• I spent years becoming a psychologist and then trying to achieve tenure.
• When I finally got tenure, I should have felt accomplished, but something was missing.
• I had to slow down, and then I realized I wanted to be a mother.

Becoming a psychologist is a long and grueling process. After four years of college, it's another six years or so to earn your master's and doctoral degrees. You then work full time for at least one year, accruing supervised hours before you're even eligible to take the licensing exam.

After that, if you are in a tenure-track academic position, like I was, then there are additional hurdles before you are considered for tenure. If you are granted tenure, the rewards are significant: Your job security increases dramatically, and you have more academic freedom in how you study and teach.

For years, that's what I was working towards: job security and freedom. But when I finally achieved it all, something felt off.

Receiving tenure first felt like winning the lottery

When I was granted tenure after a months-long application review process, I was euphoric. I truly felt like I had won the lottery and that I had finally "made it."

But, like for many who have actually won the lottery, the high subsided after a few months.

This alone was not unexpected. I knew the feeling would fade, as all feelings eventually do. What I could not make sense of was the experience of looking at my life and wondering, "Is this it? Is this everything?"

I followed the formula: Study hard, get good grades, work hard, get promoted, keep working hard, get tenure, and live happily ever after. I had a stable career, a loving husband, and a full life by any measure.

What was still missing?

When the euphoria faded, I thought something was wrong with me

I had experienced periods of depression in my life before, and so that was my first hypothesis, but I wasn't actually depressed. I still derived meaning and enjoyment from my role as a professor, so I wasn't disillusioned with the job.

It took months of exploration in therapy and honest self-reflection for me to acknowledge that for most of my adult life, I had been on one track or another, striving toward the next stop and barely pausing before moving to the next.

The tenure track was no different from any other track in the sense that it was predetermined and clearly demarcated. My particular gender and cultural conditioning had primed me to choose tracks over off-roading, and so I believed that if I just stayed the course and completed it well, fulfillment and contentment would be my rewards.

Except, when I finally got there, I still had a nagging sense of incompleteness.

I was so focused on my career that I didn't realize what I really wanted

All those years of striving overshadowed the parts of me that have no interest in tracks, achievements, or successes. My capacity to enjoy being for the sake of being and not having to earn or prove anything, was diminishing as I accrued more accomplishments and accolades.

Once I decided to pay more attention to my need to just "be" and not "do," I opened myself to other realizations — the most shocking of which was my growing desire to have a child.

The younger me would have shuddered at a future in which I finally earned tenure, voluntarily closed my private practice, and stepped down from a dean-level position so that I could spend more time with my child. But that's just what I did.

Parenting is meaningful, yes, but it's not a strategy for fulfillment. Indeed, I still have some unresolved dissonance about my trajectory, and becoming a parent has involved a whole lot of "doing" at the expense of "being," especially as a working mom.

On the other hand, despite the challenges, I do feel a greater sense of completeness in our family. I'm glad I eventually paid attention to the voice inside me that led me here, and I wish I had tuned in sooner.

• A Spotify layoff in December 2023 affected 17% of employees, including Sophia Omarji, a UX researcher.
• Omarji faced visa issues and a competitive job market before being forced to leave for Dubai.
• Still looking for her next role a year later, she's focused on skill development and networking.

In January 2023, I moved from the UK to Sweden for my dream job at Spotify. I had been at the company since July 2022, when I joined as a UX research intern and secured a full-time associate role and later a promotion.

As a music psychology graduate, joining Spotify was a dream come true. I never expected to reach that point in my career fresh out of college — I assumed it would take years.

At the end of 2023, I was among the 17% affected by layoffs at the company I had dreamed of joining. Since then, I've processed the reality of being laid off and navigated the emotional and professional challenges that come with it.

The year since has been anything but straightforward, from grappling with visa issues to navigating Sweden's competitive job market. It has also been a time of profound learning and unexpected growth.

On Monday, December 4, 2023, I received the email that changed everything

I woke up and rolled over to see two emails from work. One was sent to the whole company from Spotify's CEO, Daniel Ek, and another from HR — a 15-minute individual meeting invite to discuss my role. Having been present for another round of layoffs earlier that year, I knew that I was about to be let go.

Every day at work felt surreal and confirmed I was living out my aspirations. I loved the culture, people, and projects — the role excited me and built my passion further. I had envisioned a long career at the company.

In the call, they told me my role was being made redundant, and they couldn't find me another position due to the scale of the reduction. I was given a three-month notice period but was not required to work from then on.

I felt a mix of disbelief, frustration, and pure heartbreak

It wasn't just about the job loss but the upheaval of everything I had planned for the coming years. The uncertainty was further amplified by my work visa situation, being in Sweden as a British citizen, forcing me to navigate emotional turmoil and the post-Brexit bureaucratic maze.

With a ticking clock and no clear path forward, I felt paralyzed. I quickly realized that the emotional aftermath of losing a job was more complex than I had anticipated.

