Reform UK leader Nigel Farage (left) and Elon Musk (right). Musk has waded into UK politics.
Christopher Furlong/Getty Images and Samuel Corum/Getty Images
Elon Musk said Reform UK's Nigel Farage "doesn't have what it takes" to be the party's leader.
It comes after Farage disagreed with Musk's support for jailed far-right activist Tommy Robinson.
Musk's comments came just hours after Farage called the Tesla CEO a "friend" in an interview.
Elon Musk appears to have turned on Reform UK's Nigel Farage, the leader of the country's right-wing party.
"The Reform Party needs a new leader. Farage doesn't have what it takes," Musk wrote on X on Sunday.
Musk has recently supported Reform UK as an alternative to the ruling Labour Party, primarily for its anti-immigration stance. Farage has welcomed that support and the two appeared to be forging a strong relationship. Farage recently visited Musk in the United States. And Musk was rumored to be lining up donations for Reform UK.
But things took a turn after Musk called for the release of Tommy Robinson, a jailed far-right anti-immigration activist. Speaking at a Reform UK event earlier this week, Farage said Robinson was "not what we need," The Telegraph reported.
"There are people in Britain who think that Robinson is a political prisoner. That's the narrative that he's pushed out. That's how he earns his living but it isn't quite true," he said.
On Sunday, Farage responded to Musk, calling the billionaire a "remarkable individual" but saying that he disagreed with his view on Robinson.
"Well, this is a surprise! Elon is a remarkable individual but on this I am afraid I disagree," he wrote. "My view remains that Tommy Robinson is not right for Reform and I never sell out my principles."
Robinson is a controversial far-right figure in the UK who was sentenced to 18 months in prison in October for contempt of court. Musk has repeatedly called for Robinson's release.
Robinson is something of a third rail in the UK. Farage, who does not shy away from controversy, accused the activist during far-right, anti-immigration riots in the UK over the summer of trying to "stir up hatred."
"As for the Tommy Robinsons and those that genuinely do stir up hatred, well, I've never had anything to do with them," Farage said in a video he posted at the time.
Hours before Musk's latest comments, the Reform UK leader described the tech mogul as a "friend" in an interview on the BBC.
Farage said the fact that Musk "supports me politically and supports Reform doesn't mean I have to agree with every single statement he makes on X."
Business Insider has contacted Reform UK for comment.
Ray Kroc, founder and chairman of McDonald's Corporation, stands outside one of his franchises, holding a hamburger and a drink.
Bettman/Getty Images
McDonald's is among the most iconic and successful brands worldwide.
Ray Kroc, a Multimixer salesman, stumbled upon the original McDonald's brothers' burger restaurant in 1954.
Kroc became McDonald's first franchisee and transformed the restaurant into a global empire.
The McDonald brothers opened their small restaurant in 1940 with a simple menu: burgers, fries, and beverages like their "Triple Thick Milkshakes."
Ray Kroc, a Multimixer salesman, saw the restaurant's potential and became McDonald's first franchise agent.
In 1955, Kroc founded McDonald's System, Inc., which would later become the McDonald's Corporation. He bought out the brothers in 1961 for $2.7 million, the equivalent of about $28.5 million today.
Here's a timeline showing how Ray Kroc built McDonald's from a small burger joint to a global fast-food empire.
1902: Ray Kroc was born in Oak Park, Illinois, on October 5.
Ray Kroc was credited with launching McDonald's from a small restaurant to a global fast-food empire.
Bettmann/Contributor/Getty Images
Biography reported that Kroc showed early promise as an entrepreneur. As a child, he opened his own lemonade stand and worked at a soda fountain.
He eventually found a job as a salesman and manager at a cup company, which connected him with Earl Prince, the owner of an ice cream shop.
Prince had invented a mixer machine that could make five batches of milkshakes at once. By the 1940s, Kroc had left his job to sell these "multi-mixers" to soda fountains and restaurants across the country.
1940: Dick and Mac McDonald founded the original McDonald's restaurant in San Bernardino, California.
The price board inside the McDonald's USA First Store Museum in Des Plaines, Illinois, in 2005.
Ralf-Finn Hestoft/Corbis/Getty Images
The original menu was long and included items like barbecue. However, by 1949, the McDonald brothers had reduced the restaurant's offerings to just nine items.
The new menu included hamburgers, cheeseburgers, soft drinks, milk, coffee, potato chips, and a slice of pie.
By having a small menu, the brothers were able to focus on quality and efficiency. Their innovative self-service model eliminated the need for waitstaff, while pre-cooked, paper-wrapped burgers that were kept warm under heat lamps ensured customers got their food quickly and at the quality you could expect from a made-to-order restaurant.
1954: While working as a salesman, Kroc came across the small restaurant and saw great promise.
Ray Kroc holding a hamburger outside a McDonald's restaurant.
AP Photo
Kroc wrote in his biography that multiple restaurants had been referred to Multimixer by the McDonald's brothers, who he was shocked to learn owned eight Multimixer milkshake machines — most restaurants and soda fountains he worked with only needed one or two.
When he visited the brothers' restaurant, he was amazed by their "Speedee Service" concept and saw promise in the restaurant, which had already become a success among locals who loved the 15-cent hamburgers.
He imagined scores of McDonald's restaurants, all utilizing the Multimixer machines he sold, and took his plans for expansion back to the McDonald's brothers. He offered to be one of the restaurant's first franchisees.
1955: Kroc opened the first franchised McDonald's restaurant in Des Plaines, Illinois.
The oldest operating McDonald's restaurant in the world is a drive-up hamburger stand in Downey, California.
Allard Schager/Getty Images
Kroc opened his first restaurant on April 15, 1955. The chain reported that first-day sales at the new location were $366.12, the equivalent of about $4,300 today.
The restaurant differed slightly from the first burger joint opened by the McDonald brothers. For one, it had a new look created by architect Stanley Meson, who designed a modern-looking red-and-white exterior. Believing the roof appeared too flat, Dick McDonald introduced the idea of the now-iconic yellow "golden arches."
The oldest operating restaurant still featuring the original red-and-white design is located in Downey, California.
1961: Kroc bought the McDonald brothers out for $2.7 million, kicking off a decade of massive growth for the brand.
Ray Kroc, founder and former chairman of the board of McDonald's, seated in his office in Chicago in 1978.
UPI/Bettmann Archive/Getty Images
Kroc, envisioning a larger future for the newly established McDonald's System, Inc., the precursor to the McDonald's Corporation, secured the exclusive rights to the McDonald's brand name and control over all McDonald's locations.
Kroc implemented strict standards for preparation, portion sizes, cooking techniques, and packaging to guarantee that McDonald's food would be consistent across the chain's many franchises.
He also created a training program for employees that would later be known as Hamburger University.
In 1965, the company's stock was publicly traded for the first time, and the number of restaurants reached 1,000 units. The brand's identity also changed a lot during the '60s, with the introduction of Ronald McDonald as the chain's mascot, the launch of the Filet-O-Fish, and the now-iconic double-arch "M" logo.
1968: The Big Mac was added to menus nationwide.
Product shot of a McDonald's Big Mac hamburger in 1977.
Henry Groskinsky/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images
The iconic burger was created by franchisee Jim Delligatti of Pittsburgh in 1967.
Fox News reported that Delligatti believed that McDonald's should sell a larger burger to compete with another local fast-food chain, Eat'n Park, which sold a "Big Boy" sandwich.
One of its most-visited cities is Cancún, with its famous nightlife and beautiful beaches, which make it an especially popular spot for college spring-breakers from the US.
I wished I could have afforded to go there in college with my friends. But now that I'm in my late 30s, I'm not looking to party hard when I visit Mexico — I want history, adventure, and culinary delights.
Luckily, I found all of the above in Mérida, which is about 200 miles inland from Cancún. With millions of fewer tourists annually, Mérida also feels less crowded and more relaxed than Cancún.
I adore the city so much, and I think it's perfect for anyone looking for laid-back adventure in lieu of nonstop beach parties.
I still dream of the city's historic architecture
Mérida has many colorful buildings.
eyetravelphotos/Shutterstock
Located on the tip of the Yucatán Peninsula and founded on the site of an ancient Mayan city, Mérida is both historic and beautiful.
With its distinct blend of Mayan design and 16th-century Spanish colonial architecture, the city's history can even be felt as you walk around it.
It has an array of beautiful churches and arches that made me want to stop in my tracks — and its brightly-colored homes in shades of blue, green, pink, and yellow look straight-up dreamy.
In addition, the city has a range of impressive museums dedicated to topics such as Mayan culture and Mexican music.
Mérida has culinary delights to accommodate a range of budgets and dietary preferences
No matter your budget, you'll likely eat very well here. In my experience, Mérida's casual restaurants are just as fantastic as its higher-end contemporaries.
Local watering hole The Negrita Cantina is not to be missed. It feels like the special kind of place where you'll know everyone's name by the end of the night.
Its scrumptious food, like ceviche and aguachiles, and wide selection of tequila and mezcal always impresses me — and it frequently has live music that keeps visitors dancing through the morning.
La Chaya Maya is my go-to stop for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It serves some of the best chilaquiles and margaritas — and many meals cost under $10.
If you're willing to spend more, Museo de la Gastronomía Yucateca (also known as the Museum of Yucatecan Gastronomy or MUGY) is a solid choice.
The restaurant offers a great selection of craft cocktails and local cuisine, as well as many options for people with a range of dietary restrictions.
Lastly, the area has incredible cenotes
Cenotes can look otherworldly.
Carlos. Galvez/Shutterstock
Mérida and the area around it are famous for its cenotes, which are sinkholes or pits filled with fresh water that's often swimmable. Seeing one of these unique chambers has long been on my bucket list.
I especially enjoyed going on a cenote-seeing journey with Magic Cenotes + Hacienda Tour through Airbnb Experiences.
My day trip included a visit to two separate cenotes, a well-rounded guided historical tour, and a homemade lunch in the home of a local resident. I had a fantastic time and made many international friends I still keep in touch with.
The tour was definitely a highlight of my time in Mérida — and I can't wait to go back to see even more of the wonderful city.
They're the two biggest pageants in the country, and both involve a sash and crown. But that's where most of their similarities end.
