President Donald Trump went to Capitol Hill to get Republican lawmakers on board with his multitrillion-dollar bill proposing significant tax cuts.

• Elon Musk challenged Bill Gates' criticism of DOGE's USAID budget cuts.
• Gates has claimed DOGE's cuts could cause "millions of deaths" but Musk demanded evidence.
• Musk defended DOGE's moves and slammed Gates' comments at the Qatar Economic Forum Tuesday.

Elon Musk clapped back at Bill Gates when asked about his criticism of the Department of Government Efficiency.

In response to Gates' remarks to CNN and other publications earlier this month that DOGE's slashes to the US Agency for International Development would lead to "millions of deaths," Musk asked his fellow tech billionaire to show proof.

"I'd like him to show us any evidence whatsoever that this is true. It's false," Musk told Bloomberg's Mishal Husain onstage at the Qatar Economic Forum on Tuesday.

With Musk as its de facto leader, DOGE has taken an aggressive approach to making the government more efficient — including cutting over 80% of USAID's programs, according to Secretary of State Marco Rubio. DOGE was effectively "feeding USAID into the wood chipper," as the Tesla CEO put it in an X post on February 2.

Musk told Husain that parts of USAID "that were found to be even slightly useful" were preserved and moved to the State Department. On January 28, Rubio announced that the US would issue a waiver allowing "life-saving humanitarian assistance programs" to continue their work.

Musk previously called USAID a "criminal organization," and he said Tuesday that it hasn't been able to provide evidence of the children it's helping.

"'Like, where are they? If they're in trouble, we'd like to talk to them and talk to their caregivers,'" Musk said.

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

Gates, the cofounder of Microsoft, committed his over $100 billion fortune and the resources of the Gates Foundation to aid in global health over the next 20 years. He told CNN that DOGE's bold approach to cutting government spending is "a mistake."

USAID distributed nearly $32.5 billion in aid in 2024, devoting over $2.3 billion to fighting AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis around the world. It also spent about $290 million on making vaccines and immunization more widespread.

According to the United Nations, the US funds 70% of the global response to HIV/AIDS, saving more than 26 million lives since the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) was created in 2003.

"He's the one who cut the USAID budget. He put it in the wood chipper," Gates told The New York Times Magazine of Musk. "The world's richest man has been involved in the deaths of the world's poorest children."

• As a chef, I've learned the best tricks to grill perfectly cooked, juicy chicken every time.
• Choose your chicken cut wisely and add flavor to your meat with a rub, marinade, or brine.
• Sauce can char on your chicken if you add it too soon, so wait until the end to brush it on.

Whether you're having people over or bringing a meal to a potluck, grilled chicken is always a crowd-pleaser.

As a restaurant chef, I've broken down so many whole birds that I could probably do it blindfolded, so I have a few tricks up my sleeve when it comes to making the tastiest grilled chicken around.

Buy high-quality chicken from a trusted source

First and foremost, buy a good chicken from a trusted source.

Terms like "organic" and "free range" are often vague and don't always indicate what you think they do, so look for the USDA-grade label first and foremost.

An A grade means there's a good fat-to-skin ratio and no discolorations, and B and C grades are usually used for ground meat.

From there, look for cage-free, antibiotics-free, and Kosher, which all refer to how the chickens are raised and processed. Those factors, separately or combined, make for a chicken that is consistently tasty. 

Know how to best handle whichever cut of meat you're planning to grill

If you're not sure what chicken to grill, I suggest bone-in, skin-on meat. It tastes better because this extra layer of fat infuses the chicken with flavor and moisture while cooking.

You can also experiment with grilling a whole bird spatchcock style, which is without the spinal cord. This way, the bird stays flush with the grill, so it will cook evenly over the heat, and everyone can still have their favorite cuts.

Grilled wings are also great for a crowd, and their small size means they'll cook quickly. Keep a close eye on them.

Chicken breast is popular for a reason, but it typically has an uneven thickness. Slice cutlets in half or pound them flat before grilling for even cooking results.

Don't underestimate the power of marinades, cures, and brines

The whole point of marinating meat is to break down tissue and bring in flavor with acid and salt.

A quick marinade is easy to throw together, too. Your acids could be lemons, limes, oranges, vinegar, and even wine or beer. You can even make a marinade with leftover salad dressing or pickle juice.

Marinate for a few hours or the night before cooking for best results.

You may also want to consider brining — an overnight bath in a salt and seasoning mixture can do wonders for flavor and texture.

The salt breaks down the proteins and pulls in the seasonings, essentially curing the meat.

You can also experiment with curing with dry rubs and salt seasoning mixtures, which don't use water. The salt will pull the moisture out of the meat and then reabsorb it.

Just sprinkle a thin layer all over your meat and plan to brine or cure at least one day before cooking.

Add your sauce toward the end of the grilling process

A good barbecue sauce can bring finger-licking qualities to your chicken, but don't add it too early in the grilling process. 

This is especially crucial for sauces made with sugar. Similar to roasted marshmallows, it will burn over an open flame and can turn into a black char if too close to the fire.

Instead, slather on your sauce when the meat is mostly cooked through. Barbecue sauce is best used as a basting tool right before serving, so you can get all of that flavor without turning your chicken into a hockey puck. 

Use one of several methods to ensure your chicken is cooked

A fully cooked piece of chicken is 165 degrees Fahrenheit at the thickest part. However, if you don't have a meat thermometer, look for other signs that can signify a bird is cooked.

If there are bones, they should wiggle easily in their sockets. If boneless, pierce with a knife and any juices — there should always be juices — should run clear.

If you undercook your chicken, put it back on the grill for a few more minutes with the cover on to let the residual heat cook it through.

Grill over indirect or direct heat, but keep the lid closed

Most grills have a large grate directly over the flame and a smaller elevated one with indirect heat.

If you're cooking a larger or thicker piece of chicken breast, grill over indirect heat before or after charring, especially if you want to ensure it's cooked all the way through.

You can add some wood chips to your gas or charcoal grill for extra flavor, but keep the lid closed to keep it nice and hot. It's OK to check on the meat every few minutes, but try to lift the grill lid sparingly to keep the heat inside. 

This story was originally published on August 13, 2o22, and most recently updated on May 20, 2025.

• I made Ina Garten's smashed cheeseburgers with caramelized onions.
• The recipe only calls for a few ingredients, and you don't even need to fire up the grill.
• The burgers were perfectly juicy, and the simple toppings made the process easy.

Ina Garten might be best known for her oversized-cosmopolitans and perfect roast chicken, but the celebrity chef has also released multiple burger recipes during her decades-long career.

Ahead of Memorial Day weekend, I decided to try one out.

Among her many burger recipes, her smashed hamburgers with caramelized onions called to me because of their simplicity.

A number of the ingredients I needed for the recipe were already in my pantry, which helped me save money on buying supplies and was a testament to Garten's flair for simple yet delicious recipes. 

Here's how to make Ina Garten's caramelized-onion cheeseburgers.

This recipe only requires a few basic ingredients, including onions.

You can find the full ingredient list and recipe instructions on Garten's website.

I started by preparing the caramelized onions. The recipe calls for two medium red onions, thinly sliced.

I added 2 tablespoons of canola oil to a large nonstick pan over medium heat and then added the onions.

Garten says it should take about eight to 10 minutes for the onions to start to brown. I liked that this recipe didn't require a grill, making it apartment-friendly for this New Yorker on Memorial Day weekend.

While the onions were browning, I began preparing the burger patties.

The recipe calls for a pound and a 1/2 of ground beef with 20% fat.

To make the burgers, you season the meat with Colman's mustard powder, black pepper, and kosher salt.

I had never used mustard powder in a recipe before, but I was excited to see if it would enhance the flavor of the burgers.

I mixed the ground meat and seasonings in a glass mixing bowl.

This was so much easier and simpler than adding an egg or a ton of other ingredients like many celebrity chef burger recipes require.

I shaped the meat into four burger patties and placed them on a plate in the freezer.

The chef says the burgers should stay in the freezer for exactly 15 minutes, so I set a timer to ensure I didn't go over or under the mark. I assumed this step was to help the burgers keep their shape when I added them to the cast-iron skillet.

After adding a teaspoon of sugar to the onions and letting them caramelize for a few minutes, I added a tablespoon of red wine vinegar.

Garten explains that this step is to help deglaze the pan. 

After less than a minute, my onions were lightly caramelized and ready to add to the burgers.

I took them off the heat while I waited for the burgers to be ready to add to the pan.

I heated up a couple of tablespoons of oil in my trusty cast-iron skillet and waited for the burgers to be done in the freezer.

While this recipe does call for two different pans, it doesn't require many extra bowls or equipment, which I greatly appreciated when it was time to clean up.

I placed the burger patties down in the cast iron and made sure not to move them once they made contact.

Each burger patty should be about an inch thick. While all my burgers weren't the exact same size, I figured I did a good enough job and was able to use every last bit of the meat mixture.

To put the "smash" in "smash burger," I pressed down firmly on my burgers with a spatula.

This definitely would have worked a little better with a metal spatula, as Garten suggests using, but I made do with the one I had in my kitchen. In the end, the burgers turned out well.

After the burgers had cooked on one side for three minutes, becoming perfectly crispy, I flipped them over and added my toppings.

I grated some Gruyere cheese to top the burgers and added the caramelized onions, too. Then, I placed a lid on the skillet to allow the cheese to melt completely and finish cooking the burgers.

After about two minutes, my burgers were done.

Garten suggests using sandwich potato rolls, such as Martin's, for the burgers, so I did just that.

When I cut into the burger, it was perfectly medium rare.

I'm admittedly not the best at telling when burgers are done to my liking, but Garten's timing worked out perfectly.

The burger blew me away — it was juicy and flavorful, and the onions added the perfect amount of sweetness.

This recipe is great for grill masters and burger novices alike, as you only need a few ingredients to get a delicious burger. Even my roommates were surprised by how tasty these simple burgers turned out. 

I'll definitely be making these burgers again for an easy dinner or even a summer party with friends.

• Sean "Diddy" Combs' ex-assistant testified about a 2008 ordeal involving Suge Knight.
• An armed Combs went after Knight after he was spotted at an LA diner, the man testified.
• Combs faces federal charges, including sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy.

With three guns on his lap, Sean "Diddy" Combs ordered his driver to "motherfucking go" as they lit out for a Los Angeles diner — itching to confront longtime rival Suge Knight, Combs' ex-personal assistant testified Tuesday.

