack these items because they take up too much space in our luggage.

However, I ended up buying a shovel set for her at the gift shop.

I thought the day-care services were top-notch.

As a single parent, the complimentary on-site day care was a lifesaver. Whenever I needed some me time, I could leave her with the team to play games, make crafts, and have storytime.

Although the service is usually reserved for kids ages 4 to 12, they made an exception for my daughter since she's been in day care for years.

One night, I also took advantage of the resort's $ 15-an-hour private babysitting service. The same people from the day care worked as babysitters, so it was nice for my little one to be greeted by friendly and familiar faces.

We loved our stay at The Crane.

Overall, I cherished the time my daughter and I spent together at The Crane.

The resort had genuine and patient staff members who made my daughter feel welcome, a spacious and affordable suite that gave us our own space, and lots of activities for us to do.

I'd definitely return to The Crane in the future and take advantage of any sales they may offer.

• Jennifer Cohen, Schonfeld's onetime top HR executive, is joining the $38 billion hedge fund Point72.
• Cohen is set to start in January as the 2,900-person firm's chief human resources officer.
• She previously worked for the private equity firm Global Atlantic and Goldman Sachs.

The talent war between the industry's biggest hedge funds is not just over investing professionals — even if they're the ones being lured in with nine-figure pay packages.

Firms are also raiding each other for operations, human capital, and technology leaders. The latest big move is Jennifer Cohen's decision to join the $38 billion hedge fund Point72 from Schonfeld Strategic Advisors.

Cohen has been the head of human capital management for Steve Schonfeld's eponymous fund since 2022. An internal Point72 memo seen by Business Insider said she'd join Steve Cohen's fund in January as the firm's chief human resources officer.

"Jenn will play a pivotal role in advancing our human resources strategy, focusing on enhancing talent management, supporting organizational growth, and reinforcing our culture of excellence," Gavin O'Connor, Point72's chief operating officer, wrote in the memo.

"She is uniquely positioned to lead these efforts, bringing a data-centric and process-oriented approach honed over 25 years of experience across business operations and human capital," he added.

Cohen worked at the private equity firm Global Atlantic and Goldman Sachs before joining Schonfeld. At the multistrategy fund, she was a part of the leadership group that guided the manager through an unsteady 2023, which included rumors of a takeover by its rival Millennium and culminated in the layoff of 15% of the firm's total workforce.

The manager has since rebounded, with strong performance in 2024 and so far in 2025. Schonfeld did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Point72 has a larger head count than Schonfeld, with more than 2,900 employees, according to the Stamford, Connecticut-based manager's website. Schonfeld had 872 employees as of May 12, according to a regulatory filing.

• JPMorgan Chase is telling managers to "resist head count growth" and boost efficiencies.
• CFO Jeremy Barnum told shareholders that AI will help the firm tamp down its hiring.
• Another exec promised staffing reductions of 10% in a unit that handles fraud and account support.

JPMorgan Chase's hiring spree over the past five years may finally be winding down.

The bank's CFO on Monday told investors that starting this year, less of its $95 billion in annual spending will go toward hiring as the bank seeks to do more with less, thanks in part to AI.

"At the margin, we're asking people to resist head count growth where possible and increase their focus on efficiency," CFO Jeremy Barnum said at the company's annual presentation to investors in New York City.

Barnum said the bank will continue to hire strategically in what he called "high-certainty areas," including bankers, advisors, and branches.

"It should go without saying that we'll never compromise on safety and soundness and we'll continue to hire and invest in the high- certainty areas where there is a link between adding employees and growth revenue," Barnum said.

Despite economic headwinds brought on by tariff turmoil, Barnum told investors that America's biggest bank by assets is on track for 17% ROTCE (a measure of returns for shareholders) and annual spending of $95 billion.

The comments echo remarks made by CEO Jamie Dimon earlier this year when he told workers at a town hall meeting that "attrition is your friend" and encouraged them to welcome job-stealing AI.

JPMorgan's head count has grown by more than 23% in the past five years. The company reported it had more than 317,000 employees at the end of 2024, up from 256,981 at the end of 2019.

Following Barnum's presentation, Marianne Lake, the CEO of consumer and community banking, took the stage and predicted a 10% head count reduction in operations, a division focused on fraud, statement and payment processing, and account services.

Lake, who said advancements in AI would enable a reduced workforce, said 10% was a conservative estimate.

"I would take the over on this projection and bet that we will deliver more," she said.

Artificial intelligence efficiencies

Barnum said that artificial intelligence would be key to cutting down redundancies.

"It's actually pretty amazing, and from what certain of my colleagues tell me who are actually trained professional computer scientists, it actually helps them quite a bit too with their efficiency," Barnum said. "It's not just the amateurs who are helped by these tools. It's amazing stuff and we have high hopes for the efficiency gain."

Firms like Goldman Sachs have also been making deep investments in their AI tech stacks.