From eligibility requirements and prize packages to swimsuit versus talent competitions, here are all the differences between Miss America and Miss USA.
How did the Miss America and Miss USA pageants begin?
Miss America predates Miss USA by 31 years. The first pageant — held in September 1921 — was part of a strategy to bring tourists to Atlantic City after Labor Day, according to the Miss America website. It was won by a 16-year-old named Margaret Gorman, competing as Miss Washington, DC.
The Miss America website states that the pageant also featured a "bathing beauty review," which was an "act of rebellion during a time when women weren't permitted to wear swimsuits in public."
Jackie Loughery was crowned the first Miss USA in 1952.
CBS via Getty Images
Miss USA began because of a very different act of rebellion. In 1951, the new Miss America winner, Yolande Betbeze, refused to pose for pictures in a swimsuit. Catalina, a swimwear company sponsoring the competition, was upset by her decision — so it decided to create its own pageants.
In 1952, Jackie Loughery was crowned the first Miss USA, and Armi Kuusela from Finland became the first Miss Universe. Every winner of Miss USA has continued to compete at the Miss Universe pageant. Nine American women have won Miss Universe since its inception — the most of any country.
What are Miss USA and Miss America's different eligibility requirements?
To be eligible to compete in Miss America, contestants must be between the ages of 18 and 28. Women between 14 and 17 can compete in Miss America's Teen, its sister pageant.
Miss America contestants cannot be married or have children. It's a rule that past winners, including Grace Stanke and Camille Schrier, have defended in interviews with Business Insider.
"She has been saying it's a new day at Miss America, and she really meant that," Marsh said. "There are a lot of outdated rules that have gone away, one being that you can't be engaged and be Miss America."
Miss USA has significantly changed its eligibility rules in the past two years. The pageant began allowing married women and mothers to compete in 2023, and 2024 was the first year that all women aged 18 and over were eligible (the previous cutoff age was 28). Women between 14 and 19 can compete at Miss Teen USA.
How are Miss USA and Miss America judged?
While many pageant queens compete at Miss USA and Miss America, the competitions consist of different rounds.
Miss USA contestants are judged on three rounds: swimsuit, evening gown, and interview.
All three rounds previously held equal weight in the contestants' final scores. But under the leadership of Laylah Rose, who became president and CEO in 2023, the interview now makes up 50% of the total score, while evening-gown and swimsuit are each 25%. Rose also decided to remove questions involving politics, sex, or religion from the interview round, which disappointed many past contestants.
Unlike Miss USA, Miss America features a talent competition. It also has evening wear, interview, and fitness rounds. The pageant removed its swimsuit round in 2018, announcing that it would no longer judge contestants based on their "outward physical appearance."
Kate Michael at the 2007 Miss America pageant.
AP Photo/ Jae C. Hong
What are the different prizes for Miss America and Miss USA?
According to its website, Miss America was one of the first organizations in the country to offer college scholarships to women — which it began doing in 1945.
Instead of offering scholarships, the Miss USA Organization has typically paid the winner a salary for their yearlong reign. In past years, the prize package has included an apartment in New York or Los Angeles for their time as Miss USA.
Why are Miss USA and Miss America controversial?
The Miss USA and Miss America pageants have had their share of scandals.
Sam Haskell ran the Miss America Organization for 12 years before he stepped down in 2017 after his vulgar and offensive internal emails about past Miss America winners were leaked to the press.
In the 2023 A&E docuseries "Secrets of Miss America," Mallory Hagan, who won in 2013, said Haskell repeatedly spread false rumors about her sex life. Haskell said Hagan slept with more than 25 men in one of the emails, which were leaked to The Huffington Post.
Haskell resigned from the organization days after the emails were published. He was replaced by former Fox News host and Miss America 1989 Gretchen Carlson, who took over at the beginning of 2018. Carlson resigned in June 2019 after Cara Mund, who was Miss America at the time, spoke out against her leadership.
Mallory Hagan after being crowned Miss America 2013.
Fleming accused Straub of fraud, defamation, and trademark infringement over the Miss America brand in a 32-cause complaint that BI obtained. The lawsuit came after Straub filed for bankruptcy and told Miss America board members that Fleming was using the organization's scholarship fund to pay her legal fees.
In the complaint, Fleming said Straub's bankruptcy filing was fraudulent because he does not own Miss America and the organization has no debt.
"I just feel very strongly that this is a case about standing up and having your voice heard," Fleming told BI in December.
Miss USA made headlines in October 2022 when then-president Crystle Stewart was suspended after contestants said that year's pageant had been rigged. The Miss Universe Organization said it found no evidence of rigging during its investigation, though Stewart and the organization parted ways.
Both pageant queens said they could not share details publicly due to nondisclosure agreements that Rose made every contestant sign before they competed at Miss USA 2023. But their mothers, Jackeline Voigt and Barbara Srivastava, told BI in an interview in May that their daughters experienced "eight months of torture and abuse" while working with Rose.
UmaSofia Srivastava and Noelia Voigt both resigned their titles in May.
Craig Barritt/Getty Images for Supermodels Unlimited
After Voigt and Srivastava relinquished their titles, Miss Colorado Arianna Lemus resigned in solidarity and Miss Teen USA first runner-up Stephanie Skinner refused to assume Srivastava's title. Paula Miles and Kimberly Nicewonder — who both ran state pageants for the Miss USA organization for over three decades — also resigned in 2024 due to Rose's leadership, as they told BI. Rose did not respond to previous requests for comment on the resignations and Jackeline Voigt and Barbara Srivastava's statements.
The Miss America 2025 competition will take place on January 5. It can be streamed on the Miss America YouTube channel.
The Capital One Venture X credit card comes with a variety of benefits, including a Priority Pass membership.
Amanda Adler
I recently got the Capital One Venture X card, which comes with a hefty annual fee.
It has great travel benefits, but I've had mixed experiences with my complimentary Priority Pass.
I haven't been able to use many airport lounges with it, but it and the card are still a good value.
After years of seeing Capital One's catchy "What's in your wallet?" commercials, I finally looked into its credit cards.
As a frequent flyer, I found its Venture X card to be the most appealing option due to its variety of travel perks, but I hesitated to apply for it because of its fairly high annual fee of $395.
At the time of writing, I've had this card for just over a month and have used it for two vacations, with more scheduled in the weeks to come.
Here are my initial reactions to the benefits — particularly the Priority Pass membership, which felt so desirable it convinced me to get the card in the first place.
The Capital One Venture X card won me over with its cash-back and travel perks
I spend a lot of time in airports waiting to board my plane.
Amanda Adler
By signing up for the Capital One Venture X card, I immediately got a lot of perks, including a $300 annual travel credit and a $120 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck Credit.
These benefits alone help defray the $395 annual fee, and the card also comes with:
5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel
2X miles on all other purchases
I also got an initial bonus of 75,000 miles after I spent $4,000 on purchases within the first three months of owning the card.
For my family, the card's biggest draw is the aforementioned complimentary Priority Pass membership, which provides unlimited access for me and two guests to select airport lounges worldwide.
My family of three spends a lot of time in airports, and waiting in a lounge is far more appealing than vying for crowded seating close to the gate.
The Priority Pass membership gets me access to many lounges, but there are limitations
Many airline-specific lounges, such as the Delta Sky Club, don't accept Priority Pass cards for entry.
Amanda Adler
Once I got my Priority Pass membership, I used its easy-to-navigate app to see which lounges I could access.
I was delighted to find my pass got me into lounges in all three terminals at my home airport, Orlando International Airport (MCO).
However, I learned most airline-specific lounges, such as the Delta Sky Club, don't accept Priority Pass.
I was also surprised by the lack of Priority Pass lounge options in some larger cities with major international travel hubs — I found no lounge options when I had layovers at Salt Lake City International Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport.
During a long layover in Salt Lake City, I discovered no lounges here would accept my Priority Pass membership.
Amanda Adler
I also realized that even if lounges are available, they may not be close enough to my flight to be worth visiting.
For example, while I was flying out of Montréal, the only lounge I could use was in a terminal quite far from the one my plane was departing from.
Still, over 1,700 lounges around the globe do accept Priority Pass. I'm hopeful I'll be able to take advantage of my membership as I visit more airports.
Despite its drawbacks, Priority Pass is still a good solution for my lounge-loving family
On my recent trips, I've struggled to find available lounges outside of my home airport. However, I still think Priority Pass is great for my family.
Having access to airport lounges in Orlando, our home base, is a great perk on its own, as I've previously paid as much as $50 per person per visit for this benefit. Now, we all get into the lounge for free.
I enjoy having comfortable seating, ample charge ports, and a quiet place to relax before boarding a plane. My son loves stocking up on the complimentary lounge snacks, which saves me from having to buy him pricey — and generally mediocre — airport food.
Knowing there's a comfy airport lounge waiting for me at MCO the next time I travel helps make my journey feel almost as fun as the destination.
Plus, with my Capital One Venture X card, I also earn travel rewards for every dollar I spend. Although I've only had my card for a few weeks, I've already racked up miles I can redeem for future flights.
The offers and details on this page may have updated or changed since the time of publication. See our article on Business Insider for current information.
For Love & Money is a column from Business Insider answering your relationship and money questions.
This week, a reader is tired of their wife upheaving their lifestyle.
Our columnist says actively participating in her goals is the first step toward compromise.
Got a question for our columnist? Write to For Love & Money using this Google form.
Dear For Love & Money,
My wife has a habit of making sweeping declarations about how we'll change everything we've been doing and reinvent our lives to be better, healthier, happier people.
Every few months, we start eating clean, buying nothing, waking up early, going on evening walks, or doing a new workout routine. Each time, the phase lasts for a week at the longest, but one or two days is the norm.
As you might've guessed, New Year's is her Super Bowl. This year, once again, we're doing it all differently, especially the spending. She's put together an unrealistic budget and a chore chart and tossed everything in the pantry.
I like our life, though, and playing this game where I participate in her phases is beginning to wear thin. It's not the goals that bother me; I like to save money and could lose a few pounds, but I'm sick of the constant resolutions to "fix "our lives.
Why can't she just be happy? How can I show her I want the same things as her but don't see our lives as broken?
