Earlier, on Tuesday, Zuckerberg posted a video message to Meta's blog announcing that he would replace fact-checkers with community notes, a system similar to what Elon Musk uses on X.
The announcement was criticized by dozens of third-party fact-checking groups, which signed an open letter to Zuckerberg denouncing the changes as a "step backward" for accuracy.
Zuckerberg told Rogan his reason for the changes was "censorship."
"You only start one of these companies if you believe in giving people a voice," he said. "It goes back to our original mission, it's just give people the power to share and make people more open and connected."
Zuckerberg said that over the past 10 years, there's been a greater push for "idealogical-based censorship" on the platform, fueled especially by the 2016 election, Brexit, and the COVID-19 pandemic. "We just faced this massive, massive institutional pressure to start censoring content on ideological grounds," he said.
Zuckerberg initially gave into the pressure, believing it stemmed from genuine concerns about misinformation. After the 2016 election, he implemented a system of third-party fact-checkers tasked with correcting statements like "the earth is flat." However, the system quickly veered into gray areas, leading to accusations that the company's moderators were biased.
Pressure on Meta's content moderation policies continued, reaching a fever pitch during the COVID-19 pandemic when the Biden administration rolled out its vaccine program. "While they're trying to push that program, they also tried to censor anyone who is basically arguing against it," Zuckerberg said. "They pushed us super hard to take down things that were, honestly, were true."
That means he has been considering changing Meta's content moderation policies for a while now.
"I think that this is going to be pretty durable because, at this point, we've just been pressure tested on this stuff for the last 8 to 10 years with like these huge institutions just pressuring us," he said. "I feel like this is kind of the right place to be going forward."
Gov. Newsom has expressed concern that Trump would withhold disaster aid.
"He's tried to do it in the past," Newsom said during a recent taping of "Pod Save America."
Los Angeles is fighting multiple devastating wildfires.
Gov. Gavin Newsom of California said President-elect Donald Trump may seek to withhold federal disaster aid to California as multiple wildfires rage in and around Los Angeles.
"He's been pretty straightforward about that," Newsom said on the "Pod Save America" podcast, which was posted Saturday morning. "He's tried to do it in the past. He's not just done it here in California."
"He's done it in states all across the country," Newsom continued. "In 2018, even before I was governor of California, he tried to withhold money down in Orange County until apparently a staff member βand this has been well reported β said there were a lot of Trump supporters. And, then, he decided to change his mind."
Former Trump White House official Mark Harvey told Politico last year that Trump initially declined to authorize disaster aid for California because it leans Democrat but reversed his position after learning that the affected area was in Orange County, which for generations had been a GOP stronghold.
"We went as far as looking up how many votes he got in those impacted areas β¦ to show him these are people who voted for you," Harvey told the outlet ahead of the November 2024 election.
JPMorgan analysts said the blazes tearing through the Los Angeles region could lead to over $20 billion in insured losses β and about $50 billion in total economic losses. That would make these conflagrations "significantly more severe" than the Camp Fires that struck the state in 2018 and racked up $10 billion in insured losses, the current record.
During the podcast on Saturday, Newsom also called out Trump for spreading what he called "indelible misinformation." Trump has blamed the governor's water policies for the devastating fires.
"What the president-elect was saying about State Water Project and the Delta smelt somehow being culpable of somehow leading to some of the challenges that we face down hereβ¦it's delusional," he said.
Emergency workers fighting the LA fires have reported fire hydrants running dry after unprecedented demand on the water system. Newsom on Friday ordered a probe into the source of the water supply issues.
"I am calling for an independent investigation into the loss of water pressure to local fire hydrants and the reported unavailability of water supplies from the Santa Ynez Reservoir," he wrote in a post on X. "We need answers to ensure this does not happen again and we have every resource available to fight these catastrophic fires."
More than 150,000 residents have been ordered to evacuate their homes and over 38,000 acres have so far burned in the fires. The death toll has risen to 11 as of Saturday, according to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner.
President Joe Biden on Thursday announced that the federal government would cover 100% of the cost of disaster aid for 180 days.
Trump, meanwhile, has been relentless in his criticism of both Newsom and Biden.
"The fires in Los Angeles may go down, in dollar amount, as the worst in the History of our Country," he said in a Truth Social post on Wednesday. "Let this serve, and be emblematic, of the gross incompetence and mismanagement of the Biden/Newscum Duo."
In a statement to Business Insider, Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung said Newsom "should be doing his fucking job and actually help people who continue to suffer under his terrible leadership."
A home burns during the Palisades Fire near Los Angeles.
AGUSTIN PAULLIER/AFP/Getty Images
A Los Angeles County official criticized GoFundMe, citing a large fee for a donation she made.
The official, however, was likely mistaken about the size of the fee.
The moment illustrated the heightened emotions among those fighting the fires in Los Angeles County.
A Los Angeles County official publicly criticized GoFundMe on Saturday for charging people high transaction fees for fire-related fundraisers.
The official, however, was likely mistaken about the size of the fee.
It was an emotionally charged moment that brought home the stress β and financial pressure β facing many residents of Los Angeles County as the fires raged for the fifth consecutive day.
Thousands have lost their homes, and hundreds of thousands have been ordered to evacuate or warned they may need to at any moment.
During a press conference updating the public on the scale of the disaster and what emergency crews and officials were doing to help,Kathryn Barger, a member of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, singled out the crowdfunding platform.
"Let me go off-script for a minute," Barger said. Barger said she intended to donate $500 through GoFundMe to a friend who had "lost everything" in the fires.
"I was shocked to find out that to give $500, they were going to charge me $95," she said. "So, I'm going to be reaching out to the CEO of GoFundMe to find out if, at the very least, they can cut the cost in order to ensure that the money goes directly to the family."
Barger said she understood that GoFundMe is a company and "they deserve to be able to pay for their overhead, but at the same time, we are in a crisis."
"These families are suffering," she said.
Barger did not immediately respond to a request for additional comment, but she was likely mistaken about the size of the fee.
GoFundMe charges 2.9% plus $0.30 for each transaction, which "helps us pay our payment processors and safely deliver funds," the company said in a statement to Business Insider. There is also an option "tip" that users can leave that goes to the platform.
According to the above numbers, a $500 donation would incur less than $15 in required fees.
"The comments made at the press conference were inaccurate," the spokesperson said. "GoFundMe is primarily powered by voluntary tips and relies on these completely optional contributions from donors to maintain our quality customer service, trust and safety protections, and world-class fundraising technology."
GoFundMe has become the default fundraising platform for those suffering from disasters in the United States, as well as elsewhere in the world. When fires tore through Maui in 2023, users donated some $30 million to relief efforts, GoFundMe told Fox Business at the time.
Many of the residents who have lost their homes will be forced to scramble to find new ways to pay for housing and rebuild after insurance companies, since 2022, stopped writing new policies for fire coverage, pulled back coverage, or dropped residents altogether.
In March, State Farm, the state's largest home insurance provider, dropped 72,000 property policies in the state, including 69% of policies in Pacific Palisades. The recent fires hit Pacific Palisades hard, burning thousands of homes, including those of many celebrities.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg says the work of midlevel software engineers can soon be outsourced to AI.
BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/ Getty Images
Mark Zuckerberg said Meta will start automating the work of midlevel software engineers this year.
Meta may eventually outsource all coding on its apps to AI.
Meta also plans to replace fact-checkers with community notes and reduce DEI initiatives.
This year coding might go from one of the most sought-after skills on the job market to one that can be fully automated.
Mark Zuckerberg said that Meta and some of the biggest companies in the tech industry are already working toward this on an episode of the Joe Rogan Experience on Friday.
"Probably in 2025, we at Meta, as well as the other companies that are basically working on this, are going to have an AI that can effectively be a sort of midlevel engineer that you have at your company that can write code."
It may initially be an expensive endeavor, but Zuckerberg said Meta will reach the point where all of the code in its apps and the AI it generates will also be done by AI. According to a salary tracking site, midlevel software engineers at the company now earn close to mid-six figures in total compensation.
Zuckerberg's interview with Rogan came after a big week of changes for the company.
On Tuesday, Zuckerberg announced that Meta plans to replace third-party fact-checkers with community notes, similar to Elon Musk's X, and bring back more political content. The announcement has elicited alarm from dozens of fact-checking groups, who signed an open letter to Zuckerberg saying the changes would be "a step backward" for the company.
Meta is also planning to roll back several of its DEI initiatives. In a memo sent to staff on Meta's internal communications platform, Workplace, its vice president of human resources, Janelle Gale, wrote, "We will no longer have a team focused on DEI."
But she said that following the procedure, the male doctor who had performed the surgery told her he had thrown in a "bonus" rejuvenation, also known as vaginal tightening.
"I was horrified, but also at a loss," Shields wrote. "I didn't want to sue this man β or maybe I did want to, but I didn't feel I could β because I didn't particularly want talk of my lady parts, once again, on the front page of every paper."
Shields, 59, said that it was on the advice of her female gynecologist that she had decided to have the surgery, as she had been experiencing discomfort and pain since high school.
But Shields said that when she woke up from the operation, the surgeon told her that he had gone further: "I was in there for four hours, and you know what I did? I tightened you up a little bit! Gave you a little rejuvenation!"