Improving efficiencies has been a key theme at the bank this year as Dimon seeks to convince workers that returning to their desks Monday through Friday will help clients, including by boosting productivity.

In one slide shown to investors, the bank predicted a boost in productivity in its home lending unit while reducing head count.

The comments come as Wall Street deals with an erratic market tied to President Donald Trump's tariffs and trade war pronouncements. While that's buoyed equities trading volumes, it's threatened bonus projections for others in the financial industry and hurt investment bankers and those affected by the stalled dealmaking landscape.

As of Monday, the bank's stock was trading at about $267 per share, up about 37% over the past year. Last year, the bank earned a record $58.5 billion in net income.

This story is developing. Please check back for additional updates.

• The US Navy aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman is finally going home after an eventful deployment.
• A defense official said the ship is in the Mediterranean after recently leaving the Red Sea.
• Truman lost three fighter jets during its combat-packed Red Sea deployment.

The US Navy aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman is at last making its way home after an eventful extended deployment that saw the ship participate in combat operations against the Iran-backed Houthis but also lose three aircraft.

A US defense official told Business Insider on Monday that the Truman had left the Red Sea and is now in the Mediterranean Sea on its way home. It's unclear when, exactly, the carrier will arrive back at its homeport in Norfolk, Virginia.

NATO's Allied Joint Force Command Naples wrote on social media earlier that Truman and its strike group were participating in maritime exercises in the Mediterranean. Open-source intelligence accounts spotted the carrier heading north in the Suez Canal over the weekend.

The Truman entered the Middle East in December and experienced a string of unfortunate mishaps over the following months, including the loss of three F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jets, which are estimated to cost roughly $60 million apiece.

In late December, the missile cruiser USS Gettysburg, part of Truman's strike group, shot down an F/A-18 over the Red Sea in what the US military described as an "apparent case of friendly fire." The details of that incident remain limited.

In mid-February, the Truman collided with a large commercial vessel in the Mediterranean, near Egypt's Port Said. The carrier was damaged and had to sail to a US naval base for repairs. That incident led to the firing of the ship's commanding officer.

Several months later, in late April, when Truman was back in the Red Sea, an F/A-18 and a tow tractor fell overboard while the fighter jet was actively under tow in the carrier's hangar bay. A sailor was forced to jump from the cockpit just before the plane went into the water. Some reports indicated the ship was taking evasive action at the time of the incident.

A little over a week later, in early May, an F/A-18 was landing on the flight deck of the Truman when the arresting cable, the thick black wires used to catch the tailhook on the back of carrier-based aircraft and slow them down, unexpectedly failed. The fighter jet went overboard. Both naval aviators safely ejected and were rescued by a helicopter.

The Truman was one of two Navy aircraft carriers that participated in combat operations against the Houthi rebels in Yemen during the military's weekslong bombing campaign known as Operation Rough Rider, which the Trump administration abruptly put on pause earlier this month.

Truman's departure from the Red Sea means that only one aircraft carrier, USS Carl Vinson, is left in the Middle East. The Vinson features a mixed air wing that includes the fifth-generation F-35C, a stealth fighter made for carrier operations.

• A new report points to households with kids as "power users" of apps like Uber.
• Families tend to use the apps more often than other groups and spend more on them, TransUnion found.
• Uber and other ride-hailing apps are trying to increase how often users turn to them.

If you have kids, there's a good chance that you rely a lot more on gig delivery and ride-hailing services than most people, according to a new report.

Families with children are more likely to use a range of gig services more often than people without kids, making them "power users," a report from TransUnion this month found.

Sixty-one percent of respondents with kids said they order food for delivery from a service like DoorDash "once or multiple times a week," according to a survey of 1,051 adults that TransUnion conducted in February. About 40% of respondents without children said the same.

Households with children also spent more than those without kids. About 5% of childless users spent more than $500 a month on gig services. For people with kids, 23% spent at least that much.

Families represent exactly the kinds of users that many gig apps want: People who use the apps frequently and spend a lot on them. While apps like Uber focused on getting customers to start using their services last decade, many now want to become part of users' daily routines, providing rides to work and delivering grocery hauls.

"It's not only usage in terms of frequency, but usage in terms of just sheer amount of money that's spent as well," Mark Rose, senior director, market strategy for TransUnion's retail business, told Business Insider in an interview.

Some delivery and ride-hailing apps have added features specifically for families. In 2023, for instance, Uber started offering accounts specifically for teens to order food for delivery or call a ride — with parental oversight of their spending and confirmation that they made it to their destination.

Gig apps could do even more to cater to families, TransUnion's Rose said.

For example, TransUnion's survey found that promotions — think limited-time discounts or coupons — were one of the top factors that users with kids considered when deciding which app to use.

That means gig apps could offer more promotions specifically for families, especially given their growing businesses in advertising and helping restaurants and brands market to specific types of customers, Rose said.