Sincerely,
Contented
Dear Contented,
I love that you chose to sign your letter "Contented" because that word highlights the key difference between you and your wife's worldviews. For people like you, the higher virtue is finding joy and meaning in what you already have. Self-love, gratitude, and recognizing the little miracles in life make the ordinary extraordinary.
For others, like your wife, the higher virtue is relentless idealism: work ethic, striving, and recognizing individual responsibility and agency in a broken world.
We all need a bit of both, and I'm sure the true virtue is found somewhere between the two — a middle ground your marriage of contentment and growth-orientation is perfectly suited to achieve. Finding this balance, however, is the tricky part.
I've often heard people like your wife call themselves "self-development addicts," and it's a fitting name. These self-development addicts tend to be dreamers, and it's the pot of gold they imagine at the end of the rainbow that gets them out of bed every morning. The image of themselves rocking toned abs, headlining a conference about how to get debt-free and build wealth, and finally becoming good enough to feel that emotion that comes naturally to people like you: content.
As you seek a compromise that both of you can live with, remember that this hunger for growth is essential to who your wife is. Like you, I tend to fall on the contented side of the dichotomy. So, I recognize that beyond the hassle these constant phases create, they can also feel like implicit criticism.
I see this pain in your final question: How can I show her our lives aren't broken? If your spouse is looking at your shared life and saying, "We must improve this," it can feel like they are saying, "You're not good enough."
You must unlearn the belief that you're the problem your spouse is trying to solve. Even when you're being swept up in the latest resolution, even when her enthusiasm for change extends to your habits, remember that your wife is simply a dreamer, and it's the hope for the future, not her hatred of the present, that drives her.
Honoring your wife's dreams is an excellent path toward a reasonable compromise. I keep using the word "compromise," which may seem strange because right now, your wife seems to have things all her way. After all, up to this point, you've supported your wife by going along with whatever kick she's on, but you can better support her in a couple of ways.
One, get invested and stay invested. If your wife wants to save money or pay off debt, take the initiative to find a good savings account option and budgeting app. Update your tracking devices, and help her develop a reward system. A lot of your issues with your wife's phases seem to be the whiplash of it — going all-in on day one and pretending nothing happened by day four.
You probably feel a lot of relief when you see your wife's enthusiasm for her New Year's resolution waning. Meanwhile, she is likely feeling like a failure and already plotting the next life upheaval that will fix everything once and for all. And so it goes. Your best bet for stopping the cycle is to help her achieve her goals and keep both of you on track rather than staying quiet and hoping she'll forget.
Second, you can support your wife by being honest about your feelings and outlining what you need her to compromise. A goal you can work toward together might be instituting a daily gratitude practice. List five things you love about your lives to one another every night before bed, or keep a catalog of things you're thankful for on the fridge.
Practicing gratitude together will help you feel appreciated despite your wife's posture toward growth and improvement, and will also remind her that happiness isn't a destination she has to climb the mountains of life to reach. It's something she can carry with her on her journey.
As for your wife's part of the compromise, this depends on your needs. What do you want to stop? What is your threshold for work and revision? If it's the cycle that bothers you, agree to her plans on the condition that this is the last time you rearrange this area of your life. Or, if it's the extremity of the budgets and diets wearing on you, tell your wife you need her to downscale her plans to something that feels more sustainable.
Finally, remember that you may not like or believe in every new scheme your wife devises, and sometimes, you can and should opt out. Sometimes, compromise means one person training for a marathon while the other cheers for them at the finish line.
Rooting for you,
For Love & Money
Looking for advice on how your savings, debt, or another financial challenge is affecting your relationships? Write to For Love & Money using this Google form.
Ukrainian forces appear to have launched a new offensive in Russia's Kursk region.
Russia's Ministry of Defense said Ukraine had launched a "counterattack" at around 9 a.m. local time.
A Ukrainian official said Russia was "getting what it deserves."
Ukrainian forces appear to have launched a new offensive in the Russian border region of Kursk.
Russia's Ministry of Defense said in a post on Telegram that Ukraine had launched a "counterattack" at around 9 a.m. local time.
"In order to halt the advance of Russian troops in the Kursk direction, the enemy launched a counterattack by an assault group consisting of two tanks, a demolition vehicle, and twelve armored combat vehicles," it said.
In a short post on Telegram, Andrii Yermak, the head of Ukraine's presidential office, said: "Kursk, good news, Russia is getting what it deserves."
Rybar, a Russian war blog with more than 1.3 million subscribers, said that the latest operation could serve as a diversion. The US government has offered up to $10 million for information on Rybar, saying it had attempted "to bolster Russia's military capabilities and advance pro-Russian and anti-Western narratives."
"The intensification of the situation in the Kursk region may be a diversionary maneuver for a simultaneous offensive by the Ukrainian Armed Forces in other areas," read a post on Rybar's account.
"The Ukrainian command has been hatching plans for several months to break through the defense of the Russian Armed Forces in the Zaporizhzhia region and is probing for weak spots," it added.
It comes at a potentially pivotal moment for Kyiv as it gears up for the return of President-elect Donald Trump to the White House.
Trump has pledged to bring the war in Ukraine to a swift end but has not detailed how he intends to do so.
Analysts say one possibility is a negotiated cease-fire deal with frozen front lines.
In a post on Truth Social in December, Trump called for an immediate cease-fire and the start of negotiations.
"Zelenskyy and Ukraine would like to make a deal and stop the madness," he wrote, adding: "It can turn into something much bigger, and far worse. I know Vladimir well. This is his time to act."
After attending her first in 2013, the "Tortured Poets Department" musician has made several appearances at following shows and after-parties in stunning fashion.
Here's a look back at every outfit Swift has worn to Golden Globe events, ranked from least to most daring.
Taylor Swift played it safe at a 2015 Golden Globes after-party.
Jaime King, Lorde, and Taylor Swift attend a 2015 Golden Globes after-party.
Jason Merritt/Getty Images
She wore a yellow Jenny Packham gown with a strapless sweetheart neckline and a floor-length pleated skirt.
Though the dress was vibrant, its silhouette was extremely simple. Swift paired it with an updo hairstyle and her signature red lipstick.
Her red-and-black gown at the 2014 Golden Globes was a little more fun.
Taylor Swift attends the 2014 Golden Globe Awards.
Christopher Polk/Getty Images
Carolina Herrera designed this strapless look, which had a black bodice and a dramatic, high-waisted red skirt.
Though the dress wasn't daring, it did evoke an old-school Hollywood glamour vibe — especially when paired with Swift's red lipstick and curly updo.
Swift experimented with bold patterns at the 2020 awards show.
Taylor Swift attends the 2020 Golden Globe Awards.
Steve Granitz/Getty Images
Her sleeveless, teal gown was custom-made by Etro. It had a low back, a triangle cutout above its skirt, and an all-over yellow flower print.
The outfit was fresh and bright, and Swift perfected the look with Lorraine Schwartz jewelry and a wispy bun.
The musician's first Golden Globes gown was one of her more daring looks.
Taylor Swift attends the 2013 Golden Globe Awards.
Christopher Polk/Getty Images
Swift's plum-colored Donna Karan dress looked elegant from the front, with a square neckline, form-fitting bodice, and mermaid skirt that fanned out around her knees.
But when she turned around, you could see that the dress also had a plunging back and nude-illusion side panels.
Years before entering her "Reputation" era, Swift stunned in a netted black minidress.
Taylor Swift attends a 2014 Golden Globes after-party.
Gregg DeGuire/Getty Images
She wore the Julien Macdonald design to attend a 2014 Golden Globes after-party.
It was sheer with long sleeves, an above-the-knee skirt, and a knit design that showed some skin. Swift wore it with strappy sandals, silver earrings, and red lipstick.
The musician made a bold, sparkling statement at the 2024 event.
Taylor Swift attends the 2024 Golden Globe Awards.
Amy Sussman/Monica Schipper/Getty Images
Dressed by Gucci, Swift stepped onto the carpet wearing a metallic green gown with daring details.
It had a form-fitting top with cutouts at each side of the chest, a floor-length skirt, and a deep back held together with thin straps.
The outfit was eye-catching and accessorized to perfection. Swift wore it with green Louboutin heels and over $108,000worth of De Beers earrings.
In addition to being one of her most daring Golden Globes looks, the ensemble was one of the most expensive Swift wore in 2024.
Swift wore her most daring Golden Globes look to an after-party in 2019.
Taylor Swift attends a 2019 Golden Globes after-party.
Gregg DeGuire/Getty Images
Versace custom-made Swift's sparkling black gown. It had off-the-shoulder straps, a structured bodice with a deep plunge, and a floor-length skirt with a thigh-high slit.
The outfit was bold in shape and fabric, as its mesh-like material was semi-sheer. Swift completed the look with black sandals and diamond earrings.
The author (middle) still travels with her teenage children.
Courtesy of Cheryl Maguire
My twins are teenagers, and they still love going on family vacations.
We recently went to Saint Martin, and they loved every moment of it.
I hope they continue to love our family trips as they grow up.
When I was pregnant with twins, people would say, "You're not going to be able to travel anymore." But I proved them all wrong.
My twins are now 19 years old, and we have been going on yearly family vacations since they were born. When my younger daughter came along 16 years ago, we kept traveling.
Most people assume that once your kids turn 18, they won't want to travel with you anymore, but that hasn't been the case with my children. I hope it stays that way.
Our most recent summer adventure was to Saint Martin
This summer, we visited the Caribbean Island of Sint Maarten/Saint Martin. The reason there are two similar names listed with different spellings is that it's actually one island with two countries that have open borders. The Dutch side is called Sint Maarten, while the French side is Saint Martin.
One of my kid's favorite aspects of our family vacation was that they had their own room. Every night, they bonded by watching YouTube videos — everything from cats being groomed to gamers playing Observation Duty.
While I didn't relate to their late-night entertainment choices, I loved hearing them recap the videos over breakfast each morning, laughing about the details. Even now, six months later, they still talk about how much fun they had watching YouTube videos together.
One of our favorite activities during the trip was a nighttime swim in the hotel pool — something we've done on other vacations, too. The pool, usually crowded during the day, was completely ours at night. Swimming after sunset meant that we didn't need to worry about sunscreen or sunburns. My daughter used to be on the swim team, but we all love our time in the pool. It's definitely a memorable bonding experience and a cherished family tradition.