David James, Combs' then-personal assistant, described the dramatic 2008 ordeal — in which an early morning cheeseburger run nearly escalated the notorious East Coast-West Coast rap feud— while on the stand at Combs' federal sex-trafficking trial.

"It was the first time I realized my life was in danger," James told the Manhattan jury during his second day of testimony.

Knight, the Death Row Records cofounder, had been spotted at Mel's Drive-In diner some 20 minutes prior, James testified. It was James who drove Combs and one of the hip-hop tycoon's trusted security guards back to the diner, guns at the ready.

"I remember complete silence" during the 10-minute drive from Combs' Hollywood Hills home to the diner, James testified, adding, "I remember thinking there are three guns and three people in this car" should anything happen.

James, who said he served as Combs' personal assistant from 2007 to 2009, told the jury that by the time Combs got to the diner, Knight had already left.

"We didn't see any black Escalades or black SUVs" in the lot by the time they returned, James said, referring to the four cars he said Knight had been traveling with.

In the end, Combs just went home.

"We eventually drove back to his house in Hollywood Hills," James told the jury.

James said that Combs' human resources director tried to talk him into continuing to work for the rapper's Bad Boy companies. She offered him a job with the Sean John fashion line, or in marketing, he said.

"I told her no," he testified. "I just wanted to get out."

Last week, Combs' ex-girlfriend — star prosecution witness Cassie Ventura — described the Combs-Knight incident from her vantage point, back at the rapper's home.

On Tuesday, James described it from his own perspective, telling jurors what he heard and saw from behind the wheel.

It was 4 a.m., and Combs wanted cheeseburgers after a late-night recording session at his rented Hollywood Hills mansion.

James and one of Combs' security guards, Damian "D-Roc" Butler, were sent to Mel's, a popular all-night diner.

"I drove the staff truck, a silver Lincoln Navigator," James testified.

James had just pulled the Navigator into a parking spot at Mel's when Butler saw Knight at the wheel of an Escalade parked a few spots over.

"That's motherfucking Suge Knight!" Butler said, according to James.

James testified that the security guard walked up to Knight's car and said, "What's up? It's me D-Roc, Biggie's boy," referring to rapper Notorious B.I.G.

"Oh, what are you doing in my city?" Knight asked Butler, who replied, "I'm just here getting money, you know how it is," James testified.

"I know what it is," Knight responded.

The two men shook hands, and parted ways.

But as James and Butler were placing their order inside Mel's, they saw someone pass a gun to Knight — and saw four SUVs drive into position at different corners of the parking lot, James testified.

"We gotta' fucking go," Butler said, and they sped back to Combs' home, James testified.

Knight, who is serving a 28-year prison sentence in connection to a fatal 2015 hit-and-run, has recently commented on Combs' criminal case in interviews. An attorney for Knight did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Outside of Combs' home that early morning, James told jurors he saw Combs arguing with Ventura.

"She was telling him not to go. She was very upset," James said of Ventura.

Ventura said there was a 'freak-off' right before the incident

In her testimony last week about the situation, Ventura said that she had been involved in one of Combs' "freak off" sex performances at the time.

"I just remember we were kind of, like, just chilling at this point and D-Roc came in and he said that Suge was down at Mel's diner, which was just right down the hill," Ventura had testified. "And they quickly packed up and drove down there."

Ventura said she got upset.

"I was crying. I was screaming, like, please don't do anything stupid. I just was really nervous for them," Ventura testified. "I didn't know what it meant, what they were going to do."

Ventura testified that Combs and the other men put on black clothes, covered up their heads, went into a safe, and grabbed guns.

"And next thing I knew, they were in the SUV," she said.

They returned to the house in about half an hour, Ventura testified.

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

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

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

• Helene Sula has lost 50 pounds since May 2024, mostly by walking, hiking, and tracking her meals.
• The travel content creator, 38, said she doesn't deprive herself of yummy food in foreign countries.
• Sula shared 5 ways she lost the weight and is keeping it off, even with the occasional indulgence.

Helene Sula has visited 60 countries and hundreds of cities worldwide for her job as a content creator.

As much as sightseeing is part of her job, so is trying new foods.

After living in Heidelberg, Germany, for three years, she returned to her hometown, Dallas. Over time, she began to notice changes in her body.

"I've always fluctuated, but I especially gained a ton of weight when I moved back to America," Sula, 38, told Business Insider.

Her weight gain pushed her to reflect on her relationship with food, exercise, and travel.

"Food is part of a cultural experience," Sula, who now lives in Montenegro, said. "When I travel to a new place, I want to try the food. But I had to reframe my mindset and make it my mission to realize that I can try the food — I just don't need to eat all of it right then and there."

After a year of exercising and revamping her diet, Sula has lost 50 pounds — and gained a world of self-confidence.

"I am a very positive and outgoing person, but I think over the years, that has gone away a bit because I've been embarrassed," she said. "I feel like I've finally gotten back to myself. It's been really nice."

Here are 5 things Sula does to maintain her weight loss.

1. She tracks her meals on MyFitnessPal

Sula used to eat fast food regularly and didn't pay a lot of attention to her portion sizes.

"I'd eat a spoonful of peanut butter, and snacks like popcorn and chips straight out of the bag," she said. " I would never be mindful of how much I was eating or the portions. I didn't really think about that."

Sula has become more mindful of her eating choices, attributing a big part of her weight loss success to portion control.

"I thought I was eating healthy, but I was overeating," she said. "Now, instead of having three scoops of gelato, I have one."

To monitor her food intake and ensure she's maintaining a calorie deficit, Sula uses meal tracker My Fitness Pal. It's available on iOS and Android and is free to use, though users, like Sula, can pay for a premium version.

"I track breakfast first thing in the morning, and then, later in the day, I'll track what I eat for lunch and dinner," she said.

The app has been a game changer in her fitness journey.

"I don't try to be perfect with it — it's just a good tool to make sure that I'm staying on track," she added.

2. She doesn't turn down food, but she balances treats with other items

Sula rarely stays in a city for more than a week. No matter where she is, she still tries to maintain a well-balanced diet.

"My husband and I just went to Turkey," she said. "The food in Turkey is absolutely amazing. I still watched my portions, and definitely ate healthy when I could."

For her, that means consuming enough protein, fiber, fruits, and vegetables throughout the day.

Her favorite foods to eat on the road are:

• Eggs: While getting certain foods can sometimes be difficult to find in other countries, there's one food she can always count on — eggs. "My No. 1 is eggs in the morning, I'll go for an omelet of sorts," she said.
• Fruits and vegetables like apples and carrots: Sula likes to shop at local markets and grocery stores with fresh produce.

• Deli meats: She can get most of her go-to snacks, like turkey slices and fresh vegetables, in pretty much every grocery store. "I prefer turkey, just because it's somewhat healthy," she said. "I'll go up to the deli counter in a grocery store and have them slice it for me." She'll typically eat four to six slices, paired with roasted vegetables and a piece of fruit. If she's on the go, she'll have a protein shake instead.

• Protein shakes: Not all protein brands are available abroad, so Sula isn't picky. "If I'm in the UK, I like to drink UFit, and if I'm in Montenegro, I'll drink Protein Zott," she said.

3. She keeps a grocery list in her phone that she can use in any store around the world

A big part of eating healthy is balance — knowing when to indulge or abstain, Sula said.

"If I know that I'm going to have an indulgent dinner, for lunch, I'll go to a grocery store and grab an apple, protein shake, some turkey, and some nuts," she said.

According to her, this short grocery list is fairly affordable in most countries, typically costing about $6.

To ensure she doesn't stray from the menu, Sula keeps a grocery list in her iPhone notes app. She said it's a great way to avoid overthinking and complicating her eating decisions.

"Having a list of the foods that fill me up makes the rest of my day great," she said. "It takes the guesswork out of having to think so much about what to eat. I also don't get hangry."

4. She walks, hikes, and swims wherever she is

Sula said that a lack of walking was one of the biggest contributors to her weight gain.

"I went from living in Germany and walking or biking everywhere, to living in Dallas, where I wouldn't even dream of walking down to go to the grocery store," she said.

Now, Sula tries to constantly be on the move. To help her maintain her steps and exercise, her husband, who has a Master's in exercise science, created a workout schedule that she uses even when she's traveling.

While it can look different depending on what country she's in and what she's training for, it typically looks like this:

• Monday: An interval workout of a three-mile walk, alternating between two minutes of fast-paced walking and two minutes at a slower pace.
• Tuesday: Cross-training, which typically involves swimming
• Wednesday: Rest day
• Thursday: A nine-mile walk
• Friday: An eight-mile walk
• Saturday: Rest day or 12-mile walk
• Sunday: Rest day or 12-mile walk

"My workout schedule is very flexible," she said. "I don't really go to the gym very often. I have weights that I use at home, and I watch YouTube workout videos."

"If I'm somewhere for more than a week, I might go swimming, so I have to find a hotel gym," she added. Typically, it costs her around $5 per visit.

Sula has also added long-distance hiking to her workout plan. In 2024, she walked England's Cotswold Way, a 100-mile trail of rolling hills, woodlands, and farmland that runs from Chipping Campden to Bath, about a two-hour drive southwest from London. The walk took her 10 days to complete.

"It's my goal to walk everywhere we visit," she said. "I'm doing tons of walking in Montenegro. I've done a ton of walking in France. Germany is also really good for walking."

5. She doesn't shame herself for indulging occasionally or enjoying life

Sula's weight-loss journey hasn't been perfect, and she does have a few regrets.

"For a decade, I kept gaining and losing weight," she said. "I had an all-or-nothing mindset," she said. "I told myself, 'You need to eat healthy, and if you don't, then you ruined everything,' but that's just not real life."

"You can still try all the different foods and drinks, and still enjoy life," she explained. "The same goes for exercise. Building yourself up physically and making small changes makes a world of difference."

Sula's biggest recommendation for those trying to lose weight or better their health is to listen to their body.

"I'm still on a weight loss journey, but I think my No. 1 goal is to really just listen to my body and how I feel," she said. "I realize that food doesn't go away — it's always going to be there. You can try it, but you don't need to eat 55 croissants when you're in France."

• Google's vision for Search in an AI era is starting to come together.
• It's rolling out its AI Mode to users in the US, giving them a full AI search experience.
• At its annual I/O event, the company also announced several new search tricks it has planned.

We're finally getting a good glimpse of what Google looks like when it's fully transformed by AI.