I had to give myself the space to experience the stages of grief, mourning the loss of my sense of identity and future certainty alongside the feelings of rejection that accompanied it. Over time, I began to appreciate the value of giving myself time to adjust rather than rushing to fill the void.

One key lesson I've learned is how to embrace the discomfort of not having everything figured out immediately

It's easy to feel like you're falling behind when you have no clear direction or routine, but I soon realized that growth often arises in moments of uncertainty.

I decided to focus on what I could still control. I leaned into the skills I had developed at Spotify, like data analysis, storytelling, and working with different stakeholders, and explored new avenues for applying them.

I couldn't find part-time work in Sweden because my work visa was revoked, leaving me in a sticky situation. Over the past year, I've focused on networking, attending conferences, and expanding my skill set through courses.

I've also honed my background in music psychology, searching for opportunities to share that expertise through workshops, speaking engagements, my blog, and my podcast.

Early career professionals in the current job market face unique challenges

The pressure to progress quickly, build experience, and establish ourselves can feel overwhelming, especially in industries like tech, where expertise is highly valued.

I've learned being junior doesn't mean being less capable — it's an opportunity to build a foundation of skills and knowledge that will support long-term growth. Young people bring fresh perspectives, adaptability, and a willingness to learn, and adaptability isn't just about adjusting to changes within your current role or industry — it's about being open to geographical and professional shifts that push you out of your comfort zone.

After my layoff, I could stay in Sweden for six months before ultimately having no choice but to leave Stockholm. I relocated to Dubai to be with my family.

The transition was difficult — I had to leave behind my partner, friends, and the life I had built. Adjusting to a long-distance relationship added another layer of complexity, but I learned that a new location doesn't have to limit opportunities.

I now see myself as a citizen of the world

I'm navigating life on the move and juggling pursuing my next job with quality time spent with family and friends, exploring new places, and focusing on personal and professional projects. My ultimate goal is to return to Sweden — or wherever the best opportunity takes me — so my partner and I can reunite and build the best life possible.

My goal for the year ahead is to find professional success. I'm open to similar roles and new directions if they align with my values. Whether it's in music psychology, UX research, or the broader tech industry, my focus is on meaningful and impactful work. As the world evolves, so will my career.

Do you want to share how your layoff affected you? Email Lauryn Haas at [email protected].

• Bill Gates says some of his tech predictions didn't go how expected.
• Gates told the NYT that Silicon Valley's swing toward the right was a "surprise" to him.
• He warns of AI misuse, emphasizing the need for defensive tech against cyber threats.

Bill Gates says he's gotten a few things wrong during his decadeslong tech career.

The Microsoft founder spoke to The New York Times about how some of his predictions for the tech industry didn't pan out the way he thought they would. Gates, who started the tech giant in 1975, has been around long enough to witness significant cultural shifts and innovations in Silicon Valley.

What he didn't expect was its leaders leaning into the right wing.

"I always thought of Silicon Valley as being left of center," Gates told NYT.

His peers, including Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk, and Jeff Bezos, have shown support for President Donald Trump — attending his inauguration and catching up at UFC events. Musk and Zuckerberg have both previously kept their political beliefs relatively private.

"The fact that now there is a significant right-of-center group is a surprise to me," Gates added. Gates donated $50 million to a pro-Kamala Harris super PAC in 2024, the NYT previously reported.

The advent of social media also brought a twist in technology that Gates said he didn't see coming. When platforms like Facebook and Twitter arrived on the scene, they brought about "ills that I have to say I did not predict."

Gates said tech has been weaponized to sow political division and act against public interest. He told the NYT that he was "wrong" to think of "more information as always a good thing."

"I didn't predict that would happen," Gates said.

Meta and X, formerly Twitter, are owned by Zuckerberg and Musk, respectively, and have both faced complaints about their approaches to content moderation. In January, Zuckerberg said Meta would adopt a "community notes" model similar to X instead of using third-party human fact-checkers.

While he had previously held more positive predictions for the present, Gates said he's less optimistic about the future of tech. Looking to the future, Gates reiterated his apprehension about the evolution of artificial intelligence.

"Now we have to worry about bad people using AI," he told the NYT.

Gates previously expressed his concerns about AI during an interview on the "On with Kara Swisher" podcast. He shared his uneasiness "that bad people with bad intent will use AIs for cybercrime, bioterrorism, nation-state wars."

"In that case you think, OK, let's make sure the good guys have an AI that can play defense against those things, and that makes you want to move ahead and not fall behind," Gates said in the interview.

• Alex Hofmann founded 9count, a social media app conglomerate, in 2019 after leaving Musical.ly.
• Hofmann is also an investor in several social startups and is betting on "private social networks."
• Here are five trends Hofmann thinks will define the future of social networking.

We're still waiting for the next big thing in social media.