"He acted as if he'd done me a favor," she wrote. "But I had never asked to be 'tightened' or 'rejuvenated' (translation: given a younger vagina). I felt numb."
"This man surgically altered my body without my consent," she continued. "The sheer gall of it enraged me. The fact that the most intimate parts of my body had been a public focal point for so long ... it was enough already."
Shields said that while she was outraged by her treatment during the procedure, she "never took action against this doctor" or spoke to him about it, as she questioned herself and wondered "if he was right" that she should feel lucky.
Shields also said that it took her a while to discuss what had happened with her husband, Chris Henchy, adding that "he was nearly as angry as I was."
"Had I been happy with the results of the procedure, I still would have been angry that he did it without my consent. But as it turns out, I wasn't happy with the results, and haven't been since," she went on.
Shields added that while she was "embarrassed" to share her story, she felt it was important to "bring up the uncomfortable but very real issues" if people were to change the way they approach the topic of women's health.
Appearing on a recent episode of the TODAY podcast "Making Space with Hoda Kotb," Shriver, 69, said that she taught her children to stand up "out of respect" whenever she entered a room β something she said they still do to this day.
"I make them stand up," Shriver said. "I used to make them. Now they just do stand up."
Shriver, who is the niece of former President John F. Kennedy, shares daughters Katherine, 35, and Christina, 33, and sons Patrick, 31, and Christopher, 27, with ex-husband Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Shriver said the rule didn't just apply when she entered a room.
"I wanted my kids to, when I walked in the room, or their dad walked in the room, or you would walk in the room, that they stand up out of respect," she said.
Shriver also encouraged her children's friends to do the same when they visited their home: "When their friends would come over, I'd be like, ahem."
She continued: "I didn't want to walk in the room, and they'd be sitting looking at a phone or watching the game. I'd be like, 'I'm here. Here we are, and here I am. And look me in the eye, say hello, thank me for coming, write me a thank you note if I take you somewhere.'"
"Even though my kids moaned and groaned about it, they now say it was a good thing," she added.
Eunice Kennedy Shriver and Maria Shriver in 2007.
Steve Jennings/WireImage/Getty Images
Shriver said the rule is something her mother β who died in 2009 β also enforced when she was growing up.
She added that both her mother and her grandmother, Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy, were "big on manners."
Another etiquette rule she learned from her elders was bringing interesting topics of conversation to the dinner table, she went on.
"When we went to the dinner table, everybody had to have something to bring to the table to talk about, to converse about. My mother would be like, 'What's your opinion of the gospel? What's your opinion of what the president said today?'" she said.
"You could be 10, 11, 19, 20, but you had to step up."
Arnold Schwarzenegger, Maria Shriver, and their children.
Netflix
Shriver said that at the heart of her parenting style was the idea that her children were "four distinct individuals" who knew they were valued and "a priority in a public family."
She added that she wanted to "guard their privacy" and to "make sure they were not part of political pamphlets" or "used as props."
Shriver's approach to parenting and her emphasis on teaching her children manners aligns with the authoritative parenting style, which is typified by setting rules and high standards.
As Business Insider previously reported, experts say authoritative parenting can help children develop responsibility and emotional regulation.
"This style encourages children to take responsibility for their own actions and make decisions that are appropriate for their age and development," Kalley Hartman, a marriage and family therapist and clinical director of Ocean Recovery, told BI in 2023.
The United States military offers an expedited path to US citizenship for lawful residents who commit to service. In 2024, while filming the US Marine Corps boot camp in Camp Pendleton, California, chief video correspondent Graham Flanagan followed one recruit taking advantage of this opportunity.
Twenty-four-year-old Ralph Dahilig immigrated to the US from the Philippines during the COVID-19 pandemic. Although he holds a bachelor's degree in information systems, Dahilig struggled to find a job in the tech industry, which led him to pursue a career in the Marine Corps.
At 5 feet 4 inches tall, Dahilig is not what many might picture as the prototypical US Marine. He had to learn to think outside the box to make it to The Crucible, the 54-hour culminating event of the 13-week boot camp. All recruits must endure it before they receive the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor pendant, symbolizing their official transformation from recruit to US Marine.
23andMe struggled in 2024. But it hasn't given up yet.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
23andMe faced major hurdles in 2024, including a $30 million settlement related to compromised data.
23andMe is now restructuring its business operations to reduce costs and streamline operations.
A 23andMe spokesperson said the company is "consistently focused on maintaining the privacy of our customers."
23andMe CEO Anne Wojcicki sounded optimistic about the company's future during an earnings call in February last year.
She said the biotech company, which offers direct-to-consumer genetic testing, made strides with its new preventive care membership service, signed a $20 million research agreement with biopharma company GSK, and saw "repeated engagement" by its customers, among other triumphs.
CEO Anne Wojcicki proposed making 23andMe a private company but faced pushback
23andMe cofounder Anne Wojcicki said she intends to take the company private.
Kimberly White / Getty Images
Despite operating for nearly two decades without profit, 23andMe went public in 2021 and reached a $6 billion valuation. The company's stocks were priced at $11.13 a share, but they've fallen significantly since then. The stock price has dropped 98% over the past several years. It stood at $3.84 on January 10.
Wojcicki proposed that 23andMe revert to a private company in a July 2024 SEC filing, saying she believed the company would "be best equipped to execute against this mission as a private entity, allowing us to remove certain public company costs and distractions."
However, a special committee formed by 23andMe's board of directors rejected the proposal five days later.
"We are disappointed with the proposal for multiple reasons, including because it provides no premium to the closing price per share on Wednesday, July 31st, it lacks committed financing, and it is conditional in nature," the special committee's letter to Wojcicki said. "Accordingly, we view your proposal as insufficient and not in the best interest of the non-affiliated shareholders."
The special committee said it would review a revised proposal, but a September letter indicated that members had not received a "fully financed, fully diligence, actionable proposal."
A 23andMe spokesperson told Business Insider that Wojcicki still intends to take the company private.
23andMe agreed to a $30 million settlement in a class-action lawsuit
23andMe agreed to settle a class-action lawsuit in 2024.
ERIC BARADAT/Getty Images
Privacy concerns have dogged 23andMe for years, but in 2023, worry became a reality for users when their data was compromised. That October, hackers said they accessed certain users' names, birth details, ethnicities, and photos.
Affected users filed a class-action lawsuit against 23andMe this March, which led to the company agreeing to pay the $30 million settlement in September 2024.
The entirety of 23andMe's independent board of directors resigned in a letter
Former independent directors of 23andMe's board resigned in a letter published in September.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
One week after the company agreed to settle the class-action lawsuit, all seven independent directors on 23andMe's board resigned in a letter addressed to Wojcicki.
"While we continue to wholeheartedly support the Company's mission and believe deeply in the value of the personalized health and wellness offering that you have articulated, it is also clear that we differ on the strategic direction for the Company going forward," the letter said.
The letter also referenced Wojcicki's revised proposal to take the 23andMe private, saying members of the special committee and board had "not seen any notable progress over the last 5 months."
"The Special Committee is therefore unwilling to consider further extensions, and the Board agrees with the Special Committee's determination," the letter said.
The sudden resignation spurred headlines in the media about 23andMe's unsteady footing. The company sought to address this imbalance by appointing three new independent directors to its board in October 2024.
"The new independent directors look forward to working closely with Anne Wojcicki and the Company's management team to best position 23andMe for the future,"Β Jensen said in a press release.
23andMe's reputation with consumers stalled in late 2024 over 'third-party takeover proposals'
CEO Anne Wojcicki said she's no longer "considering third-party takeover proposals" of 23andMe.
Steve Jennings/Getty Images/TechCrunch
Some consumers grew concerned in September 2024 when an SEC filing said Wojcicki "would be open to considering third-party takeover proposals for the Company."
The remarks prompted consumers to reckon with the potential consequences, which The Atlantic reported could include the sale of their personal genetic data.
Wojcicki walked back her remark in a separate filing.
"Accordingly, in order to update my prior statement and avoid any confusion in the market, I am no longer open to considering third-party takeover proposals for the Issuer," she said in the filing.
A 23andMe spokesperson told BI that Wojcicki "hasΒ publicly sharedΒ she intends to take the company private, and is not open to considering third-party takeover proposals."
The statement added: "Anne has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to the company's mission and values, and to its customers, pledging to maintain 23andMe's strong security and privacy policies, including following the intended completion of the acquisition she is pursuing."
23andMe lays off 40% of its workforce and discontinues its therapeutics programs
23andMe said in November that it would reduce its staff by 40%.
Smith Collection/Gado
23andMe made a decisive pivot in November 2024 as it continued to chase stable footing. The company reduced its staff by over 200 employees.
"The business restructuring is expected to substantially reduce operating expenses and result in annualized cost savings of more than $35 million," the company said in a press release.
23andMe also said it will discontinue its therapeutics programs and "wind down" ongoing clinical trials.
"In parallel with the discontinuation of its therapeutics division, the Company is actively exploring all strategic options for a limited time to maximize the value of its therapeutics programs, including licensing agreements, asset sales, or other transactions," the company said.
23andMe published its most recent second-quarter financial results in November. The company said it earned $44 million in total revenue, a 12% decrease from the $50 million recorded in the same period the previous year. Operating expenses reached $84 million, a 17% decrease from the $101 million recorded for the same period in 2023.