Last year's I/O brought an onslaught of AI announcements and a sense that the search giant was trying to prove it still had the juice to lead this race, with a lot of disparate products and demos. This year, a clearer picture is emerging of how Google sees the future of its core products, including what CEO Sundar Pichai called a "total reimagining" of Search during a roundtable with the press ahead of the event. This includes a more conversational-type search called AI Mode and eventually an artificial intelligence assistant that understands the world around you.

Google has faced a major dilemma: Search advertising generates the lion's share of the company's multibillion-dollar business, though it knows it can't just stay still and let rivals eat its lunch. It's trying to build AI into its main product before someone else does it better. But not so fast that it risks hurting the company's profit engine.

The company has been inching forward with AI Overviews, and this week it's rolling out its AI Mode to everyone. While AI Overviews gives a response summary at the top of the normal search page, AI Mode allows users to click a new tab, which opens a conversational-type experience that surfaces a more diverse variety of sources, all still based on Google's search index. Users can also ask follow-up questions.

"AI Mode is not just this AI-powered experience end to end, but it also is a glimpse of what's to come in Search overall," said Google Search's head, Liz Reid.

AI Mode uses what Google calls a "query fan-out" technique, which means it runs multiple queries simultaneously and returns the results all at once. Google says it will make searching better and allow users to ask more complex questions.

The feature today is just the start of how Google sees search evolving. Google is announcing a bag of new tricks that it's keeping in Labs for now, so they'll only be available to early testers. Still, they show what Google sees as the future of search.

One example is Deep Search, which lets users punch in a superlong and complicated question and returns a fully cited report, much like Google's Deep Research feature in Gemini. There's also a version that returns real-time data and visualizations (think charts on sports teams' statistics).

Google is also set to let users give AI Mode access to other Google apps and their search history so it can return more tailored answers and recommendations.

Reid said Google would feed some of the features from AI Mode into its standard search engine and AI Overviews, the idea being that Google's standard search experience benefits from the leaps it's making in the underpinning AI models.

"You put all of this together. This really is building the future of search," Reid said. "Searching starts to feel effortless."

Does Google envision AI Mode being the default one day? That's the implication here, though the company will closely watch over the next few months to see just how many people click the "AI Mode" tab.

The everything assistant

Google also has a vision for an AI assistant that's with you all the time.

If you've seen Google's Project Astra, an AI agent that uses vision to see the world around it, you already have a good idea of what Google is thinking here. It wants to build an assistant that's with you anywhere — be it in your phone or in a pair of augmented reality glasses — and can see the world, answer questions, and relay information to you in a matter of seconds. Or maybe it's just helping you code.

At I/O, Google is announcing it's extending its frontier Gemini 2.5 Pro model to be a "world model," which really just means it's going to be able to understand what it's seeing and, Google says, make plans. In AI speak, it's becoming more agentic.

Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis said these updates were "critical steps" toward building a "universal AI assistant" that can better understand the user and take actions on their behalf.

"This is our ultimate goal for the Gemini app: an AI that's personal, proactive, and powerful," Hassabis added.

Google is set to make its camera-enabled and screen-sharing Gemini Live available to everyone with the Gemini App and launch Veo 3, a video generation model that includes support to combine sound effects.

It needs to build fast here. While generative AI is not yet a critical business in the way Search is, the company said its Gemini app had more than 400 million monthly active users. Google's own internal analysis found that Gemini still trailed OpenAI's and Meta's apps as of earlier this year, according to documents shown in court.

Have something to share? Contact this reporter via email at [email protected] or Signal at 628-228-1836. Use a personal email address and a nonwork device; here's our guide to sharing information securely.

• Google unveiled Flow, an AI moviemaking tool, at the IO conference.
• Flow uses Google's latest AI models to generate visuals, sound effects, and dialog.
• AI-generated content could challenge traditional studios like Netflix.

Technologist Luis von Ahn was recently asked if AI is a threat to the company he runs, Duolingo.

He said many companies could be disrupted, including Netflix.

"That's one of the things that is scary about the world that we live in," von Ahn said. "With AI and large language models, we're undergoing a platform shift."

"I'm not super worried, but you just never know. And it's not just for Duolingo, it could be all kinds of things, right?" he added. "I mean, it could be a threat for Netflix. It could be that just a large language model — just press a button and it makes you the perfect movie."

This was a couple of weeks ago, and I thought he was overselling it a bit. That's until I got a glimpse of Flow, a new AI-powered moviemaking tool that Google unveiled on Tuesday.

At the Google I/O conference in Silicon Valley, the company showed off this new technology, along with some illustrative movie clips created by filmmakers who had early access to Flow. 

Flow was built on top of Imagen 4 and Veo 3, the latest versions of Google's image and video-generation AI models. The company says the updated Veo model creates better visuals and can now generate sound effects, background noises, and even dialog.

If you give it a prompt describing characters and an environment, and suggest a dialog with a description of how you want it to sound, it produces a film. In one illustrative clip Google shared, two animated animals talked with each other. (To me, it looked very similar to a Pixar movie).

Flow is designed to help creators produce high-quality cinematic video from text descriptions. Users can also bring their own images and other files into Flow. It integrates precise camera movements, including the ability to request specific camera angles, such as an 8-millimeter wide-angle lens.

You can edit the film, too, within Flow.

In one example shared by Google, a user requests a scene of an old man and a friendly bird driving a black convertible off a cliff. The car begins to fall, but using Flow, the scene is swiftly changed and extended using AI so that the bird in the car starts flapping its wings and flying instead. The edit seamlessly retains character and scene continuity. 

Implications for Netflix and traditional studios

While Google positions Flow as a tool to empower filmmakers, the broader implications are clear: AI-generated content could one day challenge human-created productions in quality, cost-efficiency, and scale. For companies like Netflix, which have built empires on high production-value storytelling, AI poses both an opportunity and a threat.

On one hand, AI tools could accelerate content development, reducing production timelines and budgets. On the other hand, it could open the door for a flood of content from smaller studios, individual creators, or even consumers, eroding the competitive advantage of traditional production pipelines.

Moreover, AI-generated media could be hyper-personalized. Imagine a future where viewers select themes, genres, or even actors — and the platform generates a custom film on demand. Just like Duolingo's von Ann described earlier this month. That could shift power away from major studios and toward platforms that control the underlying AI infrastructure, such as Google.

On a recent podcast, Google CEO Sundar Pichai said the internet giant thought hard about acquiring Netflix years ago. Now, maybe he doesn't need to do that deal.  

The road ahead

Google's Flow is another sign of a broader trend, which is that AI may be democratizing creativity. While Netflix and legacy studios may initially integrate these tools to enhance production, the long-term landscape could resemble the transformation seen in music, publishing, and software coding — where AI tools and platforms radically lower the barrier to entry for more people.

The key question isn't whether AI will change filmmaking — it already is. The question is whether established players like Netflix will ride the wave or be overtaken by it.

As AI continues to evolve, so too must the business models, strategies, and creative visions of Hollywood's biggest names. The age of algorithmically generated storytelling is arriving sooner than we think.

• Timothy Burke is accused of grabbing unaired Fox News footage using someone else's credentials.
• A judge scolded his lawyers for misrepresenting and making up legal precedents in an attempt to get the case thrown out.
• A lawyer for Burke admitted to using ChatGPT and Westlaw's AI features without checking their output.

A lawyer for Timothy Burke, the journalist indicted over leaked Fox News footage, admitted in a court filing Monday that he used ChatGPT and other AI tools to write an error-filled legal brief.

Last week, Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle said a filing by Burke's lawyers contained "significant misrepresentations and misquotations" and demanded an explanation. On Monday, the lawyers, Michael Maddux and Mark Rasch, said the errors happened because of Rasch's research and edits.

The judge cited nine examples of "non-existent quotes and miscited propositions" that appeared to come from federal appellate rulings and a Congressional committee report. She also said their brief had six errors that may have been less egregious, as well as other "miscellaneous problems."

Rasch's process "included the use of Westlaw, Westlaw's AI features, Google, Google Scholar, as well as the 'deep research' feature of the Pro version of ChatGPT version 4.5," the brief said. The lawyers said Rasch used a feature on the legal research platform Westlaw called Quick Check to vet the brief, but didn't do so again after accidentally adding unvetted sections from previous drafts.

Maddux, the lawyers added, was busy with another case.

Maddux, Rasch, and Burke didn't immediately respond to requests for comment. Neither OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, or Thomson Reuters, which makes Westlaw, responded to requests for comment.

The proliferation of AI and the high cost of legal research has led to a number of attorneys being called to the mat by judges over errors in their legal arguments, often a result of generative AI systems' tendency to "hallucinate."

Often, the mistakes are made by solo practitioners or lawyers from small firms, though big firms have also been found using AI. A Latham & Watkins attorney said the AI system Claude was to blame for giving the wrong name and authors for an article cited in an expert's report, though the content was otherwise correct. Last week, attorneys from the firms K&L Gates and Ellis George were told to pay $31,000 after their submissions were found to contain made-up citations.

Burke, a former Deadspin editor now working as a media consultant, faces charges of hacking into a streaming system used by broadcasters. The case has attracted attention from press freedom advocates, with his lawyers arguing Burke committed no crime since the URLs he visited to download clips of Fox News footage were public.

The footage, which included antisemitic remarks by the rapper Ye and behind-the-scenes comments by Tucker Carlson about sex, his "postmenopausal" viewers, and issues with the Fox Nation streaming service, was never aired on the network. When the clips appeared online in 2022 and 2023, it aroused suspicions that a Fox employee had leaked them. In 2023, however, federal investigators zeroed in on Burke, who was indicted last year.

• 2006 was the lowest point in Cruise's career.
• The public bristled at him talking about Scientology and his relationship with Katie Holmes.
• Here, we chronicle Cruise's downfall and his rise back to stardom thanks to "Mission: Impossible."

In August 2006, it seemed like Tom Cruise's career was over.

In an unprecedented announcement from the head of a major conglomerate, Viacom's then-chairman Sumner Redstone publicly ripped into the star — who for years was one of the most profitable actors and producers at Viacom's movie studio, Paramount Pictures.

"We don't think that someone who effectuates creative suicide and costs the company revenue should be on the lot," Redstone told The Wall Street Journal that year. "His recent conduct has not been acceptable to Paramount."