Clubhouse's social audio moment didn't stick, BeReal's gamified photo-sharing faded, and while TikTok's impact on social media is indisputable, its uncertain future has consumers hungry for new apps.

So, what comes next?

Alex Hofmann, the CEO of the social-media conglomerate 9count, is betting on a new wave of private social networks that prioritize friends over media.

Hofmann founded 9count in 2019 after leaving his post as president of Musical.ly (now TikTok) in 2018, after ByteDance acquired it. 9count's portfolio includes mostly mobile apps, such as dating app Wink, friend-making app Soda, and LGBTQ+ social network Lex (9count acquired Lex in 2024).

Hofmann said that with influencers, brands, and ads competing for attention on social platforms, consumers aren't seeing or engaging with their own personal connections as much as they may like.

"We are seeing a shift from social networks to social media to media," Hofmann told Business Insider.

As a result, he thinks there's room in the market for more straightforward social networks.

"We finally are at a tipping point because of frustration with policy changes, algorithmic feeds, privacy breaches, excessive commercialization," Hofmann said. "It's time for a change. It's time to build better products."

Beyond connecting people with their friends via private networks, Hofmann sees potential in apps serving niche communities and helping people meet IRL.

Outside 9count's own portfolio of apps, Hofmann has also invested in new social apps as an angel investor and via his VC fund Progression. Those investments include Mozi, an app for close friends cofounded by Ev Williams; Bond Social, a decentralized social network; and Girlgroup, a community and events app for women founded by 9count employee Shoshana Cooper.

Here are five trends in social media Hofmann is eyeing:

1. There's a need for apps serving niche communities. As platforms like Meta or TikTok scale to billions of users worldwide, the apps often prioritize the masses (and advertisers) over smaller segments of users. Hofmann pointed to Girlgroup and Lex as examples of apps built for niche communities, whether that's young women in a specific city or for the LGBTQ+ community.
2. People want to connect IRL. "The big trend that we are seeing is that after Covid, there's a big desire really to meet more in the real world," Hofmann said. Several IRL-social apps raised millions of dollars in 2024, such as 222, Pie, and Posh.
3. Dating apps will need to move past swiping. Hofmann compared the current model of dating apps to Zillow — you can look at a house, but you can't really discern the energy, aura, or feel of the house with just pictures. "The dating app that will be successful is one that is able to mirror that energy in a digital format," he said. Gen Z will also define the next wave of online dating, Hofmann added, particularly how younger users are more interested in sparking a connection, even if just platonic, than finding an instant date.
4. The next big thing won't be a TikTok copycat. "Seeing so many TikTok clones is interesting, and it's a good way for new entrepreneurs to learn how to build products," Hofmann said. "But I hope that these products will either grow into something much bigger, much different, much more valuable to the user base."
5. More new social apps will become pay-to-play or offer freemium models. Public social-media apps usually go after advertising as a primary revenue model and are free to use. Hofmann is bullish on private social networks that instead use subscriptions, paywalls, and freemium models. "Some people believe that that would not be scalable, but the numbers so far show that it's actually quite possible," Hofmann said. He pointed to Duolingo as a successful example of a freemium model, and added that Girlgroup has a paid membership.

While Hofmann wants to see innovation in social apps — either via 9count or his investments — he knows very well that the consumer social landscape is volatile.

"The chance to build a successful product in the social-media space is very small," Hofmann said.

• Trump has said he'll institute tariffs on imports from China, Canada, and Mexico by February 1.
• Small businesses are bracing for potential price hikes and supply chain disruptions.
• Some stocked up ahead of time in hopes of keeping prices steady, others are in wait-and-see mode.

Customers at Mellow Monkey, a home decor and gift store in Connecticut, sometimes ask owner Howard Aspinwall why so many of his products are made in China. In response, he shows them the products he sources from the US — and their higher price points. He said they usually balk.

"Their wallet can only support buying from China," he said, adding, "The problem I see at the retail level is customers don't want to pay higher prices for the products that they're buying now."

But it looks like buying some imported goods is about to get more expensive. Trump has said he would enact a 25% tariff on goods from Canada and Mexico by February 1 with a potential 10% tariff on Chinese goods also on the table.

More than half a dozen small business owners BI spoke to are waiting to see how their goods might be impacted. Some placed advanced orders; others are negotiating new deals and finding new suppliers. One, who specializes in holiday goods, is sitting back, waiting, and hoping they don't have to go out of business.

The uncertain impact of tariffs

Angie Chua is the owner of the stationery line Bobo Design Studio, which has a retail location in Palm Springs, California, and imports goods from China. She started worrying about tariffs around the time of the election but wasn't sure if Trump's plans would ever come to fruition. As his self-imposed February 1 deadline nears, she's getting more concerned.

Unlike some artist friends she spoke to who put in orders early in case of price increases, Chua didn't want to expend too much upfront cash. For now, her orders from China are set to come in before February 1. If prices do rise, Chua said the business will remain transparent about growing costs.