I try to include my teens in the planning process
During our trips, I'm usually the one who plans and researches everything. But I always provide options or ask for feedback from my teens and husband.
One experience in St. Maarten (the Dutch side) that kept popping up in my internet searches was a zipline course. I was hesitant to mention it due to safety concerns and the steep price, but when I did, my adventurous teens immediately wanted to go. They justified the cost by suggesting it could be an early Christmas present. Since it was hard to know what to buy them, and it did seem like a unique experience, I gave in and let them go.
It turned out to be a highlight of the trip. My kids said it was one of the best experiences on any of our vacations.
I hope that by including them in the planning of our family vacations, they will stay interested in traveling with me.
We are already planning our next trip
My three teens loved Sint Maarten/Saint Martin and said it was the best family vacation and their favorite travel destination. Whether it's swimming under the stars, laughing over YouTube videos, or braving a zipline, it's the shared moments that matter most.
My daughter plans to study abroad in Italy next year. We've already begun researching where we can stay when we visit her. I hope that even when they graduate from college, they will still want to travel with us.
Who knows? Maybe one day, they'll invite me along when they have their own families. Of course, I'll join as long as they agree that I can have my own hotel room so I can watch weird YouTube videos, too. A mom can dream.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni made a surprise visit to Mar-a-Lago on Saturday.
Meloni received a rapturous welcome to Trump's Florida resort, per videos circulating on social media.
The pair reportedly discussed tariffs and the arrest of an Italian journalist in Iran.
Italy's right-wing Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni made a surprise visit to President-elect Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort on Saturday, just days before she's scheduled to meet with President Joe Biden.
Photos shared by the Italian government show Trump greeting Meloni and the pair posing at the entrance to the president-elect's Florida base.
While no official details of the meeting have been shared, Meloni and Trump are said to have discussed tariffs and the arrest in Iran of Cecilia Sala, an Italian journalist, Bloomberg reported, citing an unnamed person familiar with the matter.
The visit is also reported to have included a dinner and a screening of a new film called "The Eastman Dilemma: Lawfare or Justice."
"This is very exciting, I'm here with a fantastic woman, the prime minister of Italy," Trump reportedly told the crowd at Mar-a-Lago. "She's really taken Europe by storm, and everyone else, and we're just having dinner tonight."
It comes as Meloni — who received a rapturous welcome to the Palm Beach estate, according to videos circulating on social media — is set to welcome Biden to Rome for an official visit from January 9 to 12.
Meloni has been calling on EU members to carve out a positive relationship with Trump ahead of his return to office.
In a speech to the Italian parliament in December, Meloni said it was "essential to maintain a pragmatic, constructive and open approach with the new Trump administration, exploiting areas of potential and fruitful EU-U.S. cooperation and trying to prevent commercial disputes that would certainly not be good for anyone," per Politico.
She has also forged a growing bond with Elon Musk, who is set to co-lead the Department of Government Efficiency under Trump's incoming administration.
Following Trump's election win in November, Meloni took to X to announce that her "friend" Musk had been in touch.
"I am convinced that his commitment and vision will be an important resource for the United States and Italy, in a spirit of collaboration aimed at addressing future challenges," she wrote.
In June 2023, Meloni hosted Musk at the Italian prime minister's official residence, the Palazzo Chigi.
Meloni and the Tesla CEO reportedly discussed AI, birth rates, innovation, and European market rules.
The prime minister called the meeting "fruitful" and a "moment of great cordiality" in a post on X.
Ho accolto con grande piacere oggi a Palazzo Chigi @elonmusk. Un incontro molto proficuo e un momento di grande cordialità dove abbiamo affrontato alcuni temi cruciali: innovazione, opportunità e rischi dell'intelligenza artificiale, regole europee di mercato e natalità. Avanti… pic.twitter.com/MOQlirj7XC
The topic of birth rates was on the agenda again, as Musk urged Italians and other developed nations to have more children.
For his part, Musk has called Meloni a "precious genius" who was "even more beautiful on the inside than she is on the outside."
Since his election, Trump has also welcomed Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, Argentinian President Javier Milei, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to Mar-a-Lago.
Business Insider has contacted Meloni's office for comment.
I was impressed by its eye-catching looks, luxurious, high-tech cabin, and quiet ride.
Unfortunately, the new twin-turbo V6 didn't deliver the expected performance boost.
The Cadillac Escalade has remained America's most popular full-size luxury SUV for more than a decade, but rivals like the Jeep Wagoneer, Lincoln Navigator, Lexus LX600h, and the all-new Infiniti QX80 are vying for attention.
The third-generation Infiniti QX80 debuted as a 2025 model with a new twin-turbo V6 powertrain, updated technology, and enhanced chassis.
I recently spent a week behind the wheel of a 2025 Infiniti QX80 Luxe in a radiant Coulis Red paint job.
The QX80 is based on Nissan's new Patrol SUV, which is sold in the US as the Armada.
Benjamin Zhang/Business Insider
I was impressed by the eye-catching looks, luxurious, high-tech cabin, and smooth ride.
Unfortunately, I felt a little let down by the big SUV's new twin-turbo V6 engine, which just did not deliver the boost in performance I expected.
My test car came to $99,195.
The 2025 Infiniti QX80 Luxe SUV.
Benjamin Zhang/Business Insider
The base rear-wheel-drive QX80 Pure starts at $82,450, while the top-spec Autograph 4WD variant starts at $110,595.
My lower-mid-tier four-wheel-drive Luxe trim test car starts at $92,650. Freight fees, upgraded paint, and a $3,300 driver's assistance tech package pushed the as-tested price to $99,000.
The QX80 looks terrific.
The 2025 Infiniti QX80 Luxe.
Benjamin Zhang/Business Insider
The design of the new QX80 is bold enough to hold your attention but doesn't veer into the garish. It features the latest interpretation of Infiniti's Artistry in Motion design language, highlighted by a large double-arch front grille inspired by bamboo forests.
The new QX80 is longer, taller, and wider than the model it replaces.
The 2025 Infiniti QX80 Luxe.
Benjamin Zhang/Business Insider
It can also tow an impressive 8,500 lbs.
My test car came with an electronic air suspension system.
The QX80's with its air suspension lowered.
Benjamin Zhang/Business Insider
The suspension can be lowered 1.2 inches to improve aerodynamics while driving and 2.8 inches to help make it easier to load cargo. In off-road mode, it can be raised 2.1 inches over its normal ride height to help clear obstacles.
The QX80 is powered by a gutsy twin-turbocharged V6 engine.
The QX80's 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6.
Benjamin Zhang/Business Insider
Under the hood is a 3.5-liter, twin-turbocharged V6 that produces 450 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque.
My QX80 Luxe test car boasts EPA fuel economy ratings of 16 mpg city, 19 mpg highway, and 17 mpg combined. I observed fuel economy in the 16mpg range during my time with the QX80.
This is a vehicle that could really use a hybrid or PHEV option.
While smooth and easy to drive, it's no speed demon.
The QX80's driver's seat.
Benjamin Zhang/Business Insider
Like its US counterparts, the QX80 is built on a truck-based body-on-frame platform, so it isn't quite as refined on the road as a car-based crossover.
Its cabin is quiet. The ride is smooth and comfortable, while the steering is responsive, albeit a bit numb in feel.
The engine is velvety smooth and feels eager to deliver its 450 ponies. However, the nine-speed automatic transmission is geared for fuel economy, which held back some of the performance potential.
In fact, the transmission seems reluctant to unleash the engine's power. You have to really stamp down hard on the gas pedal to get the transmission to kick down a few gears and go higher in the rev range.
Some vehicles accelerate effortlessly, but the QX80 feels like it does so against the wishes of its transmission.
According to Motor Trend, the QX80 does 0-60 in a quick 6.8 seconds.
The QX80's cabin is luxurious, roomy, and loaded with tech.
The QX80's cabin.
Benjamin Zhang/Business Insider
The new interior is a big step forward compared to the outgoing model. I was impressed by Infiniti's excellent mix of materials in the cabin and the quality of the fit and finish.
The dual 14.3-inch screen atop the front dash looked great. Unfortunately, the 9-inch touch control screen is a bit of a mixed bag. On one hand, it's a tidy way to organize a maze of controls, but it's far less intuitive to use than physical buttons would be.
Apart from that, interior ergonomics are solid, there's plenty of storage, and the standard 14-speaker audio system sounded great.
The leather upholstered seats were soft and supportive.
The QX80's front seats.
Benjamin Zhang/Business Insider
The driver's seat in my test car did not have the optional massage function, although the passenger seat did.
In front of the driver is a 14.3 digital instrument display and a heated leather-wrapped steering wheel.
The QX80's steering wheel and instrument display.
Benjamin Zhang/Business Insider
The high-quality configurable gauge display is augmented by an optional head-up display.
The QX80 is equipped with Nissan/Infiniti's latest InTouch infotainment system
The QX80 comes standard with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Benjamin Zhang/Business Insider
The system in the QX80 is elegantly designed and a breeze to navigate. The 14.3-inch infotainment screen is also home to the QX80's around-view camera system that includes an invisible hood view for off-roading and parking in tight spaces.
All QX80s come with a panoramic glass moonroof.
The QX80's panoramic power moonroof.
Benjamin Zhang/Business Insider
My test car also came with an optional 64-color LED ambient lighting system.
QX80s also come standard with the second-row captain's chairs.
The QX80's second-row captain's chairs. A split folding bench is available as an option.
Benjamin Zhang/Business Insider
The QX80's second-row seats are heated, power-operated, and come with a solid 39-inch legroom.
Second-row passengers also have access to their own climate controls and a handful of USB sockets.
Third-row passengers have a generous 32.9-inch legroom, roughly the same amount of space you get in coach on a plane.
The QX80's third row.
Benjamin Zhang/Business Insider
The third row comfortably accommodates two adults, but things get tight if you try to squeeze three people back there.
Open the motion-activated rear liftgate, and you'll find a stout 22.3 cubic feet of cargo space.
The Infiniti QX80 Luxe.
Benjamin Zhang/Business Insider
With the third row folded, cargo space expands to 59 cubic feet. Fold down the second row, and you'll get a cavernous 101 cubic feet of room.
There's a small underfloor storage area behind the third row.