It was likely the toughest and strangest time of Cruise's career. The then-43-year-old actor had a lifetime box-office gross of over $1.5 billion, but his flawless transition from young heartthrob to respected dramatic actor to massive action star seemed to self-destruct as quickly as one of the messages his character, Ethan Hunt, received in the "Mission: Impossible" movies.

The studio he'd called home for 14 years was parting ways with him following a string of bizarre outbursts.

In 2025, that all seems hard to imagine.

Cruise is not only the face of one of the biggest action franchises ever, but his 2022 hit, "Top Gun: Maverick," might have saved Hollywood following the pandemic.

On May 23, he's back with another "M:I," Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning," which is being touted as Cruise's final time playing Ethan Hunt.

It's yet another must-see title from one of the last real movie stars the industry has left.

But there was a time the veteran actor's career was at a low point.

The couch jump, 'TomKat,' and Scientology

Cruise's strange downfall and subsequent rebirth as one of the most bankable movie stars all began with a seemingly innocent act of love.

When Cruise agreed to appear on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" in May 2005 to promote his film, "War of the Worlds," it was a big deal. Cruise rarely did interviews, especially on daytime TV.

As Cruise walked onto Winfrey's stage, the crowd went wild. Winfrey playfully tousled Cruise's hair, and the actor was clearly in a great mood.

During the interview, Winfrey mentioned Cruise's latest love interest, Katie Holmes, who was off-stage where no one, especially the cameras, could see her. The excitement of talking about his new girlfriend led him to leap up on Winfrey's couch with joy. He did it a second time for good measure.

After the couch-jumping, Winfrey even got Cruise to chase down Holmes and get her to come onstage.

It seemed harmless at the time, but thanks to a very young internet video-posting site called YouTube, the image of Cruise on top of Winfrey's couch became a pop-culture phenomenon. To some critics, Cruise's behavior felt off. 

A month later, Cruise agreed to go on the "Today" show to continue promoting "War of the Worlds" and also talk about his religion, Scientology. When now-disgraced interviewer Matt Lauer spoke about Scientology, and specifically about Cruise not agreeing with psychiatry, the tone changed. Cruise offered his opinion on Brooke Shields' use of antidepressants for postpartum depression.

Here's an excerpt of Cruise and Lauer's uncomfortable exchange:

Cruise: "Do you know what Adderall is? Do you know Ritalin? Do you know Ritalin is a street drug? Do you understand that?"

Lauer: "The difference is — "

Cruise: "No, Matt, I'm asking you a question."

Lauer: "I understand there's abuse of all of these things."

Cruise: "No, you see here's the problem: You don't know the history of psychiatry. I do."

Later in the conversation:

Lauer: "Do you examine the possibility that these things do work for some people? That yes, there are abuses, and yes, maybe they've gone too far in certain areas, maybe there are too many kids on Ritalin, maybe electric shock —"

Cruise: "Too many kids on Ritalin?"

Lauer: "I'm just saying — but aren't there examples where it works?"

Cruise: "Matt, Matt, Matt, you're glib. You don't even know what Ritalin is. If you start talking about chemical imbalance, you have to evaluate and read the research papers on how they came up with these theories, Matt. OK? That's what I've done. You go and you say, 'Where's the medical tests? Where's the blood test that says how much Ritalin you're supposed to get?'"

Lauer: "It's very impressive to listen to you, because clearly you've done the homework and you know the subject."

Cruise: "And you should. And you should do that also, because just knowing people who are on Ritalin isn't enough. You should be a little bit more responsible … "

Minutes later, the exchange was on loop all over the world.

Within a few weeks, Cruise had gone wild on Winfrey and lashed out at Lauer, and by then, the tabloids had gone into overdrive with the Cruise-Holmes relationship, which they called "TomKat."

It was time for Cruise to get off the grid, but he couldn't.

Cruise's star power takes a hit

For most of his career, an experienced publicist named Pat Kingsley reportedly kept Cruise's private life out of the tabloids. According to a 2014 LA Weekly story, she even talked Cruise out of being more vocal about Scientology when he did press for his 2003 film "The Last Samurai."

A year later, the LA Weekly story said Cruise let Kingsley go after 14 years and formed a publicity team that included his sister, Lee Anne De Vette, and fellow Scientologists.

Now, in a typhoon of backlash that Cruise had never experienced before, his team may have been too inexperienced to protect him.

Despite all the negative attention, "War of the Worlds" still went to No. 1 at the box office during its opening weekend ($65 million), and ended up with a worldwide take of $592 million.

It would be the last time a film starring Cruise would make over $500 million worldwide for the next six years.

Following the release of "War of the Worlds," TomKat was still daily tabloid fodder, especially with the news that the two were expecting a child. And then, in March 2006, Cruise went global again with the controversial "South Park" episode "Trapped in the Closet."

The episode originally aired in November 2005 and revealed what Scientologists believe is the origin of life, but it also depicted Cruise as an insecure person and played on rumors about his sexuality.

In the episode, one of the main characters on the show, Stan, is thought by Scientology to be the second coming of its founder, L. Ron Hubbard. This leads Scientologists, including Cruise, to flock to Stan's house to pay their respects. But when Stan insults his acting ability, Cruise hides in Stan's closet, leading to Stan saying, "Dad, Tom Cruise won't come out of the closet."

Comedy Central delayed re-airing the episode in March 2006 because Cruise reportedly had declared he would not promote "Mission: Impossible 3" unless Viacom (which owns the film's studio, Paramount, and Comedy Central) canceled the rebroadcast.

Cruise's reps denied he ever threatened not to promote the film.

The controversy made headlines all over the world and led "South Park" fans to declare they would boycott "Mission: Impossible 3" until Comedy Central aired the episode.

The episode finally re-aired in July of that year.

"Closetgate," as it would become known, was the last straw.

The constant tabloid coverage of TomKat, plus rumors that Cruise and Holmes' relationship was supposedly arranged by the church, had turned people off. (Cruise and Holmes married in November 2006 and divorced six years later.)

The bad press soon began to affect Cruise's career. "Mission: Impossible 3" opened in theaters in May 2006, and Cruise's Q score — the appeal of a celebrity, brand, or company to the public — was down 40%.

Though the film was No. 1 in the US on its opening weekend ($48 million), it lost appeal as the weeks passed. Ticket sales dropped 47% during its second week in theaters and 53% in its third week.

"Mission: Impossible 3" is the lowest-grossing film in the franchise to date, with a $400 million worldwide gross.

It was at this point that Redstone gave Cruise his wake-up call: "We don't think that someone who effectuates creative suicide and costs the company revenue should be on the lot. His recent conduct has not been acceptable to Paramount."

The long road back to superstardom

After being kicked off the Paramount lot, Cruise hired a publicist with more experience and buckled down for a comeback. He brought his production company over to MGM and took partial ownership of the iconic United Artists studio.

Cruise also became less vocal about Scientology in public, though he was apparently still very much involved in private. In 2008, a Scientology-produced video went viral on YouTube of the actor explaining what the religion meant to him.

Cruise paused making action movies and turned to dramas like "Lions for Lambs" (2007) and "Valkyrie" (2008).

In between those films, he agreed to star in pal Ben Stiller's 2008 comedy "Tropic Thunder" as the overweight, bigger-than-life movie exec Les Grossman. It was the best move Cruise had made in years. In doing something so out of character, he began to win back fans.

"Tropic Thunder" reunited Cruise with his former studio, Paramount. Although Cruise's production company was kicked off the lot, it didn't mean he couldn't still be cast in the studio's films. The wheels were now in motion for Cruise to get back on Paramount's good side so he could make more "Mission: Impossible" movies.

Being a hit in "Tropic Thunder," Paramount's biggest comedy of the year for Paramount, was a good starting point.

Director J.J. Abrams, who directed Cruise in "Mission: Impossible 3" and was in Paramount's good graces after directing the studio's hit "Star Trek Into Darkness," was also working to get Cruise back in the franchise.

In the summer of 2010, news broke that Cruise would be starring in "Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol," with Abrams as producer. But this installment in the franchise would not be titled "Mission: Impossible 4," because the idea was that the film would be a refresh on the franchise, with Cruise stepping aside as the lead and giving way to rising star Jeremy Renner.

Cruise didn't get the message.

Back in the Ethan Hunt role, Cruise cemented his place in the franchise by scaling the tallest building in the world, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, without a stunt double.

That, and the other impressive stunts featured in the film, led to "Ghost Protocol" earning the biggest worldwide box office in the franchise's history — $695 million. It was also the second-highest earning film for Paramount in 2011, just behind "Transformers: Dark of the Moon."

It wasn't all box-office wins for Cruise following "Ghost Protocol." "Knight and Day" and the "Jack Reacher" franchise didn't do as well as expected. And he could not help Universal's Dark Universe get off the ground as 2017's "The Mummy" bombed at the box office.

However, he laid the seeds of what could be another profitable franchise with 2014's "Edge of Tomorrow, which — even with a slow start when it opened — ended up passing the domestic $100 million mark (the first time in nine years that a non-"Mission: Impossible" Cruise film hit that landmark number) and only grew in popularity when it got onto home video and streaming.

And then there are the "M: I" movies.

In 2015, "Rogue Nation," with its eye-popping stunt in which Cruise hung from the side of a plane as it took off, earned over $682.7 million worldwide and was the top-grossing film for Paramount that year. And 2018's "Fallout" did even better, taking in over $791 million worldwide.

Cruise took a break from the "M:I" movies to single-handedly get audiences back in theaters after the pandemic when "Top Gun: Maverick" opened in May of 2022. It would go on to earn over $1 billion at the worldwide box office.

Just over a year later, "Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning" opened and brought in a respectable $570 million-plus worldwide as it teed up the final chapter in Cruise's "M:I" journey with yet another stunning stunt.

Despite Alex Gibney's explosive 2015 HBO Scientology documentary "Going Clear," in which Cruise is criticized for being the face of the controversial religion, Cruise remains one of the world's top movie stars. 

And with "Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning" out this month, it doesn't seem likely that he'll be knocked off that mantel anytime soon.

This story was originally published in 2022. It has been updated to reflect recent events.

• Elon Musk won't be dissuaded from his fight against OpenAI.
• Musk, who co-founded OpenAI, has accused the AI company of abandoning its nonprofit mission.
• OpenAI has said it will keep its nonprofit control, dismissing Musk's lawsuit as bad-faith.

Elon Musk is charging ahead with his legal fight against OpenAI, extending his long-running feud with its CEO Sam Altman.