"We might add an extra service fee," she said, adding that she may message to her customers that "this is a Trump tariff fee. This is not anything that we can control."

Upon taking office, Trump laid out his plans to use tariffs to enrich the US economy. So far, he's used them as a bargaining chip with Colombia. He told reporters in the Oval Office on Thursday that he would enact tariffs on goods from Canada and Mexico to incentivize the two countries to help mitigate America's fentanyl crisis. He also previously said he would consider a 10% tariff on China for the same purpose.

"In his first administration, President Trump instituted tariffs that resulted in historic job, wage, and investment growth with no inflation," White House Spokesman Kush Desai said in a statement to BI. "In his second administration, President Trump will again use tariffs to level the playing field and usher in a new era of growth and prosperity for American industry and workers."

Economists have warned that sweeping tariffs could lead to price hikes for consumers, and analysis has found that tariffs could reduce GDP and cost the equivalent of hundreds of thousands of jobs. However, tariff advocates have said that the levies can be an important negotiation tool — and potentially incentivize domestic production. President Joe Biden imposed tariffs on Chinese EVs in an effort to bolster US automakers.

"Tariffs play an important role in our trade policy when used in a strategic manner to really go after certain specific trade issues," Jonathan Gold, the vice president of supply chain and customs policy at the National Retail Federation, said. "I think the concern is going broad-based and hitting everyday consumer essentials."

Richard Kligman, the co-owner of two Trump Superstores in South Carolina, said that tariffs are not currently an issue for the store. He hasn't heard from any suppliers saying that prices are going up to reflect a tariff. He's already well-positioned because the store increased its domestic suppliers during the pandemic, and he said he doesn't have a problem finding new merchandise — every day, he has someone calling to offer a new Trump product for them to sell.

Kligman said though he's heard tariffs could lead business owners like him to raise prices for customers — which he would have to do if their raw materials prices were going up — that's currently not the case.

"I can only look at it from the perspective of my business and in my business it hasn't become an issue," he said.

Some businesses are stocking up, others worry about price hikes

Paulina Hoong recently ordered 5,000 tote bags from China. That's at least 10 times the usual order for her small business. She's stocking up in case President Donald Trump levies his promised tariffs on China on February 1.

"I am really anxious, actually, because I am uncertain if the whole stock will sell out," the owner of Menmin Made said.

Rebecca Haacke has also been stocking up on custom dog gear for her Utah-based business River Dog Gear. Haacke imports about 90% of her supplies, the majority from China; she's been stocking up as much as she can afford to fend off raising prices as long as possible.

"I haven't changed my shop prices and I'm trying hard not to as long as possible because my customer base are mostly disabled service dog handlers and they will be hugely impacted by any price increase," Haacke said.

And prices might be top of mind for consumers.

"Just the mere mention of these tariffs have a lot of us in a tailspin," Joe Hakim, the general manager of Ackroyd's Bakery in Michigan, told BI. The bakery imports items through distributors; most goods come from the United Kingdom, and some packaging is from China. Any tariff would stretch the bakery's already thin margins, he said. "All of these costs are being hoisted upon the shoulders of small business, which then have to be placed into our pricing structure."

Elizabeth Hudy, the owner and creator of The Peach Fuzz — which Hudy described as making "agitational propaganda" encouraging people to "give a damn about their neighbors and their community and to resist fascism" — put in an order for around $15,000 worth of supplies in the last two months of the year. Hudy said that they usually order 90 day supplies, but were doubling up this time around.

Gold at the NRF noted that some of their smaller retailers have shared concerns about their ability to operate should tariffs go into effect, a sentiment Hudy and other business owners echoed.

Hudy said she wished more people understood how tariffs work and that businesses like hers — and their customers — tend to pay them. "It isn't paid by the country that you're waging these tariffs against. It's paid by the importer — it's paid by me."

Are you a business or consumer who might be impacted by tariffs? Contact this reporter at [email protected].

• BI spoke to 4 older Americans who retired comfortably with over $1 million in assets.
• Dozens of older Americans said they still maintain frugal habits despite having significant wealth.
• Still, some retirees said they regretted how they balanced saving too much with enjoying life.

Brian Loffredo, 68, still does his own yard work and watches his grocery spending despite having millions in the bank.

Loffredo, who lives in Connecticut, worked in retail management for decades but said finances were tight early in his career while raising four stepchildren. He recalled winters where he could "see the breath coming out of our mouths" because he couldn't afford heat.

As he navigated higher-paying jobs, including management roles where he worked 50 to 70 hours a week, he learned how to do home improvements himself to save money. In addition to smart investments and staying at one company for 26 years, these strategies helped him grow his wealth during difficult times — and he plans to keep them.

"You do what you have to do, you learn to do it yourself, and you can get it done," Loffredo said. "In the meantime, you're saving money that allows you to buy presents for the kids."