"Could I help a restaurant target certain promotions based on family meal deals or other sorts of options that would appeal to a family?" Rose said. "I think there's more to be done there."

Spokespeople for Uber and DoorDash did not respond to requests for comment from BI.

Do you have a story to share about gig work? Contact this reporter at [email protected] or 808-854-4501.

• I'm a creative director and writer, but I'm also a barbecue pitmaster who loves shopping at Costco.
• I get barbecuing essentials at Costco like Kingsford charcoal and Kirkland's Stretch-Tite wrap.
• I also buy yard games, foil, water bottles, and meat in bulk. 

My day job is as a creative director and writer, but my "delicious job" is as a barbecue pitmaster and competition cook. 

In Buffalo, New York, I take advantage of the beautiful spring and summer weather by grilling and smoking food as much as possible. During the fall and winter, it's all about tailgate season. 

I love picking up my ingredients and supplies at Costco because the quality of proteins and products is usually fantastic. Plus I can also stock up on things that'll last for months. 

Here are 13 of my Costco essentials when it comes to barbecuing. 

Editor's Note: Item price and availability may vary.

Big bags of Kingsford charcoal are a necessity.

In my experience, Costco is also one of the few places where I can find the highest quality briquettes at such a low price. Typically, I pick up a 36-pound package of Kingsford charcoal. 

This brand is my favorite for searing because the briquettes burn extremely hot and clean. I use these when cooking steaks, burgers, and even hot dogs. 

Tents can make barbecuing easier.

Instead of fighting the sun or wet weather while I barbecue, I always have at least one or two tents up. Tents also keep food from sitting in the sun or getting rained (or snowed) on. 

I'm always ready to bring out some folding tables.

Folding tables are essential and extremely useful when it comes to barbecuing and prepping food. I always have two or three of these up on my patio — one for prep, one for tools, and the last for plating. 

Because the tables fold up compactly, they also fit into a car or truck for easy transport. 

Swift pork-loin backribs cook up beautifully.

When I season up and put a rack of ribs on the smoker on the first nice day of the year, I know it's officially barbecue season.

These Swift backribs at Costco usually come in packs of three, which fit perfectly on my smoker.

I cook mine to the point where I can get a perfect clean bite that comes off the bone without all of the meat falling off with it. 

Costco's Kirkland Signature label has solid meat options for when I want to try something new.

I'm always looking for something new to cook, and Kirkland Signature usually has some decent options, like a rack of lamb.

I like making a rub with a few herbs, searing the rack, and then cooking it to a perfect medium. I finish the meat at an internal temperature of around 125 degrees Fahrenheit.

And, in my opinion, if you don't think you like lamb, it's probably because it was overcooked. 

Big, sturdy coolers are an absolute must if you're barbecuing.

Coolers are a must for any barbecuer — and they do more than just keep meat and beverages cold.

When I cook something that finishes early, like a brisket or pork shoulder, I cover the meat in foil so it can rest, wrap that with a towel, then place it in a cooler.

This way, the meat holds its temperature for a few hour,s and I can pull it out when everyone's ready to eat.

Folding wagons are incredibly helpful.

Folding wagons are such a great help, especially if you're cooking at a park or location that's not your home base.

I'll fill it with things like ingredients and utensils to roll from the parking lot to the barbecue spot. 

Costco is also a decent place to pick up cookers or smokers.

Of course, we can't forget the actual grill or smoker. I'm a charcoal cooker, but some of my barbecue buds love cooking on pellet, propane, and electric smokers.

In my opinion, though, just choose whichever cooker helps you get the job done right. 

I always get my foil in bulk.

It's amazing how much foil I go through when I'm cooking outdoors.

First off, I use it to overcome the stall — when you're smoking a large piece of meat and the internal temperature of it stops rising or goes down — on big cuts of meat. Wrapping the meat with foil can help. 

I also use foil to cover raw meat, pack in flavor, and dish out leftovers.

Kirkland Signature Stretch-Tite wrap is also a must-have when it's time to barbecue.

Of course, with meat, we also have side dishes. Instead of leaving the sides out unprotected, I like to use Stretch-Tite to cover bowls and serving dishes.

It's also a great place to get gloves for food prep.

I'm big on food safety, so I always have boxes of nitrile gloves handy for handling meat. 

I choose nitrile because they're durable, stretchy, and never have a powdery substance or aroma that can transfer to food.

I buy water in bulk at Costco, too.

It gets hot when you're standing by the grill or smoker all day. These big packs of water keep me hydrated. 

Lastly, Costco is a solid spot to buy yard games that keep me and my group entertained while I barbecue.

Sometimes it takes an hour or two to finish cooking, so I make sure to have something fun for everyone to do while we wait.

Yard games, like cornhole, are a safe bet — and Costco usually has a decent selection of them.

Click to keep reading Costco diaries like this one.

This story was originally published on June 18, 2023, and most recently updated on May 19, 2025.