During a video interview at the Qatar Economic Forum in Doha on Tuesday, the SpaceX and Tesla CEO once again said OpenAI has fundamentally changed from its original intent — which was to be an open-source, nonprofit that produced AI for the good of humanity.

"And now they're trying to change that for their own financial benefit, into a for-profit company that is closed source," Musk said.

Musk, who left OpenAI in 2018 and later went on to start his own competing AI company, xAI, says he invested around $50 million in OpenAI when he co-founded it with Altman in 2015.

"So this would be like, let's say you funded a nonprofit to help preserve the Amazon rainforest, but instead of doing that, they became a lumber company, chopped down the forest, and sold the wood," Musk added. "You'd be like, wait a second, that's not what I funded. That's OpenAI."

Musk first filed a lawsuit against OpenAI last year, before withdrawing it and replacing it with another suit claiming the company had "betrayed" its mission when it created a for-profit arm in 2019 and expanded its partnership with Microsoft in 2023. And in September of last year, OpenAI announced that it would be transitioning from a nonprofit into a for-profit company.

The ChatGPT maker then abandoned that commitment earlier this month, announcing that its nonprofit would stay in control of its for-profit division.

But, Musk and his legal team remain unconvinced by that pivot. His lawyers said in a filing earlier this month that OpenAI's turnabout is "a façade that changes nothing," arguing that it does little to restore the nonprofit's original goal to serve the public.

An OpenAI spokesperson told BI in a statement that, "Elon continuing with his baseless lawsuit only proves that it was always a bad-faith attempt to slow us down."

xAI and a lawyer for Musk did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

• More than 2,500 ships pass through the Freeport of Riga every year.
• The port is rolling out a private 5G network to power technology like autonomous sea drones.
• This article is part of "Build IT: Connectivity," a series about tech powering better business.

In the Middle Ages, seafarers would sail down the Daugava River to take refuge from the harsh winds and waves of the Baltic Sea. They'd anchor their ships, which carried goods like corn, hide, and flax, in a small natural harbor in the city of Riga.

Today, the harbor in the Latvian capital is still a bustling port, although cargo ships and autonomous drones have replaced the sails and oars. It was designated a freeport, or free trade zone, in 2001, which means that businesses using the port may be exempt from certain taxes and tariffs. More than 2,500 ships passed through the harbor in 2024.

Ansis Zeltins, the CEO of the Freeport of Riga Authority and the chairman of the European Sea Ports Organization, said automation is one of the biggest areas of innovation in the shipping industry. For instance, uncrewed surface vehicles, sometimes known as sea drones, can perform routine tasks like ship inspections and monitor water pollution levels.

But remote and autonomous technology requires a fast, reliable connection.

"The amount of data that needs to be processed in today's ports is immense and continuously growing," Zetlins said. "Modern logistics, as well as port and maritime security solutions, require the secure exchange of data between all stakeholders in real time."

But that's not easy when connecting ships, drones, and the port across the ocean.

"Ships are moving objects," Zeltins said. "That means, technologically, there's a challenge with the signal."

The port used to rely on WiFi and 4G to connect ships and drones to the mainland, but in 2020, it teamed up with LMT, a Latvian telecoms company, to roll out 5G connections across the port.

More devices, faster speeds

5G is a wireless technology that uses radio waves to transmit data.

"For the majority of people like you and me, 5G is not that big of an upgrade from 4G or WiFi," Chris Karaplis, the CEO of Simply Embedded, a technology consulting firm, told Business Insider. "While speeds can be slightly faster, the biggest differentiator is its ability to support more devices, so your connection won't slow down when more people are on the network."

5G can support as many as 2.6 million devices per square mile.

"For industrial applications in sectors such as manufacturing, logistics, and smart cities, 5G can be a game changer," Karaplis said. "Being able to send large packets of data more reliably and faster, ultimately improving efficiencies, is a huge benefit for infrastructure or logistics-critical businesses."

At the start of the 5G rollout, LMT and Freeport of Riga built a private 5G network within the Baltic Container Terminal on the mainland. They replaced 22 WiFi access points with just one central control system and two outdoor antennas.

Under the new 5G system, Vilciņš said data transmission speeds became more than 10 times faster. This resulted in the use of other technology in port operations, such as replacing handheld radio communications with push-to-talk, a solution that allows the transmission of images and videos as well as sound.

"There were immediate improvements in business processes," Kārlis Vilciņš, the head of system integration business at LMT, told BI in an email. Vilciņš said before the switch, container reach stackers, or vehicles used to transport containers within the port, idled and waited for a stable connection to handle containers, which often caused delays.

'Multi-hop' connections

The real challenge was connecting the ships in transit. They used a "multi-hop" method, where ships serve as floating telecom base stations. One vessel connects to the mainland's 5G antenna, then passes that connection to the next ship, and so on.

LVR Flote, a port services provider based in Riga, first successfully tested the method in November 2023 using LĪVA, the first 5G-equipped ship on the Baltic Sea. This past July, the company carried out a more complex test, connecting two ships with an airborne drone that transmitted real-time seabed surveys and video footage back to the port. These hydrographic measurements are critical for safe navigation and port operations.

"5G provides an option for real-time controls," Zeltins said. "It's much safer and more responsive."

Ships using the multi-hop technique can connect up to 18 miles apart. Up to five ships can be linked up in this way, extending the total network range at sea to more than 100 miles.

"This is a major improvement because such technology has not been deployed at sea before," Arturs Lindenbergs, the head of the innovation development division at LMT, said in an email.

Looking ahead, Zeltins wants to harness the faster connection to bring new technology to the Freeport of Riga. For instance, the port is testing a Remote Operations Center platform for autonomous maritime systems.

"Our collaborative efforts have the potential to make the port of Riga a unique test bed for next-generation maritime technologies, increase high-value-added activity at the port, and attract high-value investments and new revenue streams," he said.

• Elon Musk said that it's up to the government to take its advice on federal cost-cutting.
• Musk praised DOGE's work while at the Qatar Economic Forum, but said it couldn't act alone.
• "We're not the dictators of the government — we are the advisors," he said.

Elon Musk on Tuesday said White House DOGE office staffers aren't "dictators of the government" and that progress made by DOGE is tied to its support from Congress and the executive branch.

Musk, the public face of DOGE's cost-cutting efforts, told the Qatar Economic Forum that DOGE has performed "incredible" work but that it couldn't make changes alone.

"The ability of DOGE to operate is a function of whether the government — and this includes the Congress — is willing to take our advice," he said. "We're not the dictators of the government — we are the advisors. And the progress we've made thus far is incredible."

"The DOGE team has done incredible work, but the magnitude of the savings is proportionate to the support we get from Congress and from the executive branch of the government in general," he added.

DOGE's work to downsize federal departments and agencies, including its efforts to probe sensitive information that's raised alarm bells for many lawmakers, has, in part, defined President Donald Trump's second term.

Before the official launch of DOGE, Musk said that $2 trillion in savings was a "best-case outcome" for the initiative, which delighted conservatives who had long railed against the size of the federal deficit. The tech titan recently said DOGE has saved $160 billion so far through its efforts to weed out waste and abuse.

The Trump administration is seeking to codify DOGE's cuts into law, but it has run into snags from a swath of GOP lawmakers who have resisted some of the more drastic initiatives.

At the forum, Musk continued to praise DOGE while also emphasizing its limitations.

"DOGE is an advisory group. I don't think any advisory group has done better in the history of advisory groups of the government," he said.

"We do not make the laws, nor do we control the judiciary, nor do we control the executive branch," he continued. "We are simply advisors. In that context, we are doing very well."

In April, Musk said he was stepping back from his work with DOGE in order to focus on Tesla.

• Small mining towns flourished at the start of the 1900s.
• Up until the 1930s, horse-drawn carriages and automobiles could still be seen on the same streets.
• Today, many of these towns lean on their history as tourist attractions.

Rural small towns that are today shaped by Dollar General stores and rusty industrial plants were once lively brick-paved main streets where domestic manufacturing and tight-knit communities flourished.

While some of America's small towns have grown in recent years, with young people moving in, others that prospered a century ago now lie abandoned.

First, mining prospects dried up. By the mid-century, declining industries began shaping what is now known as the Rust Belt, where once-booming iron, steel, and automobile plants were abandoned as manufacturing industries moved overseas.

Before this economic turmoil, small towns across the US were home to close communities, quaint main streets, and the first automobiles.

In some villages and small towns, like Normal, Nebraska, the bank was a building smaller than a house. In Hugo, Oregon, the high school was the size of a midsize church.

Take a look at what small towns looked like 100 years ago.

Oatman, Arizona, started as a mining town after gold was found nearby in the early 1900s.

Between the early 1900s and the 1940s, Oatman and nearby Gold Road were Arizona's biggest gold producers, and the town used to be a bustling center with over 10,000 inhabitants.

During the 2023 census, it had a population of just 102 people.

Today, the "lively ghost town" is defined by its streets of historic buildings, burros on the streets, and people wearing old-timey clothing and gunfighter costumes, as reported by Legends of America.

The main street in Manning, Iowa, was a dirt road until it was paved in 1915.

The town was founded in 1881 and was named for O.H. Manning, a politician.

The town of 1,500 is about 2 miles long and 2 miles wide, and its Main Street was paved in 1915, as reported by a community website.

In Eastman, Wisconsin, in 1920, the town's power plant was a small building that looked like it could be someone's home.

Eastman was established in 1855 and was named for Ben C. Eastman, a member of Congress from the district.

Today, the town has a population of 350, according to 2020 census data.

The state bank in Normal, Nebraska, is pictured in the early 1900s.

The town was annexed in 1919 to become a part of Lincoln.

In 1927, the town of Hermosa, South Dakota — 84 people — gathered to meet President Coolidge.

In 1927, President Calvin Coolidge went on a "working vacation" to South Dakota's Black Hills, where he would get a break from the hectic politics of Washington, DC, and win over rural populations, as reported by The Rapid City Journal.

The president's visit was supported by the expansion of the air mail service, which helped communications from the small, remote town, as reported by Vermont Public.

A town baseball game can be seen in this image of Boothbay Harbor, Maine, in 1910.

The town of Boothbay Harbor was incorporated in 1889 and became a trading and shipbuilding center.

Today, the coastal town's main industries are boat manufacturing, fishing, and tourism, according to the Boothbay Harbor Chamber of Commerce.

Pictured in Cordell, Oklahoma, in 1920, two people pose by a sign that discourages speeding.