Loffredo could be seen as an example of a "millionaire next door," as described in a classic 1996 finance book. Many wealthier Americans live in middle-class areas and achieve their wealth through careful planning and investing instead of risky business moves or very high-paying jobs.

We want to hear from you. Are you an older American who thought you retired well? Do you have any life regrets that you would be comfortable sharing with a reporter? Please fill out this quick form.

For many Americans like Loffredo, more money doesn't necessarily mean a drastic lifestyle shift. Business Insider heard from dozens of older Americans who retired comfortably but still remain frugal. Some older Americans told BI they're working while enjoying seven-figure net worths, whether for financial security or simply having something to do.

Some regretted over-saving and not enjoying their money when they were younger, but most said they would change little about their retirement strategies and believe they would not be who they are without making these sacrifices.

Loffredo hadn't thought seriously about investment strategies until 2000, a few years after his wife died. He watched financial cable news channels and read about diversifying his portfolio. He took $100,000 of his savings and day-traded it before taking the buy-and-hold approach.

After searching for areas with less costly real estate, he sold his 2,200-square-foot house for a 3,500-square-foot home that cost only $10,000 more. Despite a demotion from a six-figure income to about $60,000, his investments, including his 401(k) and IRA accounts, continued to grow.

"I could have bought a house for a million and a half, and my investments have made some money," Loffredo said. "I don't believe in wasting that kind of money, and every house you get that is more valuable costs you more to maintain it."

Loffredo retired in April 2021 and volunteers in the community. He recently splurged on a Corvette, though he continues living frugally in other aspects. He still sometimes waits until he has a coupon to get new clothes.

"Before you spend money, think about what that money could have earned if you hadn't spent it," Loffredo said. "Whether it's a frivolous vacation or a fancier car, is that more important to you than what that extra money might have earned?"

A magazine article sparked a financial awakening

Ken Curell, 73, recalls reading an article from a financial magazine decades ago arguing that people save money before spending it. Curell said except for wishing he had invested more in Roth IRAs, his retirement planning strategies worked well.

The Ohio resident served in the Air Force for over three decades. During this time, he married his wife and raised two children. He left active duty to fly for airlines until his retirement in 2012, and he taught his children how to fly planes.

"Angry perseverance for me was the impetus, the fuel, the ignition source for not giving up on flight and doggedly pursuing an avenue where I wanted to go," Curell said.

Curell said one of his major regrets was devoting too many hours to work. "My employers conditioned me to the idea of more time spent in the office and after-work-hours attention to work-related actions made me the better employee," Curell said.

Many older Americans who told BI they retired well wished they had worked less. In December, BI released a series on older Americans' retirement regrets, and a common theme was over-saving — being too frugal or putting in long hours without vacations.

Curell read extensively about retirement planning, investing in stocks, bonds, low-cost funds, and IRAs that have grown to seven figures. He said his portfolio is about 70% stocks and 30% bonds. In the early 2000s, amid pay cuts for pilots, he said he cut coupons and cut back on unnecessary expenses. He and his wife of 46 years, also an Air Force veteran, receive annuities that have made retirement planning less stressful.

"The first rule of thumb is to check your emotions at the door when you start dealing with your finances, making it purely about the numbers," Curell said.

Working too hard but celebrating the little things

Deborah Hrustich, 69, has rediscovered herself in retirement.

Hrustich, who lives outside Albany, worked 5 a.m. shifts as a neurosurgeon so she'd finish early enough to attend her three children's activities. She spent years sleeping five hours a night, working until she was 61.

Hrustich said she had few regrets about her spending, as she spent a lot on her children's activities but cut back on cars, clothes, and her home. She and her husband spent her money and saved his — they took extensive trips, bought Super Bowl and World Series tickets, and paid off their mortgage early.

They hired an accountant to manage their money, as she said neither of them knew how to properly invest. She said they had saved enough money to live until 100 and be financially stable.

"I don't think young people at 35 understand that you have to have money to retire, that you can't live on Social Security, but you want to balance that with fun times," Hrustich said. "If you dream of taking a trip somewhere, take it."

However, with millions saved for retirement, she said it took a few years to fully enjoy it. Her husband died suddenly three years ago, putting her retirement plans in flux. She also wished she would have taken more time for herself earlier in life.

"I never ate the last piece of cake," Hrustich said. "I always put the needs and wants of everyone else first."

She said it took two years after her husband's death to rebuild her life and surround herself with people who share her values. Hrustich volunteers as a caregiver for Alzheimer's patients and as a tutor, and she hopes to continue traveling.

Careful saving, tragedy in retirement, and bouncing back

Karen Jones, 69, didn't have stable work or actively save until her 30s. She worked as a customs broker while her husband stayed home with their children, and she started a customs brokerage and forwarding firm in Boise at 44.