The QX80 comes standard with adaptive cruise control and lane centering technology.
The QX80's front dash.
Benjamin Zhang/Business Insider
You can upgrade to ProPilot Assist 2.1, which allows drivers to take their hands off the steering in certain highway driving conditions.
My Verdict: The QX80 is a boldly styled luxury SUV that makes for an off-beat alternative to the Escalade.
The 2025 Infiniti QX80 Luxe.
Benjamin Zhang/Business Insider
The previous version was a good luxury SUV during its prime. Unfortunately, its prime was 10 years ago. I knew this new QX80 would be better, but this is really impressive.
The 2025 Infiniti QX80 is boldly styled with great tech, a smooth V6 engine, and a luxurious cabin.
John and David are the most common billionaire names, while Marks have the most wealth.
d3sign/Getty Images
An analysis of the top 500 billionaires across the globe revealed the most popular names.
John and David are the most common billionaire names, while Marks have the most wealth.
Wang and Zhang also made a top-ten list that's otherwise Western male names.
There's a lot to consider if you want to name your baby for a successful future. But when it comes to the top names of billionaires, it turns out tradition reigns.
"Western names still dominated the top spots, which might reflect historical economic advantages rather than any real connection between these names and success," said Julian Goldie, who conducted an analysis to find the most popular names among Bloomberg's top 500 billionaires
John and David top the list, while billionaires named Mark are the most wealthy, on average. Most of the top-10 billionaire names are traditional western male names, but the Chinese names Wang and Zhang also made the list.
"The real story here isn't just about names—it's about how wealth creation has evolved," said Goldie. "Today's billionaires come from diverse backgrounds and industries, from tech innovators to traditional business leaders."
The top 10 names for billionaires
According to Goldie, the most popular names for billionaires, in descending order are:
John
David
Thomas
Michael
Wang
Mark
Charles
Zhang
Richard
Jim
Of those, billionaires named Mark had the greatest wealth, with an average net worth of $41.2 billion. That's influenced by Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, whose wealth recently topped $200 billion, making him the world's second-richest person.
The world's richest person, Elon Musk (worth a reported $340 billion), didn't make the list since his name is relatively uncommon. However, his name is creeping up in popularity, appearing on the top 1,000 most popular baby names in America in 2018 and 2021.
Billionaire names for baby girls
At least one group was missing from the list of most popular billionaire baby names.
"I was really struck by the stark gender disparity reflected in the names, with traditionally male names sweeping all the top spots," Goldie said.
While the women didn't stack up in pure popularity, there are billionaire names for baby girls too, according to the Bloomberg list of the world's richest 500 people. These include:
Alice. Alice Walton, heir to the Walmart fortune, is the world's richest woman, worth a reported $106 billion.
Julia. Julia Flesher Koch, who inherited a large stake in Koch Industries, is worth a reported $76 billion, and is the world's second richest woman.
Francoise. Francoise Bettencourt Meyers, granddaughter of the founder of L'Oreal, is worth a reported $72 billion according to Bloomberg, though many other sources list her as the richest woman in the world.
Jacqueline. Jacqueline Badger Mars, heiress to the Mars candy fortune, is worth a reported $44 billion.
Abigail. Abigail Johnson, CEO of Fidelity Investments, has a worth of $42 billion.
MacKenzie. MacKenzie Scott, former wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, is worth $38 billion.
Miriam. Miriam Adelson made her $36 billion fortune in casinos.
Of course, a person's success is about much more than a name.
"The real determinants of success are factors like opportunity, innovation, and good old-fashioned hard work," Goldie said. "The name on your birth certificate matters far less than access to education, resources, and having the drive to succeed."
Hi! I'm Jamie Heller, Business Insider's Editor in Chief and the new host of the Sunday edition. I joined BI in September from The Wall Street Journal, where I was an editor for more than twenty years. I've been so impressed with the BI staff as I've watched this team in action.
In addition to highlighting some of our top stories from the past week, I'll use this space to share with you more about who we are, what we do, and how we do it.
But first: Sometimes you wish you could say something to your younger self.
If this was forwarded to you, sign up here. Download Business Insider's app here.
Retirement regrets
Courtesy of Noah Sheidlower and Allie Kelly; BI
In my first month at Business Insider, I found myself riveted by a piece we did on people's regrets in retirement. Our reporter had posted a reader survey that drew over 1,000 responses. Their regrets spanned myriad categories — investments, tactics with Social Security withdrawals, career moves, and more.
That October article featured personal details about readers' setbacks as well as data that provided context for what these individuals were experiencing.
After that article, readers kept responding to our survey. And our economy team kept reporting.
The reporter on that first story, Noah Sheidlower, teamed with colleague Allie Kelly to mine these reader surveys to write more stories on people's retirement regrets — common career regrets, parenting regrets, regrets navigating a medical diagnosis or a spouse's death. The more these two reporters wrote, the more readers wrote in.
Ultimately, we heard from more than 4,000 BI readers.
Along the way, our econ squad reached out to our crackerjack video team to pitch a video. The result, published on New Year's Eve, is a sad and also hopeful story of six people discussing their best decisions alongside their dashed dreams. They shared what they would tell their younger selves.
Most rewarding for Noah about this project? How many people the series touched. "We continue to get really nice and fascinating emails from people," he said. Says Allie: "People are recognizing that they are not alone."
In the end, BI produced 17 articles covering the topic from various angles, and the video. But it's not really the end. As this new year begins, we want to hear from readers about how Trump administration policies affect their financial lives, from careers and investments to taxes and healthcare to everyday expenses.
You can email Noah and Allie. And please let me know what you'd like us to report more about, less about — I'd love to hear it all!
It's an important year, and we intend to be there for you.
Breaking down Justin Baldoni's NYT suit
John Nacion/Variety/Getty Images; Gotham/WireImage/Getty Images
The "It Ends With Us" star recently sued The New York Times over its coverage on costar Blake Lively's sexual-harassment claims, saying the paper relied "almost entirely" on Lively's narrative.
The libel suit, reviewed by BI, said Baldoni and his fellow plaintiffs — including publicists Melissa Nathan and Jennifer Abel, and producers Jamey Heath and Steve Sarowitz — suffered damages that amounted to at least $250 million. A spokesperson for The Times defended the story saying it was "meticulously and responsibly reported."
Getty Images; Rick Scuteri/AP Photo; Alyssa Powell/BI
There's been a recent shift in how Americans feel about the economy, even though the economy itself hasn't changed much. Turns out, people's economic gloom was fueled by something far thornier than inflation: political feelings.
Americans aren't just responding to the election's outcome, said Jennifer Hsu, the director of consumer surveys at the University of Michigan. It's more about the policies people believe are on the horizon.
When Balyasny's equities team started to drag down the hedge fund's performance in 2023, its founder decided on a course correction.
"People were trading too much and not investing enough," Dmitry Balyasny told BI. The manager now wants its equities teams to focus on deep research, not short-term trading. That means a refocus on ideas, research, and longer timelines, not trying to make money on every market twitch.
Looking for work has gotten weird. Like, really weird. As if a white-collar recession wasn't bad enough, applying for a job now includes oversimplified tech and too many candidates for too few jobs.
To help navigate this unprecedented job market, BI's Aki Ito spoke to two dozen experts in fields including HR, hiring, career coaching, and résumé writing. Their advice offers a concrete guide for navigating the chaos of today's job market.
The BI Today team: Dan DeFrancesco, deputy editor and anchor, in New York. Grace Lett, editor, in Chicago. Amanda Yen, associate editor, in New York. Lisa Ryan, executive editor, in New York.
We ranked his films based on Rotten Tomatoes scores, including "Licorice Pizza" and "The Hangover."
The highest-rated film Cooper has ever starred in is "Avengers: Endgame."
Cooper is one of the most highly decorated actors of his generation, with 12 Academy Award nominations — though no wins — and billions of dollars at the box office under his belt.
However, not all of his films have been highly regarded by critics. For every classic like "American Hustle" or "Guardians of the Galaxy," there are less-regarded films like "Case 39" and "All About Steve."
These are the best and worst films Cooper has starred in, according to Rotten Tomatoes.
These are the worst films of Cooper's career, according to critics.
After Adam, a chef played by Cooper, flames out at his high-end Parisian restaurant due to drug use and erratic behavior, he moves to New Orleans to get sober, and then to London to try to rebuild his career.
"Barreling his way through scene after scene of sweary, shouty kitchen violence, the three-time Oscar nominee excels where the screenplay, script (and everything else) doesn't," wrote One Room with a View's Alex Flood.
The film's main story is actually a reading of a novel written by Clayton Hammond (Dennis Quaid). Hammond's protagonist is Rory (Cooper), a struggling author who secretly passes off a manuscript he found as his own.
According to Chicago Reader's Drew Hunt, "The premise is ambitious — if not a little hokey — but the meager themes of ephemeral authorship and constructed realities aren't exactly revelatory."
When 35-year-old Tripp (Matthew McConaughey) won't move out of his parents' home, they devise a plan to hire Paula (Sarah Jessica Parker), who specializes in getting immature men to get their own places. Predictably, they fall in love. Cooper plays one of Tripp's friends, who has a similarly arrested development.
"A strange idea for a romantic comedy results in quite a strange film. Not much to like about the main plot, but some fun to be had on the fringes," writes the Herald Sun's Leigh Paatsch.
Social worker Emily Jenkins (Renée Zellweger) bonds with a troubled foster care child, Lillith, whose foster parents tried to burn her alive. However, Emily eventually deduces that Lillith is a demon who can cause people to hallucinate their worst fears. In one such scene, memorably acted by Cooper, his character, Douglas, is terrorized by hornets.
According to the Austin Chronicle's Marc Savlov, the film is "neither so awful as to be enjoyable nor eerily artful enough to be anything other than a snoozy also-ran."
Four years after the events of the first "Hangover" film, the crew heads back to Las Vegas after their friend Doug (Justin Bartha) is kidnapped, due to their recklessness in the first film and their relationship with Chow, a criminal played by Ken Jeong. The trio of Alan (Zach Galifianakis), Stu (Ed Helms), and Phil (Cooper) must once again team up to solve the mystery.
"If you loved 'The Hangover' but loathed its nastier, cruder, non-hilarious sequel — apart from that quite amusing monkey — you'd be right to approach this threequel with caution," wrote Metro's Larushka Ivan-Zadeh.