The town was established on land taken from the Cheyenne and Arapaho people. According to the Oklahoma Historical Society, at the end of the 19th century, a general merchandise store with a post office was established nearby. The name of the town honors a postal employee, Wayne W. Cordell.

In the early 1900s, Manhattan, Nevada, attracted settlers after gold was found nearby.

In 1905, a prospector found gold, and within a year, its population had reached 4,000, Travel Nevada reported.

Today, about 125 people reside in the town, and residents often refer to their community as a "living ghost town," per Nevada's state tourism agency.

Bannack, Montana, also began as a mining town after gold was discovered in a nearby creek.

Though the town enjoyed decades of prosperity for the resources provided by Grasshopper Creek, by the 1930s, few residents remained.

In the following decade, the local school had to close down due to a lack of students, effectively turning the once-prosperous town into a ghost town, per Legends of America.

The now-abandoned town where gold was first discovered in the state is now part of a state park where dilapidated buildings are preserved.

Bonners Ferry, Idaho, pictured below in 1926, was another bustling mining community.

Gold was discovered nearby in the mid-1800s.

Today, the town of 2,500 features a revitalized downtown area for tourists to visit, according to the town's website.

In 1925, Dayton, Tennessee, became famous for the Scopes Trial.

In 1925, a Dayton high school science teacher, John T. Scopes, was tried and found guilty for teaching Charles Darwin's theory of evolution in what became known as the Scopes Trial.

Hugo High School, pictured below in 1926, was a school in Hugo, Oregon, from 1892 to 1967.

Former students recently hosted a Hugo School reunion, according to Hugo School's Facebook page,

Fleischmanns, New York, was a vacation town for those looking to escape the New York City heat.

Farmers discovered they could make money from people leaving the city, and hotels and guest houses popped up throughout the town.

Today, the town houses around 205 people, according to 2023 census estimates.

Provincetown, Massachusetts, began as a fishing and whaling community.

In 1914, the Provincetown Art Association and Museum was founded by a group of prominent local artists. They worked with local businesses to create an art collection and educate the public in the arts. 

The town is known for being the 1620 landing site of the Mayflower.

Lumber operations are pictured in Crossett, Arkansas, in the 1920s.

The town was named after Edward S. Crossett, a lumber entrepreneur.

Stillwater, Minnesota, was incorporated in 1854 and also began as a lumbering town.

The town "had all the ingredients for a lumbering town," as reported by the Washington County Historical Society. The town features rivers connecting the small community to the pine forests of northern Minnesota and Wisconsin, and still waters that allowed for the raft assembly industry to flourish locally.

In 2011, Forbes named it as one of America's prettiest towns.

Holy City, California, was established by a cult leader and white supremacist, William E. Riker, in 1919.

Holy City was created not as a religious oasis, as the name would indicate, but instead as "a commune and tourist trap created in the 1920s by a white-supremacist huckster," the San Francisco Chronicle wrote.

The Chronicle also reported that Holy City was reduced to "a few derelict buildings" after facing fire, neglect, and a new freeway that cut off the compound from major roads. 

Mercury News reported in 2016 that the town was purchased after a decade on the market by Robert and Trish Duggan, billionaire Scientologists. 

Taos, New Mexico, was established as early as 1000 AD by the Taos Pueblo people.

Historians estimate that the ancestors of Taos Pueblo people built their living structures, as well as pottery and ceremonial buildings, as far back as 1000 AD, according to Taos.org.

Wrangell, Alaska, pictured below in the early to mid-1900s, was discovered by the Tlingit tribe.

The Native Alaskan populations remained isolated until the early 1800s, per Wrangell's website. 

Lt. Dionysius Zarembo, a Russian-American ship commander, landed on present-day Wrangell in 1833. It is the only city in Alaska to be ruled by four nations and under three flags — Tlingit, Russia, England, and the United States — according to the town's website.

South Pass City, Wyoming, was founded as a gold mining town. It was later abandoned.

Today, the town is a historic site tourists can visit and see the over 20 original restored buildings, per Wyoming History.

• Warning: Spoilers ahead for the second seasons of "The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives" and "Vanderpump Villa."
• Demi from "Mormon Wives" is accused of cheating with Marciano from "Vanderpump Villa."
• Demi said Marciano assaulted her, while Marciano claimed he slept with Jessi.

"The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives" season two ended on a major cliffhanger when Marciano from "Vanderpump Villa" accused the MomToker Jessi of cheating on her husband with him.

The drama then spilled over onto social media, where Demi called Marciano a "sexual predator" after he said he wasn't let into a Hulu event for reality stars.

Here's what to know about the drama involving Jessi, Marciano, and, Demi.

Marciano flirted unashamedly with Demi on "Vanderpump Villa."

Season two of "Vanderpump Villa," where reality stars work in luxurious hotel pop-ups owned by Lisa Vanderpump of "Vanderpump Rules," sees Jessi, Demi, Jen, Layla, and Mikayla of "Mormon Wives" staying in one of the hotels in Italy.

Marciano, one of the servers, tries to flirt with Demi and kisses her on the side of her head as they hug in episode four.

Referring to the hotel, in the season two reunion Marciano says he and Demi "had a strong attraction in the castle that led to something outside the hotel" but that "Demi was not the only person that I was interested in."

Hannah from "Vanderpump Villa" responds: "so then you went for her best friend."

Marciano declines to explain further, saying the truth will be revealed on "The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives."

Marciano says on "The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives" season two that he had sex with Jessi.

Whether Demi and Bret cheated on each other is a key storyline in "Mormon Wives" season two, which premiered on May 15 and was filmed after "Vanderpump Villa."

In episode two, Jen accuses Demi of cheating by flirting with Marciano on the crossover show. And in episode three, Mayci says someone anonymously contacted her on Instagram to claim that they slept with Bret.

Demi and Bret deny the accusations, but their costars begin to doubt them by the end of the season.

In episode seven, Zac, Jen's husband, tells Whitney, another MomToker, that Demi threatened to get a cease-and-desist order to stop Jen and others from talking about what happened on the "Vanderpump Villa" trip.

Demi denied this in an interview with Entertainment Tonight published May 16.

In the final scene of season two, Marciano tells Layla that he misinterpreted Demi's flirting, thinking she was attracted to him.

Then Marciano drops the bombshell that he kissed and had sex with Jessi, and says that her husband, Jordan, doesn't know the full extent of the alleged affair.

"It was not just a one-time hookup thing," Marciano says.

The season three teaser shows that Jessi will discuss the scandal with Layla and her husband in future episodes.

The revelation seemingly comes out of nowhere, but in episode six, the MomTokers ask Jessi about rumors that she kissed Marciano at a party at a bar in Hollywood, which she denies.

On May 16, a day after season two was released, Jessi shared a post on Instagram and TikTok captioned: "I'll speak when I can."

The next day, Layla wrote on TikTok and Instagram: "can't wait for more, lots left out after editing. Lots of truth to come out."

Demi called Marciano a "sexual predator," sparking a new argument on social media.

Ahead of the season, fans began noticing the tension between the MomTokers and Marciano.

On April 22, Marciano posted a video on Instagram captioned: "Uninvited to the function cus a 30yo Mormon wife's scared I'll tell the husband the truth."

That was the night that Hulu hosted its "Get Real" event for reality show contestants in LA.

Fans thought Marciano was referring to Demi, who responded in the comment section of a "Mormon Wives" fan account: "Grown men acting like a child cause they couldn't bag a woman that was beyond out of their league and MARRIED 🤮 <<< the clout chasing is on another level."

She later wrote: "Also he got uninvited by @hulu because he's a s3xual pr3dator that can't keep his hands to himself, not because I'm hiding anything from my husband. He's a lying clout chaser. @marcianob hope your 15 min of fame is worth it, you're pathetic."

In the comment section of a separate post by "Mormon Wives" fan account, Zac wrote: "I like this seat much better @jenniferlaffleck."

Jen added: "S3xual pr3dator?? It's interesting considering she was FaceTiming him a week later, inviting him to dinner."

Vulture reported in April that Jessi wrote in a since-deleted comment under a post by the same fan account that "the truth will always come out" and that the assault allegation was "not true."

Vulture reported that Demi posted on her Instagram story on April 25 that any unwanted physical touch is assault and criticized her costars for calling her a liar, saying they were aware of what happened.

Appearing on the Viall Files podcast on May 15, Demi said she told her costars that she got "groped, sexually assaulted" while filming "Vanderpump Villa" after they left the hotel.

Demi said she asked them to swear not to tell anyone about the alleged assault and let her handle it. She added that Jessi broke her trust by telling Scheana from "Vanderpump Rules" about the alleged assault two weeks later.

The drama could explain why Demi no longer following her costars Taylor, Layla, Jessi, and Jen on Instagram. Layla, Taylor, and Jen follow Demi, but Jessi follows all the members of MomTok except for Demi.

Demi said on the "Viall Files" podcast that Jessi blocked her.

A representative for Hulu, Demi, Marciano, Jessi, Layla, and Jen did not immediately respond to a comment request from Business Insider.

• I took an adults-only Virgin Voyages cruise and visited the ship's VIP lounge, Richard's Rooftop.
• The lounge is reserved for suite guests and has shaded beds, pools, and a full-service bar.
• On a seven-day Mediterranean cruise, suites for two cost between $8,000 and $20,000.

On my first adults-only cruise, I got a taste of the star treatment. While lying on a spacious outdoor bed in the quietest corner of the top deck, servers brought me ahi tuna and frozen drinks as I gazed at the ocean.

I was on Richard's Rooftop — the VIP lounge on board Virgin Voyages cruise ships. The adults-only cruise line's exclusive hideaway is reserved for passengers staying in suites — known as "Rockstars" by the cruise line.

Prices vary depending on the ship, dates, and itinerary, but a representative from Virgin Voyages told Business Insider that the starting rates for entry-level suites for two on Mediterranean cruises in summer 2025 are around $8,000. The most expensive suites cost up to $20,000.

While I didn't book a suite, I got access to the lounge during a seven-day Mediterranean cruise on Virgin Voyages' Valiant Lady in August 2023. To me, it was easily the most relaxing part of the ship.

The rooftop lounge was at the front of deck 16.

According to Virgin Voyages, the lounge was named for and inspired by founder Richard Branson.

To enter, passengers scanned their room key cards.

Inside, the space was filled with cabanas, pool chairs, two whirlpools, and several round loungers that felt like beds to me.

Iridescent glass dividers added colorful hues to the white furniture. I thought this was a captivating detail by the designer, Tom Dixon.