"We were in our late 30s before we even thought of or cared about retirement, and we had a lot to make up," Jones said. "We maxed out our 401(k). If we had to make payments for two years for a couch, we didn't buy it."

She ran her company for 16 years, working long hours and saving much of her earnings. She and her husband stayed in the same house for 25 years, drove their cars for over 20 years, and bought a camper in cash. She planned to find a buyer for the firm after 10 years, but she ran it until she was 61 and retired at 64. She sold her company for about $700,000, including the payout for three additional years, and paid off her house and other debts.

"We were the only customs broker for a long time in Boise, but I treated my customers like there were a million of us around," Jones said.

Three days after her retirement, while preparing for a camping trip, her husband had a heart attack and never fully recovered. She spent two and a half years as his caregiver until he died, and she regretted not taking more time off while working to go on trips with family.

Jones teaches college courses, takes piano lessons, tends to her garden, and travels frequently. She earns about $5,000 a month from Social Security and investments and plans to move to Madrid.

"My finance guy keeps telling me to spend more," Jones said. "People save all their lives, and then they can spend it, but they don't know what to spend it on. Still, I don't think I have to worry about money."

• February 1 could mark the beginning of a tariffs campaign Trump has been talking about for months.
• So far, he's leveraged tariff threats to achieve policy goals and promised an American manufacturing revival.
• Here's where all of his trade proposals stand so far, and what prices they could impact.

President Donald Trump said that February 1 will mark the beginning of his tariffs campaign, which includes threats on numerous countries in an attempt to revive American manufacturing and achieve certain policy aims.

Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Thursday that his first move will be 25% tariff on goods from Canada and Mexico to strengthen border policy and a 10% tariff on China to crack down on drug policy.

Economists widely expect firms to pass increased costs caused by tariffs onto customers, and several companies have already said they are preparing to raise prices if tariffs are implemented. Electronics, groceries, and apparel are among the most likely products to see price increases.

The White House maintains the tariffs will work to deliver Trump's campaign promises. Regarding his proposed first round of tariffs, an official told BI that "Trump has been clear about his desire to end the fentanyl crisis, and it's time for Mexico and Canada to join the fight as well." Trump has said a tariff on China would also be intended to fight the fentanyl crisis.

Here are the other countries Trump has targeted so far with his trade proposals.

China

China was a key focus for tariffs on the campaign trail. Trump proposed a 60% tariff on all goods imported from China, alongside a 10% to 20% tariff on imports from other countries.

Once Trump took office, though, his ideas for tariffs on China appeared to narrow. On January 21, he suggested a 10% tariff on imports from China into the US on February 1 "based on the fact that they're sending fentanyl to Mexico and Canada." It's unclear if Trump was referring to a particular situation with fentanyl exports.

China is a major electronics supplier to the US, so cellphones, computers, and games could get more expensive with a new tariff.

Mao Ning, a spokesperson for China's Foreign Ministry, told reporters on February 22: "We believe that there's no winner in a trade or tariff war, and we will firmly uphold our national interests."

Canada and Mexico

On January 20, Trump warned of a 25% of Mexico and Canada, which he said could go into effect on February 1. It echoes his proposals from November when he posted on his social media platform Truth Social that he would impose tariffs on those two countries on his first day unless they didn't strengthen their border policy.

The US imports many key goods from both Mexico and Canada. Americans receive $92 billion in crude oil from Canada, along with billions of dollars worth of vehicles and vehicle parts. In addition to car parts, Mexico also supplies $25 billion worth of computers to the US.

Russia

Trump said on January 22 that he would place tariffs on imports from Russia if the country did not end the Ukraine war soon.

"If we don't make a 'deal,' and soon, I have no other choice but to put high levels of Taxes, Tariffs, and Sanctions on anything being sold by Russia to the United States, and various other participating countries," Trump wrote on Truth Social.

The US imports $4.57 billion worth of goods from Russia in 2023, which made up just 0.14% of total imports that year, based on Census data. That makes the threat of a tariff on Russian goods fairly low, given how little the country exports to the US.

Colombia

After Colombia's president turned away two flights from the US that carried deported migrants, Trump threatened the country with a 25% tariff. He said that in one week, the Colombia tariff would be raised to 50%.

"We will not allow the Colombian Government to violate its legal obligations with regard to the acceptance and return of the Criminals they forced into the United States!" Trump said.

Colombia's president Gustavo Petro responded in a statement that his country would receive Colombians "on civilian planes, without treating them like criminals." The White House then withdrew its threat but warned it could be reinstated if Colombia failed to honor its agreement.

Key goods the US imports from Colombia include coffee and bananas, which would likely get more expensive under tariffs.

BRICS nations

On November 30, Trump posted on Truth Social that he would impose a 100% tariff on the BRICS group unless they committed to not creating a separate currency that competes with the US dollar.

BRICS is comprised of nine countries: Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Ethiopia, Egypt, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates.