Cooper plays Brian, a military contractor, who returns to Hawaii on behalf of a billionaire trying to turn local land into a space center. He also reunites with his ex-girlfriend and her new husband and meets a new woman, Allison (Emma Stone), who is in the Air Force.
"Half the time while watching 'Aloha,' I had no clue what was going on. Not so much the plot — although I was admittedly a bit muddled on that, too — but why anyone acted the way they did," wrote Max Weiss of Baltimore Magazine.
The Garry Marshall film follows multiple intersecting plots across Valentine's Day, including Holden (Cooper) and Katherine (Julia Roberts), two strangers who bond while sitting next to each other on a plane. Holden is traveling to visit his boyfriend, and Katherine is briefly returning home to visit her son, as she is in the military and rarely gets to come home.
"A brutal St Valentine's Day massacre of comedy, of love, of believable human emotion," wrote The Guardian's Peter Bradshaw.
Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence costar as George and Serena, a married couple living in Depression-era North Carolina, whose schemes, jealousy, and resentment catch up to them in a tragic fashion. The film is based on the 2008 novel of the same name and is the lowest-rated film costarring Cooper and Lawrence.
According to Buzzfeed's Alison Willmore, the film is "an odd misfire from two actors at the peak of their game, but a misfire nonetheless."
Mary, a quirky yet lonely crossword puzzle writer played by Sandra Bullock, stalks Steve (Cooper), a cameraman for a local news station, around the country after going on a date that she perceived as perfect — but for him, not so much. Along the way, Mary makes friends and becomes more confident in herself.
"On paper, a crazy romcom starring Sandra Bullock and Bradley Cooper could only be a good thing. Wrong," wrote Simon Braund for Empire Magazine.
This mockumentary follows Dax Shepard as he tries to pivot from comedy to action star by making a martial arts film called "Brother's Justice." He (unsuccessfully) attempts to get Cooper to costar in the film with him.
"Reeks of a throwaway joke that should have been left to die; even at a mere 80 minutes, this halfhearted Tinseltown satire still feels padded," wrote Time Out's Eric Hynes.
And now for the best films of Cooper's career.
Bradley Cooper.
Getty Images / Jason Merritt
Between his Marvel career, "A Star Is Born," and his collaborations with directors David O. Russell and Paul Thomas Anderson, Cooper has been in his fair share of new classics.
Here's what the high points of his career are, according to critics.
Cooper returned to voice Rocket, a raccoon, for what may be the final time in "Vol. 3," which lets viewers learn about Rocket's tragic past, how he was created by a mad scientist playing god named the High Evolutionary (Chukwudi Iwuji), and how he has truly found a new family.
ScreenCrush's Matt Singer wrote that the film "completes Rocket's transformation from a footnote to one of Marvel's greatest characters."
A few months after the events of the first "Guardians" film, this installment sees the crew travel across the universe to meet Peter Quill's (Chris Pratt) father and, once again, save the galaxy.
According to David Sims of The Atlantic, "In Marvel lingo, 'Guardians 2' feels like a great six-issue arc, the kind of storytelling that used to be the backbone of superhero comics."
The Guardians of the Galaxy meet the Avengers in 2018's "Avengers: Infinity War," in which Rocket teams up with Thor (Chris Hemsworth) on his quest to construct a weapon that can kill Thanos.
Simran Hans of The Observer wrote, "This chaotic but surprisingly nimble installment, directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, brings together an eye-popping ensemble cast of A-listers (imagine the table read!) and pushes them into playful new configurations."
Paul Thomas Anderson's "Licorice Pizza" follows 15-year-old Gary (Cooper Hoffman) and the object of his affection, 25-year-old Alana (Alana Haim), as they meander their way through '70s San Fernando Valley. Cooper pops in for a couple of scenes towards the end in a truly electrifying performance as the real-life movie producer and ex-boyfriend of Barbra Streisand, Jon Peters.
"The things in 'Licorice Pizza' that are so good, like the performances from Haim and Hoffman and Cooper and the period fidelity, make you wish that the entire movie was just as good," wrote Mark Feeney of The Boston Globe.
Like the three "Star Is Born" films that preceded it, the story follows a young up-and-coming singer/actress, played by Lady Gaga, and her relationship with an aging star, played by Cooper, dealing with the pressures of fame and addiction, and what it means to be truly authentic.
This was also Cooper's directorial debut.
"At its huge, pulsating heart this is a story about lovers desperately trying to save one another — from the loss of integrity in an industry that disdains it and from self-destructive impulses with roots too old and deep to be touched," wrote Matthew Norman of The London Evening Standard.
After breaking up with her fiancé Ben (Cooper), Michelle (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) embarks on a road trip, only to get into a car accident and awaken chained to a pipe inside a bunker owned by the mysterious Howard Stambler (John Goodman), who claims there was some type of attack on the US. The film follows Michelle as she keeps trying to escape.
Ben doesn't ever appear on screen — Cooper has a voice cameo only.
Kevin Maher of The Times called it a "wildly entertaining genre mash-up."
Cooper plays Pat, a man with bipolar disorder who leaves a mental health facility after an eight-month stay, while Lawrence plays Tiffany, a young widow with an unspecified mood disorder. The two connect after they meet at a dinner at Tiffany's sister's house, and the film follows their relationship as it grows throughout a football season.
"It's a rom-com that succeeds in revitalizing that discredited genre where so many others have failed, injecting it with the grit and emotion of realist drama rather than with amped-up whimsy or social satire or montages of people walking on the beach," wrote Andrew O'Hehir of Salon.
Five criminals — Gamora, Peter Quill, Drax, Groot, and Rocket played by Zoe Saldaña, Chris Pratt, Dave Bautista, Vin Diesel, and Cooper — come together to keep a destructive stone out of the wrong hands and become a family along the way.
According to Richard Lawson of Vanity Fair, "'Guardians' bounces with the energy of pure invention."
Irving and Evelyn (Christian Bale and Amy Adams) are con artists who devise a scheme with Richie (Cooper), an FBI agent, to help keep themselves out of prison and implicate the mayor of Camden, Carmine Polito (Jeremy Renner), in illegal activities. The film is based on the actual 1970s FBI Abscam sting operation.
"It's a sly film that slips through your fingers, leaving the glitter of great performances, but one you'll be hustling to watch again," wrote Metro's Larushka Ivan-Zadeh.
After the tragic events of "Infinity War," the Avengers work together to bring back everyone they've lost in the best-reviewed movie of Cooper's career.
"The only complaint about 'Avengers: Endgame' is that it raises the bar so high that there may well never be a superhero movie to match it," wrote The London Evening Standard's Matthew Norman.
Free Spirits has 8,000 distribution points across the US.
Free Spirits
The US Surgeon General's advisory calls for a warning label on alcohol products.
The CEO of Free Spirits told BI he thinks the statement will further push a change in drinking culture.
Non-alcoholic brands like Free Spirits are expanding as mindful drinking gains popularity.
Milan Martin, the CEO of non-alcohol spirit brand Free Spirits, said American drinking culture has evolved over the last decade — and the US Surgeon General's statement on alcohol will further push that change.
In an advisory published Friday, US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy said alcohol consumption was the third leading preventable cause of cancer in the US, after tobacco and obesity. He also said he wants to see cancer warnings on wine, beer, and spirits.
In an interview with Business Insider, Martin said regardless of whether a change to the warning label would win political approval, he thinks the statement will impact consumers.
Do you plan to change your drinking habits in response to the Surgeon General's recommendation? Tell us why in this survey.
"What we've seen with the surgeon general is that there's enough research now that says alcohol does not play a positive role in your life and, specifically, it has ties to cancer," Martin said.
Martin said the advisory will be another "nugget" that reinforces similar messages about drinking based on data points, positive stories from friends who have stopped drinking, or guidelines from other governments. All of those insights sit in consumers' minds and lead them to make more informed decisions, Martin said.
"It's not that the alcohol industry is going away," Martin said. "It's just that people are now just drinking more mindfully and more with an eye to moderation because they have the data."
Martin said the current non-alcoholic drinking landscape looks different than it did even a year ago.
"Even a year ago, when I would see a zero-proof cocktail menu on a restaurant's menu, I'd be like, 'great,'" Martin said, adding that, "the expectation is that most restaurants have them now."
Despite running a non-alcoholic spirits company, Martin said neither he nor his employees classify as "traditionally sober." Martin said he still enjoys cocktails, but he drinks a lot less than he used to. Similar to most non-alcoholic consumers, Martin said he enjoys both options.
Before founding Free Spirits, Martin said he spent 20 years in the advertising industry and embraced the "work hard, drink harder" mentality of the business. Oftentimes, he said he overindulged — but not because he necessarily wanted to.
"It was just that phenomenon of you're having a great time, you're out with friends in some great cocktail bar. The energy is high," Martin said. "Your glass is empty, you order another."
Brands like Free Spirits, which is now distributed across around 8,000 locations in the US, including at stores like Total Wine & More and Wegmans, offer consumers the "bite and burn" of alcohol in a non-alcoholic drink. The drinks also integrate Vitamins B12, B6, and B3. Other popular non-alcoholic options infuse THC or psychedelics.
Instead of drinking orange juice or soda in a social setting, consumers now have the opportunity to experience a margarita or martini without the effects of alcohol.
Martin said Free Spirits' prices have come down by about 15% to 20% since the company's start. As Free Spirits continues to scale and find efficiencies in its supply chain, the company plans to pass those savings onto its partners and to consumers to broaden the availability of the category and the brand, the company said.
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launching from Vandenberg Space Force Base, carrying a payload of 20 Starlink internet satellites into space, soars across the sky after sunset above the Pacific Ocean.
Kevin Carter/Getty Images
SpaceX runs a launch facility out of Vandenberg Space Force Base in Santa Barbara County, California.
The company's rocket launches are increasing in frequency — but some locals are pushing back.
The launches cause loud, rattling booms that one researcher found could cause structural damage.
On December 28, at 5:58 p.m., a loud boom erupted from the dusk sky, stemming from Vandenberg Space Force Base, more than 70 miles away from the sleepy beach town of Carpinteria, California.