Each grouping of seats had a food and drink menu for the rooftop bar, and crew members served guests at their lounging spots.

I ordered a tuna poke bowl and a non-alcoholic strawberry daiquiri. Both were refreshing and delicious.

During my visits to the lounge, there was always enough empty seating to settle into a spot where I couldn't see or hear anyone else.

The VIP lounge was quieter, emptier, and more shaded than the outdoor communal spaces for all passengers.

The pools were crowd-free, and the service was more personal. Crew members checked in with guests often to see if they wanted more refreshments.

With a more peaceful, private vibe than the rest of the pool deck, Richard's Rooftop was the only place on the ship where I could lie in the sun and feel like I was in bed simultaneously. That made it the most relaxing part of the whole cruise.

Next time I cruise with Virgin Voyages, I'll consider upgrading to a suite.

• Sara Beth Berman is a 43-year-old Jewish educator in Brooklyn whose fiancé died when they were both 27.
• She remembers being "horrible" for a year after his death.
• People would tell her she was lucky she could still have children after he died.

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

Rafi and I met when we were both 22, working at a summer camp in Georgia. We quickly became friends, and after he moved to Manhattan, where I was living, a year later, we started dating.

I knew he had a genetic disorder, but I rarely saw the impact of it when we were dating. He had a habit of downplaying it. I think he was in deep denial about his condition. With no reason not to believe him, I assumed it was under control and didn't expect to lose him at a young age.

He mentioned getting married during a hospital stay

In 2007, we both moved to Jerusalem to study for a year. On my first day of classes, I had a phone call from Rafi to say he was heading to the emergency room. He told me what was happening, but said his bilingual friend was taking him, that I should stay in school because it was my first day of classes.

Once I got to the hospital, Rafi just kept saying it was no big deal — that he was fine. In 2008, we were back in the US, and he was in and out of the hospital a few times, with doctors trying to figure out what they were going to treat first.

During one of these hospital stays, he informally suggested we get married. Later, in May 2009, once out of the hospital, he made it official by asking me to be his wife.

I was looking forward to living the rest of my life with him. I booked a wedding venue and bought my dress.

He fell down the stairs and shortly after died

We moved into an Upper West Side apartment with another friend of ours in August 2009.

Shortly after, at a party we went to together, I told him I didn't think he should go up and down a flight of steep set of stairs to get to the party. He had recently broken his leg. He told me he was fine, but after the party, he tripped down the stairs and broke his shoulder and hip. We didn't realize it at the time, but the breaks were a sign his body was shutting down. There was no calcium left in his bones.

The next day, Rafi fell into a coma for a month before dying on September 29, 2009.

For months, I was an absolute disaster. I didn't sleep. I only ate doughnuts and drank Gatorade.

I remember seeing the leaves change through the fall and thinking how I and the rest of the world were continuing to move on, without him. I was horrible to everyone. I think people were afraid of me, and I sort of enjoyed that. I wanted them to be in pain because I was in pain.

My closest friends stuck in there with me, though, distracting me and helping me cancel plans for the wedding. The shop I bought my wedding dress from required me to come into the store with a death certificate in order to get a refund on the dress.

I didn't think I could love again

I had no concept of what life would be like without Rafi, and I couldn't think about loving again.

Very unhelpfully, people would tell me how lucky it was I hadn't married him or had any children. They said I would find someone else, and told me it was a good thing I was young — I could still have children with someone else.

What I needed was validation — for someone to tell me it was OK not to be OK. But I didn't know of anyone who had been a young widow like me.

A little after a year, I was brought into a group of women who had been through something similar — who had lost a boyfriend, fiancé, or spouse at a young age. This group was a big support to me. It was so useful to know there were other people like me and that they continued to exist even after.

Six years ago, I got married, and my husband and I now have a little girl together.

It hasn't been easy for my husband at times because I have a collection of rituals tied to Rafi. For example, we had to decide whether Rafi would live or die on Yom Kippur. So now, my religious practices on Yom Kippur are non-traditional. My husband and I find a balance between what's a regular Yom Kippur and my weird version of observance.

We have a memorial dinner for Rafi every year, which everyone enjoys because so many people who were friends with Rafi are also now very close with my husband and daughter.

When Rafi died, I couldn't see a way forward as a young widow, but in time, it got easier when I found my people — those who had an idea of what I was feeling. I made it through, even though it didn't feel like I ever would that first year after he died.

• Cold Stone Creamery has over 20 combinations of ice cream and mix-ins called Signature Creations.
• The Founder's Favorite was too sweet for me even though I liked the brownies.
• I loved the Mud Pie Mojo's blend of coffee ice cream, Oreos, peanut butter, and more.

One of the hardest decisions for me to make is what to order at an ice cream shop.

So, I chose to avoid the decision altogether and order 26 of Cold Stone Creamery's pre-set combinations of ice cream and mix-ins known as Signature Creations.

I ordered all of the varieties in a "like it" cup (comparable to a small) from my local store in Kansas City, Missouri, for $7 each.

As an ice cream lover who normally gravitates toward flavors full of chocolate, fruit, and peanut butter, I was excited to give everything a try and rank them from worst to best.

Here's what the experience was like.

26. Founder's Favorite

This flavor might be the founder's favorite, but it wasn't mine.

The sweet cream ice cream was, admittedly, too sweet for me, especially when paired with brownie pieces, fudge, caramel, and pecans.

The brownie pieces were super soft, though, which was delightful.

25. Cookie Doughn't You Want Some

Similarly, I thought the French vanilla ice cream was an incredibly sweet base for this combination of cookie dough, fudge, chocolate chips, and a hint of caramel.

It was so rich that I was glad I only ordered a small cup.

24. Oreo Overload

With a sweet cream ice cream base and Oreos, fudge, and chocolate chips, this Signature Creation delivered a little too much sugar to my senses, but I loved the texture.

The loud crunch of the cookies was satisfying when paired with pockets of smooth fudge and hard chocolate chips.

23. Surrender to Strawberry

Surrender to Strawberry reminded me of a strawberry shortcake, thanks to its combination of strawberry ice cream, yellow cake, strawberries, and whipped topping.

However, it was less filling than I expected it to be.

22. Somewhere Over the Rain-dough

With a cookie dough ice cream base and rainbow sprinkles, frosting, and sugar crystals mixed in, this creation was way too sweet for me.

It tasted like a cupcake with too much frosting on top, only this time, I couldn't scrape anything off to make it taste better.

21. Coffee Lovers Only

Coffee Lovers Only includes a reliable mix of coffee-flavored ice cream, roasted almonds, Heath bar pieces, and caramel.

It was super crunchy and had a bit of a bitter aftertaste. However, I'm not a big fan of Heath bars, so this flavor didn't end up ranking highly for me.

20. Cookie Mintster

An upgrade to the classic mint chocolate chip ice cream, the Cookie Mintster had an incredible texture thanks to plenty of Oreo cookie crumbles and a dash of fudge.

Although I do enjoy mint, this flavor combination was less impressive to me than other Signature Creations I tasted.

19. Peanut Butter Cup Perfection

I'm a big fan of Reese's peanut butter cups, so I really enjoyed this blend of chocolate ice cream, peanut butter, Reese's, and fudge.

However, the flavors weren't unique enough for me to rank this creation any higher.

18. No One Lays a Finger on My Butterfinger

Peanut butter ice cream made with Butterfinger served as the base for this Signature Creation that's topped with more Butterfinger pieces, fudge, and caramel.

I thought it was tasty and original, but I didn't like the way the cold Butterfinger got stuck in my teeth.

17. Berry Berry Berry Good

The combination of sweet cream ice cream and fresh-tasting raspberries, blueberries, and strawberries mirrored a refreshing cup of berries and cream. I enjoyed this simple and light Signature Creation.

16. Apple Pie a la Cold Stone

In my experience, ice cream shops usually only feature an apple pie flavor seasonally, but Cold Stone has a Signature Creation that mirrors one year-round.

Its Apple Pie a la Cold Stone includes French vanilla ice cream, apple pie filling, graham cracker pie crust, caramel, and cinnamon.

Although the flavors blend deliciously, I'd still prefer a fresh slice of apple pie à la mode any day.

15. Mint Mint Chocolate Chocolate Chip

Although the Cookie Mintster was a good start, the Mint Mint Chocolate Chocolate Chip was the true mint chocolate chip upgrade I'd been waiting for.

With chocolate chips, brownie pieces, and fudge mixed into a mint ice cream base, I thought this option was a little more filling. I'm also partial to the soft, decadent brownies.

14. Our Strawberry Blonde

The Our Strawberry Blonde is made with refreshing strawberry ice cream topped with strawberries, caramel, graham cracker pie crust, and whipped topping.

The final creation was thick and decadent without being overbearing, and had a fun crunch.

13. Don't Cry Over Spilled Silk

This vegan-friendly option was made with Silk chocolate almond milk and almost passed for regular ice cream, save for being just a little grainy and icy in its consistency.

Still, I thought it paired well with the bananas, peanut butter, and roasted almonds.

12. Cookies Make Everything Batter

This Signature Creation includes cake batter ice cream, Oreos, Golden Oreos, and whipped topping.

The ice cream tasted sweet like the center of an Oreo, but I couldn't really tell the whipped topping was there. Still, I thought it was really good and a small cup was almost too much for me because of how filling it was.

11. Going Bananas for Jell-O Pudding

This creation mixes crunchy Nilla Wafers, bananas, and whipped topping into a Jell-O banana cream pudding ice cream.

I thought it had a true banana pudding taste and a creamy texture.

Normally, the texture of pudding bothers me but I love the taste, so I would absolutely eat this in its place.

10. One Smart Brookie

I initially raised my eyebrows at this treat, as I expected the base ice cream flavor to be vanilla, not cookie dough.

However, I thought the cookie dough ice cream was a nice addition that tasted like a mix between French vanilla and cake batter. I also liked the addition of cookie dough and brownie pieces to finish the creation.

9. Chocolate Devotion

The Chocolate Devotion is an irresistible blend of chocolate ice cream, chocolate chips, brownie pieces, and fudge.

The ice cream itself was delightfully creamy, and there were so many soft chunks of brownie, I almost thought they were the main ingredient.

If you're craving chocolate, don't consider anything else.

8. Cheesecake Fantasy

I thought the cheesecake ice cream base was incredible.