Top imports from countries part of BRICS, excluding China, include pharmaceutical preparations, crude oil, and households goods.

Denmark

Trump said during a press conference on January 7 that he would "tariff Denmark at a very high level" if the country did not allow Greenland to join the United States.

The president has not yet offered further details on that claim. The Financial Times reported that Trump and Denmark's premier, Mette Frederiksen, had a call to discuss the threat, during which  Frederiksen reportedly emphasized that Greenland was not for sale.

The US primarily imports medicinal products and machinery from Denmark.

• Watch group Swatch saw its sales decline by more than 12% and its profits by 75% in 2024.
• It attributed its weak results to a "persistently difficult market situation" in China.
• 2024 was a bad year for luxury brands, from LVMH and Kering to Champagne producers.

Swatch reported weak sales and a major slump in operating profits in 2024, owing largely to weak demand from Chinese consumers.

The luxury watch group, which owns watch big league brands like Omega, Tissot, and Longines, saw its sales decline 12% and its profits drop about 75% last year.

In the earnings press release published on Thursday, the group posted net sales of 6.7 billion francs, or $7.4 billion. This was a 12.2% decline from 2023 when it earned 7.9 billion francs.

Its operating profit dropped about 75% from about 1.2 billion francs in 2023 to 304 million francs in 2024.

The group attributed the results to a "persistently difficult market situation and weak demand for consumer goods overall in China."

Swatch's press release said sales in China, including Hong Kong and Macau, slid around 30% in 2024.

It also added that there was a "huge drop in demand for consumer goods" in Southeast Asian markets, which it said are "heavily dependent on Chinese tourists."

However, it reported stronger sales in other key markets, such as the US, Japan, India, and the Middle East. It said that in the US, Tissot sales exceeded $100 million for the first time.

Overall, luxury Swiss watchmakers struggled with weak demand in 2024. In September, Bloomberg reported that Girard-Perregaux and Ulysse Nardin, Swiss luxury watch brands owned by Sowind Group, turned to the government for financial support to cope with low demand.

Meanwhile, the Rolex resale market has also been cooling for more than two years after its COVID-era high, owing partly to a surge of watches coming into the market.

A bad year for luxury goods

Watches are not the only luxury products impacted by waning demand in China.

In 2024, overall luxury spending stagnated, and big brands saw their share prices drop. Kering, the owner of Gucci, YSL, and Balenciaga, saw its stock fall more than 40% last year.

And luxury conglomerate LVMH's sales declined by 3% in the third quarter of 2024, partly because of weakened consumer confidence in China.

Representatives for Swatch did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider, sent outside regular business hours.

• A jet operated by American Airlines collided with a Black Hawk helicopter in Washington, DC.
• Investigators on Thursday said they recovered the black boxes from the passenger jet.
• Black boxes can provide key data from moments before the impact.

Investigators recovered the recording devices, or black boxes, from one of the aircraft involved in Wednesday night's midair crash near the Reagan Washington National Airport.

A spokesperson for the National Transportation Safety Board, which is overseeing the probe into the crash, told Business Insider in an email that the "cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder" from the Bombardier CRJ700 airplane operated by American Airlines was recovered.

"The recorders are at the NTSB labs for evaluation," the spokesperson said.

Black boxes, despite their name, are actually bright orange. They provide key data that can help investigators determine what happened in the moments before the impact.

The cockpit voice recorder "records radio transmissions and sounds in the cockpit, such as the pilot's voices and engine noises," according to the NTSB. "The other, the Flight Data Recorder (FDR), monitors parameters such as altitude, airspeed and heading."

A flight data recorder can hold up to 24 hours of information while a cockpit voice recorder stores up to the last two hours of audio, NTSB wrote.

The black boxes themselves are stored inside reinforced shells that can withstand temperatures of up to 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit for up to 30 minutes and be submerged in 20,000 feet of water, BI previously reported.

A transmitter attached to the flight data recorder allows investigators to find the black boxes, but finding an aircraft that is submerged in a large body of water can still be difficult.

When the Lion Air Boeing 737 Max 8 crashed into the Java Sea in October 2018, killing 189 people on the flight, black box data recovered by investigators revealed how the two pilots struggled to maintain control of the plane as the aircraft was repeatedly sent in a nose-dive position.

The District of Columbia Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department said in an X post on Thursday evening that authorities will conduct "additional searches to locate aircraft components, to support the investigation, and begin operations to salvage the aircraft."

"Overnight, boats will remain on scene for security and surface searches from local, state, and federal regional partners," the agency said.

The collision between a passenger jet and a military helicopter occurred in one of the most congested airspaces in the US.

Sixty-seven people — including four crew members and 60 passengers aboard the CRJ700 and three Black Hawk crew members — were presumed dead.

For years, aviation experts have warned of the risks of midair collisions amid air traffic controller staffing shortages and an increasingly congested airspace.