23andMe said it had 'substantial doubt' the company could survive without more funding
23andMe expressed concern over its longevity in a November SEC filing.
Illustration by Avishek Das/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
In a November 2024 SEC filing, 23andMe expressed concern over its longevity. The company said it would need additional liquidity to fund its financial commitments and expenditures.
"The Company has determined that, as of the filing date of this report, there is substantial doubt about the Company's ability to continue as a going concern," 23andMe said.
The filing also said that as of September 2024, the company "had an accumulated deficit of $2.3Β billion and cash and cash equivalents of $126.6Β million."
A 23andMe spokesperson said the company is committed to its consumers and enforcing ethical business practices
A 23andMe spokesperson said the company is committed to consumer privacy.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
A spokesperson for 23andMe told Business Insider that it has privacy protections for its customers, and doesn't share data with third parties without consent. Customers can opt into its Research program, but it requires them to consent before joining.
"Roughly 80% of 23andMe customers consent to participate in our research program, which has generated more than 270 peer-reviewed publications uncovering hundreds of new genetic insights into disease," a statement said.
The spokesperson said 23andMe is subject to state and federal consumer privacy and genetic privacy laws similar to HIPAA. However, the company's protocols "offer a more appropriate framework to protect our data than privacy and security program requirements in HIPAA."
"We are committed to protecting customer data and are consistently focused on maintaining the privacy of our customers. That will not change," the statement said.
The author's sons (not pictured) are going to college, thanks to the aggressive savings.
Brothers91/Getty Images/iStockphoto
I adopted my sons from Ethiopia in 2012 and immediately started saving for their college tuition.
I wanted them to graduate with no student loans and have every opportunity for success.
To save, we gave up traveling and other big expenses, but we don't regret it.
When my husband and I adopted our sons from Ethiopia in 2012, we were already behind when it came to college expenses β especially when compared to friends who basically started saving as soon as they saw the second line on the pregnancy test.
Our sons were 7 and 8 years old when they joined our family. We lost years of creating family memories β first words, first day of kindergarten, first wiggly tooth β and years of adding to a 529 savings account.
After becoming the parents to Black boys in America, we learned the realities of our country's income and wealth gaps.
According to data from 2023 census reports, the median income of white households exceeds that of Black households by more than $30,000.
The research on college degrees is murkier. The census data shows that just over 20% of Black people hold a college degree.
We want our sons to help change those stats and narratives, so my husband and I have saved rigorously and sacrificed for our son's college tuition.
We've given up a lot to ensure our sons can go to college
While we've taken some epic family trips β to several national parks, to both coasts, to our sons' homeland of Ethiopia β we've also taken many equally memorable low-budget vacations to family members' cabins just a few hours from our house.
Our living room sectional β an uncomfortable monstrosity β should have been donated years ago, and nights dining out together look more like McDonald's than Michelin stars. Instead of expensive hobbies requiring lots of equipment, we opt for running (we just need sneakers!).
Looking back, some financial choices carry a tinge of regret. Skipping travel sports teams saved money, and we didn't push enrichment camps or invest in tutoring. However, it's hard not to wonder if those missed opportunities could have opened doors to scholarships or other benefits. While we know we did our best with our resources, those lingering "what-ifs" are a pervasive part of parenting for me.
Still, we press on in the present, striving to balance providing for our sons' futures with appreciating the life we have now.
We don't regret these sacrifices
In many ways, our choices don't feel like sacrifices. We live in a lovely home in an established city neighborhood we love. We own vehicles and have money in retirement accounts. Our parents' generosity added more money to college savings accounts than we could've accumulated on our own. As much as possible, we try to recognize our privilege.
We hope that by receiving degrees without the predatory student loans we've heard horror stories about, our sons won't feel forced to start on undesirable career paths.
If they want to pursue an advanced degree, buy a home, or travel, those enormous loans won't deter life choices that bring them joy. Just as my husband and I owe our financial freedom as young adults to our parents' decisions, our choices today can have a generational impact on our future grandchildren.
Our savings are finally coming into play today
Our sons have taken two different paths so far. One explored the trades in high school and started with classes at a community college while living at home. The other is a freshman at a large public university, trying out life in a dorm.
They both know we are doing everything we can to help them avoid college debt, but we try to share this without making them feel unduly burdened.
Of course, we want them to have a sense of responsibility, too. Through the years, they've built up their savings accounts thanks to part-time jobs and birthday and graduation gifts. That money will contribute to their college education and living expenses, motivating them to receive good grades, apply for scholarships, and keep working.
Today, as I work on the family budget, I think about the dollar amounts. But more than anything, I think about the opportunity to rewrite the narratives surrounding inequality we became aware of the moment we became parents to Black boys in America. If one day my sons use their education to create opportunities for themselves and others, these challenges will have been well worth it.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine has captured two North Korean soldiers.
Zelenskyy said the two soldiers were wounded and had been taken to Kyiv.
He added that he had instructed Ukraine's security service to allow journalists access to the captured soldiers.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine has captured two wounded North Korean soldiers.
In a statement posted on X, Zelenskyy said the soldiers had been captured in Russia's Kursk region and had been taken to Kyiv, where they were now "communicating with the Security Service of Ukraine." He added that they were receiving the "necessary medical assistance."
Zelenskyy also shared images of two injured men, but he did not provide evidence that they were North Korean.
"This was not an easy task: Russian forces and other North Korean military personnel usually execute their wounded to erase any evidence of North Korea's involvement in the war against Ukraine," Zelenskyy said, adding that he had instructed Ukraine's security service to allow journalists access to the captured soldiers.
Pyongyang reportedly began sending troops to Russia in October.
"It is clear that Russian and North Korean military leaders are treating these troops as expendable and ordering them on hopeless assaults against Ukrainian defenses," Kirby said. "These North Korean soldiers appear to be highly indoctrinated, pushing attacks even when it is clear that those attacks are futile."
Zelenskyy said last month that preliminary estimates suggested that more than 3,000 of Pyongyang's soldiers had been killed or wounded in Kursk.
He previously said that Russian forces had been trying "to literally burn the faces of North Korean soldiers killed in battle" in an effort to "conceal" their losses.
Angelina Jolie has been starring in movies for more than 40 years.
Ethan Miller/Getty
Angelina Jolie is one of the biggest movie stars of the last 40 years.
She's been nominated for two competitive Oscars, winning one.
But she's also appeared in some bombs like "The Tourist" and "Alexander."
Jolie is an Oscar-winning actor who has been in dozens of movies over her 43-year career. Some of her films have made hundreds of millions of dollars at the box office, including "Kung Fu Panda," "Eternals," and "Mr. and Mrs. Smith."
But while some of her films have been beloved by critics, others have been panned.
We used Rotten Tomatoes to find the best and worst films of her career, according to critics. Here are the 10 worst β and 11 best films β of Jolie's filmography.
These are the worst films of Jolie's career, according to critics.
Angelina Jolie.
Gennaro Leonardi Photos/Shutterstock
Not all of Jolie's films have been highly regarded by critics. Here are some of the worst, according to reviews.
In "Life or Something Like It," Jolie plays Lanie, a Seattle TV reporter who meets Jack (Tony Shalhoub), a man claiming to be a modern-day prophet. When he tells her she only has seven days to live, she begins changing her life.
Rex Reed of The Observer called the film "Formulaic, delusional and about as accurate a depiction of life in television news (or something like it) as a Pillsbury bake-off."
"Gone in 60 Seconds" stars Nicolas Cage as Randall, a former car thief who returns to the game to save his brother's life. In order to do so, he has to steal 50 cars in 72 hours. Jolie plays a mechanic, Sara (or Sway), who is also Randall's ex-girlfriend.
"What's missing from 'Gone in 60 Seconds' is anything new. There's a 'been there, done that' feeling to the enterprise," wrote David Ansen of Newsweek.
8. "Lara Croft: Tomb Raider β The Cradle of Life" (2003)
Jolie returned to play the famed video-game character Lara Croft for the 2003 sequel, "Cradle of Life." This time, the treasure hunter/archaeologist is hired by MI6 to find the Cradle of Life, an ancient artifact with deadly capabilities.
"This Indiana Jones knockoff goes down smoothly enough, and Jolie isn't bad at all," wrote Chicago Reader's JR Jones.
"Taking Lives" is a thriller that stars Jolie as an FBI profiler, Ileana, who is called to Montreal to help with a serial killer who takes on the identities of his victims. Ethan Hawke costars as a civilian, James, who helps Ileana crack the case β¦ but all is not what it seems.
"If you can buy the pillow-lipped Angelina Jolie as a psychic FBI agent in Montreal to hunt a serial killer, then you can swallow the other implausibilities in this retread thriller," wrote Peter Travers for Rolling Stone.
In "The Tourist," Jolie stars as Elise, the lover of famed criminal Alexander Pearce, who has since gone missing and is believed to have altered his appearance with plastic surgery.
When she receives a note from Pearce to pick a random man to give over to the police in place of Pearce, she chooses Frank (Johnny Depp), a mild-mannered math teacher from Wisconsin. But there are many parties interested in finding Pearce, and a chase across Europe ensues.