Added graham cracker pie crust, blueberries, and strawberries made this Signature Creation a delightful, thick treat that tasted just like a bite of cheesecake.

7. Reese's Peanut Butter Awesome Sauce

The Reese's Peanut Butter Awesome Sauce pairs sweet cream ice cream with the saltiness of Reese's peanut butter sauce and Reese's peanut butter cups. This was a surprisingly delicious treat, especially since I'm clearly not the biggest fan of sweet cream ice cream.

Together, this creation was outstandingly thick and creamy, almost like cookie dough.

6. Dough for It

The Dough for It is made with cookie dough ice cream, chocolate chips, cookie dough, and sugar crystals.

I thought the ice cream was really creamy and would be enjoyable on its own. The sugar crystals weren't too sweet and added a fun crunch, too.

5. Cake Batter Batter Batter

I expected this Signature Creation to be too sweet and didn't think cake batter ice cream would pair well with the cookie dough and brownie pieces.

However, it was surprisingly amazing. I found myself eating it slower because of its decadence and couldn't put the spoon down.

4. Birthday Cake Remix

The Birthday Cake Remix combines cake batter ice cream, brownie pieces, fudge, and rainbow sprinkles. As soon as I took a bite, I said "Amazing."

This Signature Creation had the distinct flavor of three staple desserts — ice cream, cake, and brownies — and the perfect amount of richness, while still being a little unique.

I highly suggest this if you're a fan of sprinkles, too.

3. Banana Caramel Crunch

The Banana Caramel Crunch tasted like sweet banana bread that had been pulled fresh out of the oven.

Roasted almonds added a fun crunch to the soft, ripe bananas and sweet caramel drizzle mixed into a French vanilla base. The whole thing somehow managed to taste warm and inviting.

2. Mud Pie Mojo

I want to wake up to this concoction of coffee ice cream, Oreos, peanut butter, roasted almonds, and fudge every morning.

The creamy coffee ice cream was light and sweet with a bit of a bite in the aftertaste that created a great base to balance all the flavors.

I also loved the array of textures the toppings provided.

1. Dough-lightful Peanut Butter

My favorite Signature Creation was the Dough-lightful Peanut Butter.

I loved the cookie dough ice cream base and thought the added peanut butter, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, and sugar crystals provided an interesting crunch and a filling, balanced, salty-sweet taste. I would eat this as a meal any day.

• I'm a college admissions coach and have read thousands of applications.
• Successful students have proven adaptability, intellectual vitality, and executive functioning.
• These soft skills aren't easily listed on an application.

After working in college admissions for decades, one thing has become clear to me: The students who stand out are not necessarily those with the most polished résumés or perfect grades.

I've worked on Ivy League admissions committees and as a consultant, so I've reviewed thousands of applications. The strongest candidates almost always have three soft skills: adaptability, intellectual vitality, and executive functioning.

These traits are not always the most visible on paper, but they show up in the choices students make and the stories they tell. When I consider any college application, I look for these three traits to see how the students would adapt to college life and the real world later on.

In my book "Get Real and Get In," I focused on individuals who demonstrated these skills and got into their dream schools. Let's look at how past students exemplified these traits, even before their careers took off.

Adaptability: Turning a "no" into a "yes"

For my book, I spoke with Aaron Kirman, who is now one of the top real estate agents in the country.

He struggled with learning disabilities and a speech impediment throughout his school years. He was held back in first grade and often felt like an outsider academically and socially. He was rejected from every single school he applied to, including the University of Southern California.

But Kirman didn't give up. Fueled by what he described as "a mix of anger, disappointment, and desperation," he wrote a heartfelt letter to USC explaining his challenges and his determination to succeed. That letter made the difference. USC reconsidered and admitted him through a support program for students with learning differences.

As a former Ivy League admissions officer, I would have taken note of this kind of self-advocacy immediately. We looked for students who showed adaptability, resilience, and resourcefulness.

Of course, not every student will have the opportunity to transform rejection into acceptance. But the most compelling stories often emerge when students adapt to everyday challenges — maintaining focus during academic struggles, demonstrating meaningful growth over time, or navigating personal obstacles with grace and purpose.

Intellectual vitality: Asking the bigger questions

Raya Bidshahri, founder of multiple educational platforms, is known today as a futurist and science communicator. But her journey began with a deep, sustained curiosity about the world.

In her Dubai high school, Bidshahri demonstrated remarkable intellectual vitality through several initiatives, most notably, co-founding Intelligent Optimism with her mentor Rohan Roberts. This social network centered a rational, evidence-based, and positive outlook on human progress. The network expanded internationally, eventually growing to hundreds of thousands of followers.

This curiosity and initiative beyond the norm of expectation is what admissions officers call "intellectual vitality." That mindset is gold in admissions.

Bidshahri's entrepreneurial and education-driven projects played a major role in her admission to Boston University. Her application stood out because it reflected an authentic pursuit of knowledge and impact that extended far beyond the comforts of her own mind and community.

Executive functioning: Turning vision into impact

Katlyn Grasso began college thinking she would do both business and pre-med, but she quickly realized her true passion was entrepreneurship.

In high school, Grasso transformed her leadership roles into vehicles for real impact. She co-founded two nonprofits to earn her Girl Scouts Silver and Gold Awards, served as class president, and captained the softball team. What truly distinguished Katlyn wasn't the titles but the substance behind them. Her ability to organize thoughtfully, lead authentically, and follow through relentlessly set her apart.

Whether launching a community program or rallying her teammates during a tough game, she demonstrated a rare combination of strategic vision and execution skills. She lived her values and turned her commitments into meaningful action. In her applications, she was intentional about highlighting her core passions: leadership, business, and learning.

She then framed her activities through that lens, proving executive functioning. It helped her gain admission to Wharton.

As someone who's reviewed thousands of applications, I can say that executive functioning often gets overlooked. But it's a hidden driver of success.

These stories show that getting into college isn't just about what's on your transcript; it's about how you think, adapt, and follow through. For students looking to stand out, cultivating these traits is one of the most powerful ways to show colleges who you are and what you're capable of becoming.

• I made Ina Garten's recipe for New York strip steaks on my charcoal grill.
• The recipe only called for a few ingredients and the steaks came out juicy and delicious.
• I'd definitely try Garten's unique steak-grilling method again.

I've spent lots of time deeply immersed in Ina Garten's treasure trove of recipes.

From my all-time favorite chocolate chip cookies to a full Garten-inspired Thanksgiving dinner, I've yet to find a recipe from the Food Network star I didn't love.

Recently, I tried the chef's method for grilling New York strip steaks — a very specific way of cooking the thick cuts of meat that resulted in some of the most delicious steaks I've ever made at home.

Here's what it was like to try Garten's recipe at home.

I started by gathering a few simple ingredients.

As a busy mom, I'm a big fan of recipes that are big on flavor but short on ingredients. Luckily, the ingredients for Garten's New York strip steaks were simple to find.

I started by picking up three 1½-inch-thick New York strip steaks at the grocery store, and was pleased to find I already had the rest of the ingredients in my pantry.

Along with the steaks, I pulled out salt and pepper, 2 teaspoons of light brown sugar, 2 teaspoons of ground coffee, a teaspoon each of garlic powder, chipotle-chile powder, and crushed red pepper flakes, and 1½ tablespoons of olive oil.

Next, I created the coffee and chile rub.

The first thing I did was mix up the rub — a blend of coffee, chipotle-chile powder, sugar, garlic, and crushed red pepper flakes.

Once the ingredients were combined, I slathered each steak with olive oil and massaged the rub into both sides of the meat, making sure to coat the edges of each piece.

I let my New York strip steaks marinade in the rub all day.

In her recipe, Garten suggests allowing the rub to sit on the steaks for at least two hours.

Since I had lots of time, I made the rub and put it on the meat in the morning. I then covered the steaks with plastic wrap and put them in the refrigerator for about eight hours.

Garten’s grilling method was very specific, but it worked.

This steak recipe was all about the grilling method. Garten stressed the importance of having an accurate timer to make sure they were cooked perfectly.

I heated enough charcoal to fill half of my grill, leaving the opposite side empty.

It took just over 10 minutes to grill the steaks.

I cooked all three steaks together over the hot charcoal, starting with exactly two minutes on one side. Then, I flipped the meat and cooked it on the opposite side for two minutes.

From there, the steaks were removed from the heat and moved to the empty side of the grill.

I put the lid on the grill and opened the vent, per Garten's instructions, then allowed the steaks to sit on the cool portion for eight more minutes.

I let the steaks rest for 15 minutes before slicing.

After the steaks had reached a medium temperature, I removed them from the charcoal grill and brought them inside to rest for 15 minutes.

The steaks looked beautiful, coated with charcoal grill marks and crispy spices, and the savory smell of freshly grilled steak filled my kitchen.

Even my 10-year-old dog was enthralled by the smell. Throughout the resting and slicing process, he peaked around the corners of the kitchen in hopes of getting a bite.

The steaks were easy to slice and cooked perfectly.

Slicing into these perfectly grilled steaks was easy, and the meat separated and fell apart like pats of butter. The fat in the New York strip steaks was soft and caramelized, and the meat was perfectly pink.

Three New York strips is a lot of meat, and we knew we'd have plenty of leftovers to use the following night in steak fajitas — a win in our book.

In the future, to keep costs low, I'd probably buy half as much steak (ours weighed in at over 2 pounds) for our family of four. Still, this meal in its full measurements would be an impressive recipe to grill next time we're entertaining guests for dinner.

With a touch of flaky sea salt, the steaks were absolute perfection.

At Garten's suggestion, I finished the sliced steak off with a sprinkle of flaky sea salt and some freshly cracked black pepper.

The steak tasted slightly sweet from the brown sugar in the rub and had the perfect amount of savory pepperiness from the chile powder, coffee, and garlic.

The meat was melt-in-your-mouth perfect, with soft, buttery fat and a seasoned, charred outside that felt like a burst of flavor in each bite.

My whole family loved Garten's steak recipe.

Like every other Ina Garten recipe I've tried, the New York strip steaks were a hit with everyone in my family.

Not only was it low on ingredients and fairly simple to put together and execute, but the result was some of the most perfectly-grilled, tender steaks I've ever made

I would definitely use Garten's grilling method again for other cuts of steak as well.

Knowing I have this foolproof cooking method in my arsenal will make me more inclined to splurge on expensive cuts of steak since, like Garten, I now know how to cook them without messing them up.

This story was originally published on October 10, 2024, and most recently updated on May 20, 2025.