The sound, measuring 86 decibels on a home monitor — comparable to a chamber orchestra playing in a small auditorium, according to a scale published by Yale University — was preceded by a low rumbling that rattled windows and started a chorus of neighborhood dogs barkinginto the evening.
SpaceX rocket launches from the Vandenberg Space Force Base, some taking place between midnight and 5 a.m., havealsotriggered car alarms, loosened light fixtures, and knocked books and framed photos from the shelves inside homes, residents of Santa Barbara County, California, told Business Insider.
In the quiet city of Lompoc, less than 10 miles from the base, the sonic booms can feel like an earthquake, some residents said.
In 2024, Elon Musk's SpaceX conducted 50 launches from Vandenberg, a spokesperson for the base told BI. In 2025, the company aims to double that number to 100 rockets, according to a statement by The Department of the Air Force.
The base offers an opt-in alert system allowing users to be notified via text of upcoming launches.
Still, some locals are pushing back.
Loud, disruptive launches
Business Insider spoke with 10 residents of communities near the Vandenberg Space Force Base whose reactions to the launches ranged from fascination to full-blown outrage at the thundering noise and rattling.
"These launches, especially at night, when everyone is asleep, are particularly disruptive," Montecito resident Aimee Klaus told BI. "I'm in an older California bungalow, and things rattle and shake quite substantially."
Each launch sets off a flurry of social media activity in which people express their excitement, anger, and hopelessness about the disruptions and potential environmental impacts.
Locals told BI the base's opt-in alert system is largely ineffective in warning of disruption, because the intensity of the sonic booms changes based on atmospheric conditions, there are sometimes delays not accounted for by the alerts, and some launches take place in the middle of the night — making them disruptive even if you know they're coming.
"I have major panic attacks during the launches," Inga Yater, a resident of Carpinteria, told BI. "And it keeps getting worse; sometimes I feel like I'm having a heart attack."
Yater and other residents also worry the launches might damage the fragile coastal ecosystems nearby.
More than 1,300 people have signed a virtual petition created by Ojai resident Christopher Cantu calling for the suspension of SpaceX launches from Vandenberg pending an environmental impact report.
For his part, Cantu said he's particularly troubled by SpaceX's launches from its Starbase in Texas, where reports indicate the launches have harmed protected habitats, and worries the same damage could occur on the Central Coast he has called home his whole life.
On December 13, the Department of the Air Force announced it would prepare an environmental impact statement for SpaceX launches from Vandenberg Space Force Base to evaluate the potential impact of expanding Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy launches and landings. The final statement and any potential alternative plans are set to be published by the fall of 2025 at the earliest.
"All launches have the potential to generate sonic booms; however, their audibility to the public is influenced by several factors, including the launch trajectory, the size of the rocket, and atmospheric conditions," a spokesperson for the Vandenberg Space Force Base told BI.
The base has partnered with Kent Gee, a physics professor and acoustics engineer from Brigham Young University, to study the conditions and improve prediction accuracy. However, the spokesperson added that the studies have not yet been completed or their results publicly released.
Representatives for SpaceX and the California Coastal Commission did not respond to requests for comment from Business Insider.
SpaceX plans for more launches
SpaceX launches take place at four facilities across the country: Cape Canaveral and the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, and Starbase, the Brownsville, Texas launch site. Residents of each community have expressed similar concerns about the noise and rattling in social media posts and news reports.
In 2024, SpaceX conducted45 Falcon 9 launches, one Firefly Alpha launch, one Minotaur IV launch, and three Minuteman III test launches from Vandenberg.
In 2025, according to a statement by The Department of the Air Force, the company hopes to expand the types of launches to include its Falcon Heavy rockets, which the company says are larger than the Falcon 9 models and generate more than 5 million pounds of thrust at liftoff — equal to about 18 747 aircraft.
A spokesperson for the base told BI that up to 50 Falcon 9 launches have already been approved for Vandenberg in 2025. However, they said Falcon Heavy launches will not proceed until the forthcoming environmental impact statement has been reviewed and accepted by the Secretary of the Air Force for Installations, Environment, and Energy.
SpaceX also aims to eventually phase out its Falcon-series rockets and replace them with launches of its Starship vessels, The Los Angeles Times reported in March.
At over 30 stories high, Starships are the tallest vehicles ever to fly and create even louder sonic booms during takeoff than the Falcon-series rockets. BI previously reported the Starship launches, which have flown six test flights from the Starbase launch site so far, are akin to a volcanic eruption on the launchpad.
In November, Gee published comprehensive data about the acoustics of Starship launches in Texas.
Gee told BI the sonic booms from Starship launches are so loud — equal to standing 200 feet from a Boeing 747 during takeoff, by his measurements — that there's an "increased risk" of causing structural damage to the properties near the launch pads.
"And that's not to say it's inevitable," Gee said, "but we're getting into that range where the risk isn't negligible."
A spokesperson for the Federal Aviation Administration told BI that the agency requires SpaceX to maintain insurance in the event of claims of structural damage resulting from the flight of its vehicles. Property owners would contact SpaceX to submit claims and evidence in support of any damage claim, the spokesperson said.
Gee is alsostudying SpaceX launches from Vandenberg, which he said can likely be felt by a broader radius of people than the launches in Florida or Texas, given the California base's proximity to more populated areas.
A spokesperson for Vandenberg said the base is "not currently planning for Starship launches" from the west coast spaceport.
The results of Gee's study at Vandenberg are not yet available. Gee said the researchers studying the impact "don't really have enough data to understand what's going on," given that the booms from each launch change based on the meteorological conditions and weather patterns.
"It took decades of people's experiences with airports and their noise impacts for engineers to learn how to quiet aircraft," Gee said. "We're just starting here and it will be an evolving situation for many years to come."
My husband and I got sick of boring dates. Now, we seek adrenaline on our monthly date nights.
Dakota Kim
After five years of marriage, my husband and I got stuck going on the same boring dates.
We needed a change, so I proposed "adrenaline dates" to get our hearts racing and bond us together.
Each adventurous date has been more exciting than the last, and they've brought us closer.
After five years of marriage, my husband and I were in danger of calcifying into the "dining dead" — couples who have nothing to say to each other over meals, dutifully chewing their food in dreary silence.
Like many long-term couples, we'd gotten stuck in a cycle of boring dates: always a movie and dinner, where we'd talk about our kid or finances.
We adore each other, but at some point, it became easier to go to hit up the same theater and local diner or taco truck than to look for an exciting new spot or activity.
However, familiar routines should be for the daily grind of work and parenting. For the one I vowed to spend my life with, I wanted more.
Determined to add more excitement to our date nights, I found myself reading up on adrenaline — and how high levels of it have been linked to increased attraction and arousal.
It seemed worth a shot to try to harness the rush and use it feel closer and more attracted to one another. So, I started planning "adrenaline dates" that might do just that.
We've had a blast prioritizing adrenaline rushes on our date nights
My husband and I had a blast going axe-throwing together for the first time.
Dakota Kim
To start, we booked an escape room. Neither of us had ever done one, and my heart raced in fear of the unknown as we stepped into the dark, enclosed space.
Although my brain knew we weren't actually trapped in a crisis situation, my body was rushing with adrenaline as we escaped from chains and deciphered clues as the clock counted down.
For our next dates, we raced around in laser tag, punched side-by-side in virtual-reality boxing, and hit the climbing gym to out-boulder one another.
The dates were fun and brought us closer, which only inspired us to push the envelope further. Later, we tried axe-throwing and had a blast hurling the tools at a wood marker, splintering it as we went.
We visited a rage room, where we donned helmets and protective suits, grabbed baseball bats and crowbars, and started to shatter bottles and dismantle furniture.
It felt freeing to destroy things on a date.
Dakota Kim
I was timid at first, hitting just one item at a time. By the end, I was smashing a dozen bottles to smithereens at once with the swoop of a baseball bat.
After all the time we spend being careful, tiptoeing around coworkers, friends, neighbors and parents, I love that we got to connect by feeling animalistic and reckless together.
As I flung heavy axes and smashed bottles, I could feel stress flowing out of my body and dissipating into the air. After these intense dates, I've never felt so relieved to fall into my partner's arms.
Our dates continue to bring us closer together
My husband and I have loved the rush of going rock climbing together.
Dakota Kim
Throughout these experiences, we felt joy and connection while creating special memories, which felt hard to do during basic dinner dates.
Plus, "adrenaline dates" can range in activity level and cost, from playing suspenseful video games to riding rollercoasters.
Many of our favorites have felt especially wild and destructive. Lately, we've been rock climbing challenging routes in Joshua Tree, bonding over the rush of fear and adrenaline while enjoying beautiful views.
We even try to schedule these dates every month on the full moon, so we can later kiss under the moonlight — it feels like magic and keeps us out even longer.
Remote jobs aren't as easy to find as they were, especially as some large employers call workers back to the office.
Getty Images
Remote work is harder to find. That could push workers to consider small firms or self-employment.
Some bosses point to a desire for higher productivity, but remote work can boost engagement.
Some roles, like those with tight deadlines, might be better suited to being in the office.
A couple of years ago, not long after getting divorced, Sherita Janielle wanted to make a big move.
So, she put most of her belongings in storage and headed from her pandemic redoubt in Austin to sunny Lisbon. After more than a month in Portugal's capital, Janielle eventually made her way to Colombia, Uruguay, and Argentina.
"I've been popping in and out of places," she told Business Insider. In between, she often returns to the US to see family and friends — and swap out her wardrobe.
Shifting her career from finance to marketing allowed Janielle to work from wherever, a luxury she's come to prize. It's one that fewer workers might enjoy in 2025.
Only about half of full-time workers can do their jobs remotely, according to polling firm Gallup. And among those, some who work for big-name companies like Amazon are increasingly seeing an end to workdays spent in sweatpants and camera-ready shirts as companies mandate a full RTO.
So, to keep or land remote roles, which are already harder to find than in the pandemic era, workers might have to consider going off on their own or looking to smaller firms.
Sherita Janielle
Courtesy Shift
Productivity worries
There's no consensus on whether a full RTO is "better" than hybrid or entirely remote roles. Bosses demanding that workers show up more in person often cite a desire to maintain culture, spur innovation, and foster collaboration. Some point to concerns about productivity.