"Though she's given virtually nothing to do but sashay down train platforms in designer outfits, I will say that I enjoy how much Angelina Jolie enjoys being a movie star," wrote Dana Stevens for Slate.
Lara Croft made it to the big screen in this 2001 action film which stars Jolie as Lara, a British archaeologist/treasure hunter/martial arts expert/tech genius.
In order to keep a mysterious object known as the Triangle out of the wrong hands, she goes on a globe-trotting adventure with fellow treasure hunter Alex West (Daniel Craig) and Manfred Powell (Iain Glen), the leader of the Illuminati.
Time Out said the film was "a jerky, fragmented tale that jumps from one exotic location to the next without any explanation or flow."
"Playing God" stars David Duchovny as a surgeon who loses his license after being caught operating under the influence. He's then hired as the personal doctor of a mob boss, Raymond (Timothy Hutton). Jolie has a supporting role as Raymond's girlfriend, Claire.
"What can you say about a time-waster like 'Playing God' with its multiple murders, corrupt FBI agents, obligatory car chase and dumb, self-referential, four-letter-word humor," wrote SF Gate's Edward Guthmann.
One of the more ignominious legacies of "Alexander" is that a 29-year-old Jolie was cast to play Queen Olympus, the mother of Alexander, played by the 28-year-old Colin Farrell. Yes, the two are just 11 months apart and played mother and son.
The film depicts the rise and fall of Alexander in the ancient world.
"While it's worth applauding 'Alexander' for not making its legendary hero 100% hetero, there's nothing else to recommend about this stilted, tedious epic," wrote Alonso Duralde for The Advocate.
Jolie plays Sarah Beauford, a young socialite who gives up her privileged life to become an aid worker in Ethiopia after meeting the bold doctor Nick Callahan (Clive Owen).
Jen Chaney of The Washington Post called the film "well-intentioned but astonishingly flat."
"Original Sin" is a twisty thriller in which Jolie plays a young woman, Julia, who is chosen by a wealthy Cuban man Luis (Antonio Banderas) to be his mail-order bride. But Julia is not who she says she is, leading Luis to question their entire relationship.
"The only sin committed here is the cardinal one of boring us to tears," wrote Neil Smith for the BBC.
Now for the best work of Jolie's career.
Angelina Jolie.
Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
These films were ruled the best of Jolie's career by critics, including multiple "Kung Fu Panda" films and the recent critical darling "Maria."
"Those Who Wish Me Dead" was directed by the mind behind "Yellowstone," Taylor Sheridan. It stars Jolie as a traumatized firefighter who finds herself involved in a deadly game of cat-and-mouse as two assassins trail the son of a forensic accountant who has uncovered shady business dealings.
"The fiery explosions and chase sequences are handsomely shot, but the plot is undeniably absurd and the ominous/rousing soundtrack downright hokey. It's the performances and banter that make the project worth watching," wrote Charlotte O'Sullivan for The London Evening Standard.
"Wanted" is based on the comics series of the same. It stars James McAvoy, a nervy young man, Wesley, prone to panic attacks who learns that he's actually part of a somewhat supernatural order of assassins called the Fraternity. Jolie plays Fox, a member of the Fraternity and Wesley's mentor.
"Visually stunning and ethically loathsome, for better or worse, 'Wanted' is one of the freshest action movies in years," wrote The New Republic's Christopher Orr.
8 (tie). "Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow" (2004)
"Sky Captain" may have been a box-office bomb at the time, but it's since become a cult classic. The film takes place in an alternate, steampunkish New York in 1939. Jolie has a small role as a Navy pilot named Franky, an ally of Joe Sullivan (Jude Law), the titular Sky Captain.
"His nostalgia enabled by technology, [director Kerry] Conran takes the ghosts in his machine seriously, and the results appear at once meltingly lovely and intriguingly inhuman," wrote Ed Park for The Village Voice.
"Beowulf" might not have the best reputation now, but at the time it was warmly received by critics. It's an adaptation of the Old English epic poem "Beowulf," and stars Ray Winstone as the titular legendary warrior. Beowulf's archenemy is Grendel (Crispin Glover), a troll and one of Beowulf's enemies. Jolie plays Grendel's mother, a Water Demon.
"The film strives for mythological depth and epic breadth, but it's hard to get below the flat, shallow gloss over every surface," wrote the AV Club's Tasha Robinson.
"The One and Only Ivan" is based on a real gorilla named Ivan. He grew up in an enclosure in a shopping center in Tacoma, Washington, until a campaign led by the Progressive Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) led to his transfer to a zoo. Sam Rockwell voices Ivan and Jolie voices one of his friends at the zoo, an elephant named Stella.
"Whether you think of yourself as a marshmallow or believe you have a heart of steel, there's a strong probability that The One and Only Ivan is going to make you cry... or well up, at least," wrote Melanie McFarland for Salon.
Jolie was nominated for a Golden Globe and is receiving Oscar buzz for her performance as opera singer Maria Callas in "Maria." The film follows the last seven days of Callas' life in 1973 before she died of a heart attack.
"La Diva Eterna lives in Jolie, with a performance as towering as it is understated: sad and soulful and heartbreaking. She has never been better. Brava," wrote John Nugent for Empire Magazine.
"A Mighty Heart" is based on a true story, the search for Daniel Pearl, a Wall Street Journal reporter who was kidnapped in Pakistan in 2002. Jolie plays Mariane Pearl, Daniel's wife and fellow journalist.
The film received criticism for Jolie's casting, as in real life, Pearl is of Afro-Cuban descent and Jolie is white, but Pearl herself approved Jolie's casting, per Time.
"Although it is impossible to erase the specter of Brangelina from your mind altogether while watching Jolie inhabit the role of Mariane Pearl, you can manage it for surprisingly long stretches at a time," Sandra Hall of The Sydney Morning Herald.
"Kung Fu Panda 2" sees the return of Po (Jack Black) a lazy kung-fu-loving panda, and the rest of his friends: Tigress (Angelina Jolie), the Mantis (Seth Rogen), Viper (Lucy Liu), Crane (David Cross), and Monkey (Jackie Chan). They team up to defeat the evil peacock Lord Shen (Gary Oldman) from taking over China.
"It's a great-looking animation and a nice entertainment, though targeted at a younger audience, without the extra level of adult sophistication," wrote Peter Bradshaw for The Guardian.
In "Kung Fu Panda 3," Po is named leader of the Furious Five, and discovers a secret village of pandas and reunites with his biological father Li Shan (Bryan Cranston).
"Gaze in wonder at the beautiful woodcut-inspired landscapes, the 2D manga-style flashbacks, and the inventive choreography. Skidoosh, indeed," wrote The Irish Times' Tara Brady.
In "Kung Fu Panda," audiences were first introduced to Po, a giant panda who helps his adopted father Mr. Ping (James Hong), a goose, run his noodle restaurant, but his dream is to practice kung fu with the Furious Five, kung fu masters. Po gets his chance to join the team and achieve his dreams when a contest is held.
"Gia" tells the true story of one of the US' first supermodels, Gia Carangi (Jolie). It begins when Carangi first moves from Philadelphia to New York City and follows her career's rise and fall and her struggles with drug use. Jolie won a Golden Globe for her performance.
"A film about a woman's meteoric rise to fame, made shortly before Jolie's own career went stratospheric, this is a widely overlooked production that shows the incredible breadth of the actor's talent," wrote Kat Halstead for Common Sense Media.
Although some aspects of the accessory are more personal and subjective β wedding bands, family heirlooms, etc β there are still overarching trends that rotate in and out of style.
Business Insider spoke with three professional stylists to get their take on all the jewelry trends that will be popular and out in 2025.
Curating a collection of comfortable everyday jewelry is the way to go.
Having an everyday jewelry "uniform" makes things easier.
Xeniia X/Shutterstock
Personal and celebrity stylist Kim Appelt predicts a general trend toward convenience, comfort, and ease in 2025.
In other words, jewelry that goes with everything β like stacked gold pieces β offers an effortless way to accessorize.
The stylist emphasized the subjectivity of this trend, saying, "your body and your environment" dictate which pieces are best suited to you.
Have fun with your rings.
Wearing rings on multiple fingers is in.
Klaus Vedfelt/Getty Images
If you think you're wearing enough rings, consider adding another.
"Everyone has a million rings on, like rings on every single finger," Ceila "CG" Quarles, who's styled multiple musicians and worked at RSVP Gallery, said.
When following the trend, the stylist suggested leaning toward solid precious metals rather than stones for a more industrial feel.
1990s-inspired bling is back in a big way.
Rappers like A$AP Rocky have been known to wear blingy nameplate necklaces.
TIMOTHY A. CLARY / AFP / Getty Images
Fashion is cyclical, and '90s ware has been back in style for a few years now. Sandra Okerulu, a celebrity stylist with over 10 years of experience, said it's also time to start experimenting with jewelry trends from the decade.
Whether that means investing in customized nameplate pieces or an initial ring surrounded by encrusted gems, bling is at the forefront of the retro trend.
Play around with minimalism this year.
A single chain can be an elegant accessory for any ensemble.
LIAL/Shutterstock
As "quiet" status symbols become more prevalent in the fashion world, Appelt said minimalism will be big in 2025.
"I see classic, I see luxury, I see dainty," she told BI.
With more inspiration from the '90s, the professional stylist recommends focusing on classic pieces β like a pair of studs or a simple gold chain β for a minimalistic look that exudes luxury.
Don't shy away from mixing metals.
It's OK to wear gold and silver jewelry.
authorstock007/Getty Images
You may have been told that you should never mix gold and silver jewelry, but CQ said that's an antiquated school of thought. What was once considered a fashion faux pas now adds a perfect touch to a stylish look.
"People are not afraid to mix metals anymore," she said. "Having stacked silver and gold? That's hot."
Layering silver and gold pieces can help personalize a look while also making it more modern.
Pearls are still in style.
Pearls have become a great unisex accessory.
LightField Studios/Shutterstock
Appelt said pearls will still be hot in 2025.
Although the jewelry trend has been around for decades,Β celebrities like Harry StylesΒ have bolstered it and turned pearl necklaces into genderless accessories.
In addition to chokers and other necklaces, Appelt suggested incorporating pearl earring studs into your jewelry box.
A good pair of hoops goes a long way.
It seems like simple hoop earrings will never go out of style.
ombra7/Shutterstock
There will likely always be a time and place for hoop earrings.
Okerulu said a more modest hoop will complement the overarching trends of simplicity and quiet luxury in 2025.
"Modesty in what you're wearing is definitely in," she said.
It's time to buy a watch.
A watch is a nice, mature accessory.
New Africa/Shutterstock
CQ said watches are popular right now, especially among younger crowds looking for more mature looks.
She credits the shift to social media, telling BI that she's noticed that the pressure to curate an image for yourself on different platforms may have "expedited a lot of people's youth."
Just as blazers and other business-casual clothing have come back in style, adding a watch to an outfit helps exude a more tailored and professional look.
On the other hand, we can leave big gold earrings in the past.
Chunky gold earrings were big in 2024.
Edward Berthelot/Getty Images
Although 2025 style seems to be taking a lot of inspiration from the '90s, we can leave some looks in the past.
Appelt said the big, gold earrings β Γ la Princess Diana β that have been popular the past few years are on their way out.
The shift matches the general trend toward luxurious minimalism.
Layering is out, and simplicity is in.
The maximalist look is out for 2025.
Dave Benett/Getty Images for Victoria & Albert Museum
Okerulu said she's seeing more people ditch heavy necklace layering. To follow the quiet-luxury trend, opt for a statement piece instead.
Stacking rings and bracelets will still be in, but Okerulu encourages people to choose one or the other to keep things simple.
Designer labels have almost become a faux pas.
Big Chanel earrings are considered too flashy now.
Edward Berthelot/Getty Images
The rise of modesty and quiet luxury has also led to many being less interested in buying accessories with visible designer labels and logos.
In general, Okerulu told BI, that people aren't being as obvious with their luxury jewelry.
Instead of flashy logos or easily recognizable designs, the stylist recommends looking for simple, high-quality pieces that will last forever.
The author (not pictured) says parents today are expected to unattainable standards
Vera Livchak/Getty Images
I'm raising a teenager, and I often feel that none of my choices is right.
Parenting right now often feels like the "Barbie" monologue where we can't do anything right.
I wonder what he's going to remember as an adult and what he's going to forget.
My teenage son was about to miss a school deadline. We'd spent the last few days mapping out a plan: breaking down the project into manageable pieces, setting reminders, checking in here and there. But when the final weekend of the due date arrived, Joey wasn't working on it. He wasn't panicking, either. He was on his phone.
I stood in the kitchen with my coffee, frozen in that familiar parenting dance. Should I demand he work on the assignment now, or should I stay quiet, letting him manage his own time?
And then a bigger, deeper question that always surfaces for me: In the grand scheme of parenting and all that's happening in the world, is this even something worthy of such contemplation?
Parenting feels like the famous 'Barbie' monologue
The author often wonders if she's doing too much or too little around her teenage son.
Courtesy of the author
The iconic "Barbie" monologue still lingers with me even more than a year after its release β not because it's about parenting (it's not) but because Greta Gerwig gave words to something both deeply personal and undeniably universal. The monologue, powerfully delivered by America Ferrera, calls out the contradictory expectations and impossible standards placed on women.
I think parenting is like that, too.
It is literally impossible to be a parent. You love your child so deeply, and it's heartbreaking to worry that it's not enough. Like, we need to be extraordinary at this difficult thing all the time, no matter what, and somehow, there's always someone saying we're doing it wrong.
You're supposed to raise independent kids, but not so independent that they feel abandoned. You want them to be fully themselves but also protect them from a world that isn't understanding. You have to discipline them, but not too harshly, or you'll damage them. Be patient but not permissive. Cherish every moment, but don't forget to think about and prepare them for the future.
You have to balance being their authority figure and their empathetic listener. You need to stay calm, even when you're completely exhausted. You're supposed to love your career, but never let it interfere with your family. You're supposed to provide them with every opportunity but also don't spoil them.
You can't admit how hard it is because that might make it seem like you don't love them enough. And if they struggle in any way β socially, academically, emotionally β that's your fault. Didn't you read the right parenting books? Take the right classes? Use the right tone?
And, on top of all that, how do we know which moments will matter most?
I wonder what he's going to remember about me as a parent
I wonder what Joey will remember from these years and what he won't.
I think about my own childhood and how certain moments stayed while others quietly fell away. I remember an afternoon when the kids in my neighborhood made fun of me for not knowing how to ride my bike without training wheels. My dad shooed them away, and even though I didn't magically learn to ride that day, I felt protected and watched over.
Years later, I was in a minor fender bender on my way to high school. Still a bit rattled after exchanging insurance information, I drove home instead of heading to school and called my dad. He explained that this wasn't a time to retreat but a time to keep going. So, to school I went.
Or the night my mom stayed up late helping me clean my room, even though I was the one who made the mess. I was so overwhelmed I couldn't start, and instead of lecturing me, she sat on the floor and helped. On the flip side, I knew better than to call her at work if I forgot a school assignment at home; those consequences were mine to handle.
I will always wonder if I've done enough as a parent
The truth is, I don't think I'll ever stop second-guessing myself as a parent. I'll always wonder if I should have done more or less, if I should have stepped in earlier or held back longer. Or is my perspective too insular in proportion to the external happenings in the world?
What I'm trying to hold onto is that raising a perfect kid in an imperfect world surely can't be the goal.
My parents' style was both hands-on and hands-off. Now that I'm a parent, I understand the seemingly infinite number of factors that influence parenting choices. I have a hunch my parents didn't have a precise formula for when to use which approach. What I am certain about is that my parents did their best with each decision.
That's what we're all doing, right? Our best at any given moment. That's what I can commit to: showing up every day, doing my best in each particular moment, warts and all. I hope that's enough.
I went to Lapland, Finland, to spend a night in an igloo.
Eibhlis Gale-Coleman
I visited Lapland, Finland's northernmost region, and stayed in an igloo for $150 a night.
It was much cheaper than other similar accommodations I found in the area.
The outside temperature was below freezing, but I slept extremely well and had a blast.
I've always dreamed of staying in an igloo. The novelty experience just seems perfectly nostalgic to me β the sort of thing you conjure up in childhood but forget to tick off your list as an adult.
When I booked a trip to Lapland in December, I knew I wanted to make it happen.
Unfortunately, most igloo stays are out of my budget, especially in December, when prices tend to go up due to higher demand. Everything I saw was either close to $800 a night or booked out months in advance.
I almost resigned myself to failure until I stumbled across Lucky Ranch, a family-owned lodge just outside PyhΓ€-Luosto National Park on the shores of the serene Lake PyhΓ€jΓ€rvi.
Stays in its elaborately carved igloos were available for just $150 a night β and they included breakfast. I couldn't believe my luck.
I arrived early and familiarized myself with the property.
There were four igloos to choose from.
Eibhlis Gale-Coleman
I arrived a little early at "base camp" (a toasty wooden cabin with washroom facilities and a restaurant), where reception staff immediately offered me a hot drink.
A kind employee then offered to take me on a guided tour to get the lay of the land.
Stepping out the back door, I was giddy at the sight of four igloos surrounded by pine trees and strung-up fairy lights. The backdrop of the frozen lake made the novelty accommodation even more impressive.
As the first igloo guest to arrive for the day, I had the pick of the bunch.
The igloos are really just made of snow.
I'm used to a little more security as a solo traveler, but I felt pretty comfortable at Lucky Ranch.
Eibhlis Gale-Coleman
The igloos were a remarkable feat of architecture, a true winter wonderland.
A staff member told me that the lodge savvily creates them by inflating a huge balloon and dumping tons of snow on top. Once the walls are intact, a local artist begins carving unique decorations in each room.
The whole building process takes about a day, and the igloo I stayed in was built only a week before my trip.
It was beautiful inside.
My igloo featured a carving of a horse.
Eibhlis Gale-Coleman
Once I selected my igloo, I got settled in.
There were no doors β I entered my lodging by pulling aside a heavy cloth curtain. Inside, a double bed topped with reindeer pelts sat underneath an ice carving of a horse head, illuminated by delicately hung lights.
Getting ready for bed took a little extra prep work.
I wore multiple layers and slept in a sleeping bag.
Eibhlis Gale-Coleman
Back inside the base camp, I lined my stomach with a hearty Margherita pizza and charged my phone to prepare for my night in the igloo.