Nicole Kyle, who researches the future of work, said that IRL work doesn't actually guarantee increased productivity and performance. However, these metrics can go up when employers allow for more remote or hybrid setups, said Kyle, who's cofounder of CMP Research, in part because workers feel more autonomy.
"Nothing is less engaging to employees than not having flexibility and choice," she said.
Gallup notes that full-time remote or hybrid workers tend to have "significantly higher" engagement than on-site workers.
Even so, there are times when being in the workplace makes sense, said Lisa Walker, a managing partner at the executive search firm DHR Global. She told BI that for roles like those in operations or where there's a short-term deadline, remote work can present challenges.
"You want to walk down the hall. You need an answer. You need to react," Walker said. That's harder on Slack.
Going off on your own
A decade ago, after years spent working in offices at big agencies, Curtis Sparrer cofounded a fully remote PR and marketing firm. Too often, he said, startups had to choose between paying rent or making payroll.
"I said, 'What if we never had to make that choice?'" he told BI.
Sparrer and his business partner have grown the firm, called Bospar, to about 70 people. In the early days, the company relied on conference calls and text messages to keep workers connected. Now, it uses tools like Slack and video calls.
The firm's productivity isn't a worry, Sparrer said, because workers are in frequent contact with each other. If someone does slack off, managers will address it, he said. Otherwise, he sees the quiet of home as a boon to productivity.
"When it comes to thoughtful, focused work, nothing beats work from home because that's the way you cut down on distractions," Sparrer said.
To help keep workers connected, the firm occasionally brings people together in person, though not to work.
"They want to do all the cultural things, but they absolutely do not want to work," he said. That's because the firm's employees report they do better work independently. So, they instead use in-person gatherings to connect with colleagues.
Focus on output
Deborah Perry Piscione, cofounder of Work3 Institute and coauthor of the forthcoming book "Employment is Dead," told BI that focusing on output rather than where the job gets done can be savvy for employers.
"I don't understand what the fear is. At the end of the day, this is not about control. It's about output and productivity," she said.
Piscione said that early in her career, working in Washington, DC, there was an expectation that employees should be at their desks from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., no matter what. She said she never understood why she had to stick around if she was more efficient or skipped lunch to wrap up her work early.
Increasingly, Piscione said, employers and employees need to view work as a partnership. That's especially important in the face of technology like artificial intelligence that could eliminate roles or rejigger how people do their jobs.
Besides, she said, workers have more ways of getting by than only a few years ago.
"We're in this hyper, super gig economy where I don't have to take your crap anymore," Piscione said, referring to overbearing employers.
For Janielle, the globe-hopping marketer who describes herself as an older millennial, an additional remote job looked enticing: chief nomad officer. She applied for and got the role at Shift, which makes a web browser aimed at boosting productivity. The goal of her work is to demonstrate that it's possible to get a lot done from anywhere, she said.
Janielle said she enjoys showcasing what's doable. She's been to some 45 countries and said the more she travels, the more she meets others who are succeeding outside the office without sacrificing productivity.
"There's still a lot of space in the economy for these remote workers to thrive," she said.
Do you have something to share about remote work? Business Insider would like to hear from you. Email our workplace team from a nonwork device at [email protected] with your story, or ask for one of our reporter's Signal numbers.
Holiday shopping showed that consumers were willing to spend, though on the right deals.
Adam GRAY/AFP via Getty Images
Shoppers spent cautiously during the holiday season.
There are some signs that consumers could feel better about spending more in 2025.
But tariffs and a dip in consumer confidence paint a more ominous picture for the new year.
Shoppers are entering 2025 cautiously after years of escalating prices and amid worries about the impact of potential tariff increases under the incoming Trump administration.
The holiday shopping season showed once again that customers are willing to spend — but only if the price is right. Shoppers could become less price-conscious as the year goes on, however, if inflation doesn't pick up its pace again.
"This holiday season, we saw consumers motivated by deals and retailers respond with promotions to meet the demand," Steve Sadove, a senior advisor for Mastercard and former CEO of department store Saks, said as part of the Mastercard SpendingPulse survey.
Released the day after Christmas, the survey showed that US retail sales grew 3.8% between November 1 and December 24.
Optimism among consumers reached its highest point since before the pandemic in the fourth quarter of 2024, McKinsey's ConsumerWise survey found.
The survey also showed that, despite their stated optimism, shoppers were planning to spend the same or less on most products, other than holiday-related categories such as toys, than they did during the third quarter. That indicates an ongoing tough environment for retailers.
"Consumers may have reported feeling more optimistic in the fourth quarter, but that does not mean they intend to spend more as a result," McKinsey said in the survey.
Going into the holidays, Costco members were being "very choiceful about how they're spending the dollars," CFO Gary Millerchip said on an earnings call in December.
But Millerchip also pointed to robust spending on optional items, such as jewelry and sporting goods, as holiday shopping ramped up. "It reflects the fact that our members are willing to spend as inflation comes down," Millerchip said.
If price increases do continue to slow — a tailwind that Goldman Sachs expects will continue in 2025 — consumers could feel better about spending more.
But there are also signs that things could get worse.
Just before Christmas, consumer confidence fell near levels usually associated with an imminent recession as many shoppers worried about their future incomes and the cost of living.
Another round of tariffs on imports into the US from the incoming Trump administration could also raise prices for shoppers if manufacturers, retailers, and others pass the costs to consumers.
So, even though the Mastercard SpendingPulse survey pointed to a fairly happy holidays for shops and shoppers alike, the new year still looks uncertain for both groups after a tricky 2024.
The author and her husband road on zodiac boats during their trip in Antarctica.
Photo credit: Taryn White of The Trip Wish List
My husband and I skipped Thanksgiving this year to visit our 7th continent together.
Our kids, who've visited 25 countries with us, supported our dream and followed our trip virtually.
It was a trip we'll always remember, and we saw unbelievably gorgeous sights.
My husband and I just marked a significant milestone by visiting our seventh continent together: Antarctica. During the past 20 years, our mutual love for exploration has taken us to every corner of the globe, but our recent journey to this vast, icy desert feels distinctly different.
Once a destination reserved for scientists and the most intrepid travelers, Antarctica has become more accessible in recent years thanks to expedition voyages offered by various companies. We embarked on an extraordinary 11-day adventure to Antarctica with National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions.
Here's what it's like to visit Antarctica and why we're glad we saved the "frozen" continent for last.
Each day was an adventure
The flight itinerary included a 24-hour, two-connection route from the US to Ushuaia, Argentina, the southernmost city in the world. We spent one night at Arakur Ushuaia Resort & Spa, which has fantastic views of the town and the Beagle Channel.
The following morning, we ventured briefly to Tierra del Fuego National Park. In the early evening, we boarded our vessel, ready to set sail on an exciting seven-night voyage.
Though Antarctica's harsh conditions left my fingertips frozen daily, setting foot on its pristine, glacial landscapes filled me with an unexpected sense of warmth and wonder. The awe of being immersed in such a stunning setting made every challenge worthwhile.
Each day was a thrilling adventure. We boarded zodiac boats to reach remote bays for morning and afternoon excursions, engaging in various activities from serene kayaking to invigorating hikes. Between these outings, we gained a deeper understanding of the continent's unique ecosystem and marine life through expert-led presentations on various topics, including (of course) penguins. We learned that penguins can take up to 10,000 naps per day, each lasting about 4 seconds.
The author and her husband saw penguins at Mikkelson Harbor.
Photo credit: Taryn White of The Trip Wish List
Throughout the trip, we had close encounters with these adorable creatures. We watched them porpoise through the cerulean waters, gracefully leaping in and out with remarkable agility. On land, we watched them waddle and slide on their bellies up and down the "penguin highways" — well-worn paths carved by penguins walking the same routes between the ocean and their colonies.
The author saw a chinstrap penguin gliding down a "penguin highway."
Photo credit: Taryn White of The Trip Wish List
When not on an excursion, we made the most of our time aboard the ship. The main lounge was a delightful place to unwind, socialize with fellow travelers, and enjoy incredible views. Although I experienced some queasiness while crossing the infamous Drake Passage, we were fortunate to have traversed the "Drake Lake." Our expedition leader said we were blessed with some of the calmest seas he had ever seen.
We also enjoyed meal options like butter confit lobster tail and a special Thanksgiving dinner featuring turkey, Brussels sprouts, carrots, cranberry sauce, and gravy.
They had Thanksgiving Dinner on their cruise.
Photo credit: Taryn White of The Trip Wish List
We saw plenty of beautiful sights, but 5 stood out
One of the highlights of the trip was when the ship parked on a bed of fast ice at Charlotte Bay. We disembarked and walked directly on the ice, observing a small group of penguins.
The author and her husband enjoyed their time on the National Geographic Explorer.
Photo credit: Taryn White of The Trip Wish List
Cierva Cove has jaw-dropping scenery befitting a postcard. There, we marveled at the dynamic interplay between the ocean, icebergs, and floating sea ice.
We also kayaked in Chiriguano Bay, a protected inlet on the southern end of Brabant Island in the Palmer Archipelago. Paddling with the backdrop of towering snow-covered mountains was so calming.
Portal Point is a stunning, rocky outcrop northeast of the Reclus Peninsula, with dramatic mountain ranges and glacial tongues. It's one of those places you have to see to believe.
Deception Island felt different from the other terrain they'd seen.
Photo credit: Taryn White of The Trip Wish List
And finally, Deception Island's volcanic terrain starkly contrasted the icy landscapes found elsewhere in Antarctica. The island features warm sands and geothermal waters along its coast.
It's a trip we'll always remember
At the end of the cruise, we embarked on a nonstop flight from Teniente Rodolfo Marsh Martin Airport, located within Chile's Antarctic base on King George Island, to Puerto Natales, Chile. The flight provided a seamless and scenic transition from the frozen wilderness back to the verdant landscapes of the South American mainland.
They flew home from King George Island.
Photo credit: Taryn White of The Trip Wish List
Our trip to Antarctica was undoubtedly our most unforgettable trip to date. The rare privilege of navigating this phenomenal landscape, leaving footprints where few ever will, was a challenging physical journey and a profoundly emotional one, too. It left us with an enduring connection to a world that is both formidable and incomparable in its beauty — a place that will forever occupy a special space in our hearts.