Then, I started layering up.
The staff emphasized the risk of frostbite, saying it was vital that I dress appropriately and remain in the sleeping bag overnight. However, the base camp would remain open for anyone who got too cold or needed a complimentary hot drink.
I went with a full-body merino base layer, thermal waterproof trousers, woolen sweaters, and woolly socks. It was hardly my trendiest look, but it was definitely comfortable.
I tested its warmth with regular dashes outside onto the frozen lake, gazing up at the stars and trying to see the northern lights.
It was chilly, but I was surprisingly comfortable.
I liked sleeping in the cold.
Eibhlis Gale-Coleman
By 9:30 p.m., it was bedtime. Staff members handed out pillows and sleeping bags with liners, provided a short safety briefing, and offered us hot water bottles.
Once I was tucked in, all my nerves drifted away. Although it was -12 degrees Celsius, or about 10 degrees Fahrenheit, outside, the temperature gauge inside the igloo hovered closer to 3 C.
The cold had a calming effect, and I was surprised at how comfortable I felt.
Scandinavian parents famously let their babies nap outside in prams in freezing temperatures to improve their sleep quality. Over 10 hours of blissful sleep later, bundled in my multiple layers, I could see why.
I woke up feeling refreshed and rested.
The nearby activities were worth getting up for.
I got to hike and see huskies.
Eibhlis Gale-Coleman
Since the igloo was relatively affordable, I had the dispensable budget to treat myself to an optional add-on activity.
After a complimentary breakfast of toast, eggs, and salad, I stored my bags at reception and waited to be picked up for a $60 tour of a husky farm.
I met the dogs and watched training demonstrations while drinking hot berry juice to warm up. Then, I set off on a quick self-guided hike up the Soutaja Fell.
I can't image any of the pricier options being better than my igloo stay.
I can't wait to book a longer igloo stay.
Eibhlis Gale-Coleman
Lucky Ranch's location was a dream for adventurous tourists like me. The rural setting was a far cry from the urban bustle of Rovaniemi β where much of Lapland's winter tourism takes place.
I found the experience priceless, which is ironic considering it was one of the most budget-friendly options.
Between the beautiful property and the great night's sleep, I can't wait to come back. Next time, I'd definitely book a longer stay.
Massachusetts-based real estate investor Dana Bull in front of one of her properties.
Courtesy of Dana Bull
Dana Bull plans to optimize her real estate portfolio in 2025 rather than acquiring more properties.
She aims to increase revenue by focusing on insurance, taxes, and renovation costs.
With insurance costs on the rise, any investor can benefit from shopping around.
Dana Bull isn't looking to acquire any more properties in 2025.
The experienced investor built wealth by buying primarily multi-family properties in Massachusetts. She's also a real-estate agent and consultant, and a mother of four. Between her various work projects and renovating her primary residence, she says she has plenty to keep her busy in 2025.
While she's not expanding her doors, she still expects to grow her revenue in the new year.
Any investor can benefit from optimizing what they already own, said Bull: "If you're not going to buy right now β for personal reasons or you just don't like the interest rates or whatever is going on β this could be a good year to just focus on your business, your expenses, and tighten up what you already have."
Specifically, she's looking to optimize in three categories, which could improve her returns significantly.
1. Insurance
Like many investors and homeowners, Bull has seen her insurance rates rise over the past couple of years.
The general trend is that "insurance is harder to get and it's more expensive," she said. "That cost for me has just jumped. It's a big line item. I have had the same provider for the past 10 years, and I need to just go out there and procure quotes and make sure that I'm not getting overcharged for what's being covered."
It can be time-consuming to keep track of each policy and its changes, especially if you own a lot of properties.
"I feel like it's the wild, wild west," said Bull of navigating the insurance world. "Many times, a program that we have a property covered by will just be dropped, or they'll no longer cover that property for reason X, Y, or Z, so it's like this revolving door of making sure that the properties all have coverage β and the right coverage."
She says she's been more "passive" about optimizing insurance in the past, but now that prices are soaring, she plans to shop around and do her due diligence in 2025.
2. Taxes
In addition to insurance, her property taxes have gone up.
"The tax rate has not gone up, but the value of the properties has gone up so significantly that you're just paying thousands more a year for taxes," explained Bull. One of her properties, for example, will cost an extra $2,000 a year. "If I multiply that across my whole portfolio, that's a lot of money."
If you think your property is overvalued, you can appeal your property assessment.
"I think I have a few properties that are overvalued," said Bull. "Some aren't, so obviously there's nothing to do there. But if I can make a case and bring in comps and show them this is an overvaluation and now I'm being taxed higher than I probably should, I have found in the past that if you're just a squeaky wheel, they'll work with you."
3. Renovation costs
Bull has seen the availability and cost of hiring contractors vary dramatically over her investing career.
"When I first started in real estate, which was at the tail end of the recession, contractors were out of work, and they needed work, so the pricing was way different 10 years ago than it is today," she said. "And then during the pandemic, everybody was renovating their home and contractors had such a surplus of work that they could basically charge whatever they wanted, and you were going to pay it because you were desperate."
Heading into 2025, "the tides are kind of turning," she said, in that contractors won't be able to pick their price.
It's worth it to shop around, said Bull, adding that you may be surprised by the varying prices you receive. For example, she had to replace three roofs for one of her multi-family properties: "One quote came in at $30,000, another came in at $21,000, and then another came in at $12,000. And I'm reviewing the quotes and pretty much everything is the same. The product is the same."
While meeting with multiple contractors can be "a pain in the butt," she acknowledged, it could mean tens of thousands of dollars in savings.
A Ukrainian fiber-optic drone is seen during a test flight in the Kyiv region in December 2024.
Photo by Viktor Fridshon/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images
The war in Ukraine has given rise to explosive-packed drones modified with fiber-optic cables.
These drones are dangerous, as they can't be jammed with electronic warfare and are harder to detect.
But one Ukrainian company is developing a solution so front-line soldiers can find the drones.
Russian forces are using explosive-packed drones connected to their operators by fiber-optic cables to deliver unjammable precision strikes on Ukrainian troops and military equipment, and Kyiv is looking for a fix to fight back.
Fiber-optic drones have been increasingly appearing in combat over about the last year, and they're a challenge. These drones are dangerous because they can't be jammed with traditional electronic warfare and are difficult to defend against, highlighting the need for a solution.
The drones are "a real problem" because "we cannot detect and intercept them" electronically, Yuriy, a major in an electronic-warfare unit of the Ukrainian National Guard, told Business Insider. "If we can see, we can fight."
The problem is one that the defense industry is looking into closely. Kara Dag, for instance, is an American-Ukrainian technology company that's developing software and hardware to defend against Russian drones for the military and working on a solution, but it's still early days.
The company's chief technology officer, who goes by the pseudonym John for security purposes, said the ongoing conflict is a "war of drones." He told BI Ukraine had managed this fight well with jamming techniques, but Russia has found ways to slip past some of its defenses.
Fiber-optic drones, which Russia appears to have started flying into battle last spring, are first-person view, or FPV, drones, but rather than rely on a signal connection, they are wired with cables that preserve a stable connection. As a result, these drones are resistant to electronic warfare, like radio frequency jammers, and produce high-quality video transmissions.
A Russian soldier launches an FPV drone at an undisclosed location in November 2024.
Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP
In August, combat footage from Russian fiber-optic drones began to circulate, indicating a more lasting presence on the battlefield. Now, both militaries are using these drones.
Fiber-optic drones are highly dangerous, John said, as they can fly in tunnels, close to the ground, through valleys, and in other areas where other drones might lose connection with their operators. They are also tough to detect because they don't emit any radio signals.
Russia can use these drones to destroy Ukrainian armored vehicles and study its defensive positions, he said. Since they don't have bandwidth problems, these drones "can transmit very high-quality picture and they literally see everything."
The drones aren't without their disadvantages, though. Yuriy shared that the fiber-optic drones are slower than the untethered FPV drones and unable to make sharp changes in direction. He said that Russia does not have too many of these drones, either, nor does it use them in every direction of the front lines. But where they are used, they're a problem.
Because jamming doesn't work on fiber-optic drones, there are efforts underway to explore other options for stopping these systems, such as audio and visual detection. But this kind of technology can be expensive and hard to manufacture.
A Ukrainian fiber-optic drone is seen during a test flight in the Kyiv region in December 2024.
Photo by Viktor Fridshon/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images
John said that the company has developed a low-cost solution to find fiber-optic drones. One element of this system is an array of dozens of microphones that can be focused on one point in the sky to listen for any nearby drones. The second element is an unfocused infrared laser that highlights any object in a certain area of the sky while a camera records any reflected light coming back.
It's a single device that can be placed around a kilometer from troop positions. John said the device is in lab testing, and the next step is to deploy it in real combat conditions on the front lines next month. The plan is to eventually produce several thousand of these devices every month.
The introduction of fiber-optic drones into battle β and Ukraine's subsequent efforts to counter them β underscores how both Moscow and Kyiv are constantly trying to innovate with uncrewed systems before the enemy can adapt, a trend that has been evident throughout the war.
In a previous interview with BI, Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine's minister of digital transformation, described the technology and drone race playing out in this fight as a "cat-and-mouse game." He said that Kyiv is trying to stay several steps ahead of Moscow at all times.
The Ukrainian military said last month that it was testing fiber-optic drones, adding that "FPV drones with this technology are becoming a big problem for the enemy on the front line."
On Tuesday, a Ukrainian government platform that facilitates innovation within the country's defense industry shared new footage of fiber-optic drone demonstrations on social media. Russia, if it's not already, may soon find itself working to counter these new drones as well.
Lockefeer worked at McKinsey and Alibaba before starting her own business.
Duo Fotografie
While struggling with parenting duties, Babette Lockefeer considered quitting her business.
Her husband didn't agree with her decision to stop work and be a stay-at-home mom.
Lockefeer was angry at first but later realized she wouldn't be happy if she wasn't working.
This as-told-to essay is based on a transcribed conversation with Babette Lockefeer, 35, from the Netherlands, about navigating motherhood alongside her career. The following has been edited for length and clarity.
Four months after my second child was born, I wasn't living life as I'd envisioned it.
I was in the midst of a big project for my business as a leadership and team facilitator and struggling to balance my career and motherhood. I felt overwhelmed, stressed, and sleep-deprived.
In the summer of 2021, I told my husband I wanted to quit the business. He immediately said no.
At first, I was angry. I'd always valued doing important work and my career, and I was willing to stop doing that for our family, but felt he wasn't letting me.
Over time, I realized he was right: I wouldn't have been happy as a stay-at-home mom. Talking with my husband and processing my feelings helped me realize that being a mother wasn't a detriment to my career. I had to deal with some insecurities and make some changes at home to understand I could do both.
I was always a high achiever at work
I started my career in 2014 as a consultant at McKinsey. I spent two and a half years there, but in 2016, I joined Alibaba as a global leadership associate. I spent around half a year in their Dutch office, helping Dutch e-commerce players connect to the Chinese market.
In the summer of 2017, my husband, who I'd met as a student, and I moved to China, and I worked for Alibaba in Hangzhou.
I really enjoyed it. We had monthly trainings where we learned more about China, e-commerce, and leadership. The training made me realize that my real interests lay in leadership development. In 2018, I left Alibaba and started my own business in the leadership space, TheoryY.
I was also pregnant with my first child at that time. Five months after his birth, in December 2019, we decided to leave China and move back to the Netherlands.
Soon after we returned, the COVID-19 pandemic hit. I got pregnant again and had a second child in February 2021. Because of the pandemic, it was difficult to have family assistance with childcare or access to day care.
Around 10 weeks after giving birth, I started a new project with my business after being referred to a new client. Our newborn wasn't fond of sleeping, so we had a lot of broken nights.
For me, motherhood was about having a healthy attachment with my children, being present, and attending to all of their needs.
This was impossible to achieve all the time. I was too tired, overwhelmed, and full of doubt. With hindsight, I still did a good job as a mother, but I'd internalized the perfect mother myth.
Society's picture of an ideal mother is in direct conflict with that of an ideal employee. The employee is always available and wants to go the extra mile, but the mom also needs to be fully committed and always have the space to attend to her children's needs.
I was always a high achiever at work, but now, I had less time and energy to go the extra mile. I was working fewer hours than before having children, but when I was with my kids I wasn't always present because I was thinking about work. I felt like I wasn't doing a good job on the work front or the motherhood front.
My husband didn't think quitting would make me happy
My husband worked full-time. He was very involved as a dad. When our second child was born, he took some parental leave, spread across the year, plus six weeks of birth leave. But because I was self-employed and had more flexibility, I was always picking up things that fell off the wagon β which was a lot of the time during COVID.
I would spread my hours around, sometimes working in the evenings so I could still do the tasks I was hired to do. We never had a consistent schedule, and I felt like I was firefighting. Whenever a child was ill or had a doctor's appointment, the mental load was predominantly on my shoulders.
When I spoke to my husband about quitting, he said he didn't think it was the right decision. He also wanted to spend time with our kids and thought it wasn't fair if he was the sole breadwinning parent.
He also said he didn't think I'd be happy as a stay-at-home mom. I disagreed, saying I wasn't happy as it stood.
I spoke with my husband, processed my feelings and decided to continue working
From our first conversation, it was clear we weren't aligned, so we continued to discuss it.
I shared that I felt I was undervalued and wasn't appreciated by him unless I was achieving something professionally. He told me he still appreciated me now that I was a mom and wasn't on a steep career trajectory at the time.
I decided to continue working, but we also changed some practical things about our household. When our third child was born in July 2023, my husband was granted 26 weeks of parental leave by his new company, and he took all of it, taking full end-to-end responsibility for the household for the first time.
It allowed me to trust him fully with the kids and family chores going forward, so our dynamic has become more equal. We don't split things 50-50 all the time, but regularly discuss how best to divide responsibilities between us.
Looking back, I'm grateful that my husband could see that, in the long term, it wasn't a good idea for me to quit working. I need the intellectual stimulation that comes from a job, and my work fills me with the energy to show up as the mom and partner I want to be.
Do you have a story about balancing parenting with your career? Email Charissa Cheong at [email protected]
"What we're trying to figure out is, very specifically, what is it about ultra-processed foods that seems to drive over-consumption and weight gain?" metabolism researcher Kevin Hall recently told Business Insider.
Hall works at the National Institutes of Health, where he is conducting an unusual experiment. He brings people into a tightly controlled food lab for one month, and tests out how four different diets β one unprocessed, and three ultra-processed, but all with the same levels of key nutrients β impact people's hunger, fullness, calorie consumption, weight gain, and fat loss.
While his study is still ongoing, he's been sharing some initial results with colleagues in the US and in Europe.
The early findings offer some hints about why UPFs can not only lead to weight gain but also make it hard to dump fat. The study is also showing that simple tweaks could make a huge difference. Perhaps, Hall says, you don't need to cut out ultra-processed products to have a satisfying, relatively healthy plate of food.
On an ultra-processed diet, patients gained 2 lbs a week
An example of an ultra-processed meal from Hall's original 2019 study. In the new study, there are fewer ultra-processed drinks, with more nutrients like fiber being put directly into the foods offered.
NIH, NIDDK
When Hall's patients switched diets, their calorie intake shifted dramatically.
During their week of unprocessed meals, full of fresh vegetables, beans, legumes, and whole grains, participants ate an average of 2,700 calories per day. They also tended to lose a little weight, about a pound of fat.
That changed when they switched to an 80% ultra-processed diet. Same amount of food offered, same levels of sugar, salt, fat, carbs, protein, and fiber on the plate.
The patients ended up consuming more food to achieve the same level of fullness β ingesting about 3,700 calories per day on average. On ultra-processed foods, the patients' weight shot up by over two pounds in a single week.
An example of an unprocessed meal from Hall's 2019 study.
People might not even feel like they're eating more when they consume those ultra-processed meals. Generally speaking, each bite of ultra-processed food is far more calorie-dense than a homemade meal.
Adding moisture made ultra-processed meals 'healthier'
A chef at the National Institutes of Health's metabolic kitchen. The NIH precisely measures the amount of key nutrients that are available in each meal, matching ultra-processed to unprocessed offerings. But it's up to participants to decide what they want to eat, and how much.
Jennifer Rymaruk, NIDDK
Cutting out ultra-processed foods isn't realistic in the US, Hall said. But what if you could make a Western diet less bad?
Hoping to reduce people's weight gain and improve satiety with fewer calories, Hall (and his team of clinical chefs) devised two new diets to test this time.
Both diets were 80% ultra-processed but with some crucial adjustments.
In the first new diet, researchers lowered the amount of what are called "hyper-palatable foods" β foods that combine sugar, salt, and fat in ways that aren't typically seen in nature (think: rich, salty ice cream, a donut, or veggies in cream sauce).
Heyper-palatable foods combine fat, sodium, and sugar in unnatural ways.
d3sign/Getty Images
Addiction researcher Tera Fazzino coined the term "hyper-palatable" as a way to collect data on the irresistibility of junk food. She hypothesizes that hyper-palatable ultra-processed foods might mess with our minds, and drive people to eat more than they would otherwise.
But that didn't ring true in Hall's new study. The patients who cut out hyper-palatable foods only saved themselves 200 calories a day, and gained over 1 lb in a week.
In the second diet, the chefs lowered the amount of hyper-palatable foods again, but also upped the moisture of people's ultra-processed meals, making them less energy-dense. Often, this meant adding more high-volume, non-starchy vegetables like a side salad to the ultra-processed plate.
Researchers added more side salads and vegetables to the ultra-processed meals, and people lost weight.
martinturzak/Getty Images
"Basically, add very low-calorie mass," Hall told BI. "That typically is non-starchy vegetables."
On an ultra-processed diet with fewer energy-dense foods and less hyper-palatable items, people lost about a pound in one week β just like on the unprocessed diet. They also consumed about 830 fewer calories per day, very close to the 1,000 fewer calories consumed on the unprocessed diet.
"I thought, OK, gosh, we've solved this problem, this is great," Hall said during a presentation at Imperial College London in November, when he first revealed the new results.
There was a catch, though.
"A little bit of a monkey wrench was thrown in because we decided to look at the body composition changes," Hall said.
The nut we haven't cracked: Achieving the right kind of weight-loss
Not all weight loss is created equal.
imageBROKER/Maren Winter/Getty Images
Only people on the 100% unprocessed diet lost body fat.
On the "healthier" ultra-processed diet, people lost about a pound of weight in a week, but it was coming from fat-free mass. That means muscle, bone, tissue, or maybe just water weight.
Hall is not yet sure why this is happening, but he says it could have to do with the "digestability" of the ultra-processed foods β in other words, how they are handled inside our bodies, compared to whole foods.
"If we can learn what those mechanisms are, then the really smart people who are ingenious food technologists and scientists can maybe re-engineer some of these foods," he told BI.
"There's so many narratives and hypotheses that sound reasonable, but until you actually do the studies to test that, then you don't know."
5 simple ways to make your meals healthier today
Frozen vegetables can be just as nutritious as fresh.
StefaNikolic/Getty Images
While it's still too early to say for sure exactly why people eat more calories and store more fat on ultra-processed diets, Hall says we can already begin to use his early findings to make some educated guesses.
Here are some tips:
Bulk up a meal, any meal, by adding some vegetables to your plate. Could be salad. Could be a side of cooked broccoli or some carrots. They don't have to be fresh. Frozen is also just fine.
Try some beans. You could whip up a hearty longevity-friendly minestrone soup, but if you don't have the time even ultra-processed refried beans are a decent option.
Pick out whole grains, like oatmeal, brown rice, and quinoa.
Pay attention to how much added sugar is in items like yogurt, granola, and salad dressing, and try to limit how much of it you consume. (Olive oil makes a great dressing, and it's filled with healthy fats and beneficial plant compounds.)
Prioritize the satiating, nutrient-rich foods we know are associated with good health, like eggs (even the ultra-processed liquid kind might be fine).
"It's possible that there's some weird additive or some ingredient in that food that is not good for you," Hall said. "We don't have the science on that yet, but applying what we do know, I think you can still make educated choices."
The author (not pictured) was horrified to learn her son called a girl ugly.
Ivan Pantic/Getty Images
My son's principal told me he called a girl ugly on several occasions.
As a mother and leadership coach, I worried I failed my son.
Instead of judging him and myself, I taught him the power of words.
"Your son has been calling a girl ugly β repeatedly."
I froze. My stomach dropped. The words from the school principal felt surreal. My 13-year-old had called someone ugly. And not just once, but repeatedly?
I was shocked, but more than that, I was terrified. I felt like a failure.
I'm a leadership coach. I work with executives on empathy, accountability, and understanding, yet here I was, faced with the reality that I might have failed my own child.
The questions swirled. How did this happen? Did I not teach him better than this? Where did I go wrong?
At that moment, something clicked: leadership principles aren't just for the boardroom; they're for everyday life. Parenting is leadership, too. I had to approach this challenge with the same mindset I used to guide executives.
I decided not to judge my son, so I asked him questions instead
At first, my emotions boiled over. I wanted to tell my son how disappointed I was and to remind him of all the lessons we've discussed: kindness, respect, empathy. But I knew that simply reacting emotionally wouldn't help him grow.
Effective leaders don't react with anger or judgment. Instead, they choose a path of inquiry and growth. It's about creating a space where accountability happens without shame.
So, instead of scolding him, I asked him questions like: "Why do you think that happened?" and "What do you think the impact was?"
My son's answer surprised me. He wasn't trying to hurt anyone on purpose. "I was just trying to be funny," he said. "I wanted to fit in with my friends."
This moment hit me hard. I realized that he wasn't trying to be cruel; he was trying to make his friends laugh, to impress them.
When I took a step back to collect myself, a memory surfaced: I called a girl ugly in the eighth grade. I hadn't thought about that moment in years, but there it was β sharp, vivid, and undeniable. I didn't say it because I believed it. I said it to fit in, to feel better about myself, and to cave to the pressure around me.
Instead of scolding, I told him about the time I called a girl ugly. I used my vulnerability to help him see that everyone makes mistakes. This wasn't about labeling him a bad person but about helping him understand the harm in his actions.
"I know you're not a mean person," I said gently, "but you did a mean thing."
This conversation was about making him think, making him feel what the other person felt. I wanted him to understand the power of his words and begin to reflect on how to repair the situation.
I then encouraged my son to apologize β not just with words, but with sincerity. We practiced it together. I asked him to think about how the girl might have felt and what she might have been thinking when he said those words.
My son learned his lesson once he apologized
When the time came, his apology was heartfelt. But the girl's response was even more powerful.
"I'm OK with jokes," she said, "but I'm not OK when they're about my body or my looks."
At that moment, I felt something shift in my son. He understood that words have power β not just in the moment they're spoken, but in their lasting impact on someone's self-worth.
I've been a leadership coach long enough to know that people don't always behave as expected. Sometimes, good people do bad things, and even the most well-intentioned individuals make mistakes.
It's easy to react with judgment, to label someone's behavior as unforgivable. But true leadership is about offering grace and space for growth.
The key to this experience was replacing judgment with curiosity
When I first heard what my son had done, my first instinct was to judge him harshly. But judgment doesn't foster growth; it stifles it.
By embracing curiosity, I was able to ask the right questions β questions that led to reflection rather than defensiveness. By doing so, we had a real conversation about empathy, self-awareness, and becoming a better person.
This experience reminded me that we parents are not raising our children to avoid mistakes. We're raising them to learn from those mistakes and grow our understanding of ourselves and others.
Parenting is no different from leadership. The same principles we use to guide executives, employees, and teams can β and should β be applied to how we raise our children. By embracing curiosity, modeling accountability, and leading with compassion, we teach not just by our words but by our actions.
The Los Angeles fires crept close to the author's house, prompting her to pack quickly.
Courtesy of Mindy Stern
When I saw the Los Angeles fires creep toward my house, I knew I had to pack an emergency bag fast.
I grabbed the essentials, but then I remembered I needed to take photos of my birth mother with me.
That's when I learned nothing I've ever purchased is as important to me as I thought.
It's amazing what you pack when a fire rages five blocks from the home you've lived in for 24 years and raised your kids in. It's amazing what you decide β in those panicked moments β is most valuable.
My daughter, 26, lives at home, and her friends, who evacuated from the latest fire in Hollywood, came to stay with us. We live in the flats of the San Fernando Valley. Wildfire danger is rare, and the same goes for floods and mudslides. That's why, 24 years ago, we chose this leafy cul-de-sac.
Like all Angelenos, I've spent the last few days scared and anxious, checking in with friends and watching communities and beloved institutions burn to the ground. I've heard from friends who've lost everything. A lifetime turned to ash.
At least everyone is safe, I kept telling myself. I've been coping as best I can, alternating between watching the news and attempting to dissociate with "Downton Abbey."
But one night this week, my daughter ran into my room and told me to turn on the news. There was a fire just blocks away. We grabbed our coats, ran outside, walked a block, and saw the flames on the nearby hillside. Families emerged from houses and buildings, carrying all they could manage, and rushed to their cars.
"What should we do?" my daughter asked.
I stood nearly catatonic. "I don't know. I just don't know."
We watched the Los Angeles fire department make water drops and watched more neighbors, stricken with fear, run to their cars. We decided to get back home and quickly pack the car.
I first struggled to find what was most valuable to me
I grabbed jewelry, passports, jugs of water, and the emergency earthquake kit my husband insists we keep updated. I packed underwear, toothpaste, and random toiletries as if hyaluronic acid was essential to my survival. My daughter carried bags of dog food and her favorite clothes. I then watched her take a giant plastic bin from the garage.
"What is that?" I asked.
"Pictures," she replied.
Suddenly, everything stopped β the noise, the fear, the rushing. Only one thing mattered: finding the photographs of my birth mother.
My birth mother and I never met, but I needed her in this emergency
I was adopted at three months old, and my records were sealed. At 31, after the birth of my daughter, I found my birth mother via a copy of my original birth certificate held in the New York Public Library. She had already died β in 1995, one day before my 27th birthday, before I found her, before I could tell I was OK, and before I could tell her that I understood.
After a decadeslong search, I found her husband (not my father), Andrew. In 2022, I met Andrew in Paris. After lunch and wine, he handed me a canvas bag and said, "This is for you."
Slowly, meticulously, I took out photograph after photograph β aged and loved β and contemplated the face, expression, and fabulous style of my first mother.
When I came home from Paris, I carefully laid out each picture on my hotel bed β some more than 40 years old β and snapped photos of them with my phone. I knew I needed a digital archive, but nothing could replace holding the images in my hand, touching her in the only way allowed. I then put the bag of photos in a box I kept under my bed.
I took the photos of Gloria with me, not fully knowing how much I valued them
My daughter shouted to me, "Everything I want is in my car!"
I let her know I was almost ready. Frantic to find the pictures of Gloria, I rifled through storage bags, and then I remembered the box. It was right there under the bed β below where my head rests each night.
I reached, retrieved it, and opened it. The bag of Gloria's photographs was safely inside. Hurry. I rushed to my car, placed the box beside my go bag, and hugged my daughter. We were ready. We were safe. And my first mother was with me β like she always is.
In the end, thanks to brave firefighters and water drops, we didn't need to evacuate. But the lesson of those frenzied moments will stay with me forever. Nothing I've ever purchased is as important to me as I thought.