• I moved closer to my daughter, anticipating the arrival of my grandson.
• When he was 4 months old, I received a call that my daughter had unexpectedly died.
• I put my life on hold to help take care of my grandson.

Anticipating retirement as a single mother, I made a major move to be closer to family. Two kids out of college, both married, with the prospect of grandchildren and the ocean close — a side benefit — I could now indulge in personal pursuits, writing fiction.

After two gut-wrenching days of labor, my daughter Kendra gave us Ewan. Beautiful and healthy, his eyes sparkled with knowing wisdom that defied explanation. Savoring the joy after years of uncertainty, I was ecstatic to learn that my son Erik and my daughter-in-law Laura were expecting their first child six months later.

Then, my daughter died

Living minutes away, Kendra and I were in frequent contact as she adjusted to motherhood with the end of her maternity leave in sight. Surprising me one day with a visit, she held this plump-cheeked, 4-month-old delight, and I noted his flirting.

"I've never seen him do that," she replied.

"Here, I'll hold him so that you can see." Her glow was immediate as he delivered that coy smile, his head slightly tilted, with his thick lashes and watery blue eyes.

The next day, I received a call at work. Driving the highway at 95 miles an hour, screaming, "Hold on, I'll be there," I was too late — by hours. My daughter had died suddenly. The rest is too painful to recount.

I took care of my grandson

Temporarily suspending my job, I focused on Ewan — as I shared the air with my son-in-law Steve, my family, his from Ireland, and their friends, young parents themselves.

Watching my 40-year-old daughter's world being eviscerated, I inhaled the insensitivity. At times an invisible entity, and in shock, I recalled her heartfelt anguish the day before — that I was the only one she trusted to care for Ewan.

Having firsthand knowledge of Ewan's world, I temporarily moved in with Steve to share in his 24x7 care. Shutting out the heartless advice to leave this neophyte young father alone, to get over my grief and move on, I would not abandon my daughter's child.

As a veteran, I also understood the visceral impact of trauma and what Kendra wanted for her child.

Like all sleep-deprived new mothers, I managed the daily routine so that Steve could return to work. Following sprints to day care, diaper bag in tow, I'd head to my job with spit-up on my shoulder, then rejoin the commuting tangle to make the 4:30 p.m. pickup. Our evenings were spent together until Ewan fell asleep, and I would return home alone to a space now outfitted with the requisite baby paraphernalia.

A bright spark ignited our landscape when my granddaughter Matilda and her brother William were born, uplifting our spirits with their precocious charm. From this growing family, new traditions emerged with the weekly Burger Night as we guided Steve back to living.

As reluctant partners, taking our cues from the parents' poorly crafted playbook, we, over time, adjusted to Ewan's growing demands, from newborn challenges to toddler exploration. The criticism is still in play, with retirement a necessity.

I went back to writing

Following my son's suggestion, I returned to my writing. Lost in my characters' despair and the elation of hard-won victory over injustice, I embedded the life I had wished for myself in their narrative.

With Steve's remarriage and two energetic babies, my care of Ewan gradually shifted to weekends and daily day care runs. While balancing grandkid sleepovers, picky eaters, cooking lessons, new holiday traditions, and special Grammy days with Matilda and William. Despite the imbalance, with time and maturity, they understood that my relationship with Ewan would need to be different.

After a recent local move, I am pleased that Ewan, now a thriving 13-year-old, still comes every weekend by choice. His future is secure, and his cousins are his best pals. He has blossomed with the loving support of family.

As I sit on the cusp of new dreams — postponed for 13 years — I know that life's trajectory is not ours to control, despite all we crave, as impermanent as icicles.

While nothing can erase the pain of a child's passing, my future now includes the warm touch of unconditional love and a new definition of retirement — come what may.

• My daughter is entering high school, and I got her a "dumb phone" with no access to social media.
• I can't ignore the studies that say social media is harmful to teens.
• She can try to change my mind, but I doubt I'll budge.

I spent over a decade working in education. After the pandemic, I saw a distinct change in the screentime habits of my middle school students, and that's when I knew I needed to make a different decision for my daughter.

My daughter is finishing up middle school and about to enter high school this year.

I decided my teenager would have a "dumb phone" that's limited to calling, texting, and photo-taking capabilities. The phone will never have social media, internet browsing, email, news, or ads. The goal is to have my teenager go through most of high school with a dumb phone.

Of course, my daughter isn't happy about it, but I am certain I'm making the right decision.

I can't ignore the studies that show social media is harmful to teens

To say my teenager is less than thrilled to be getting a dumb phone for high school would be the understatement of the century. It's not just my teenager; other parents are typically taken aback as well.

However, I don't think there is a one-size-fits-all plan for technology that works for teens and social media.

I can't simply ignore the facts. According to a 2024 Pew Research study, 95% of teenagers at least have access to a smartphone, putting our decision to give our teenager a dumb phone into a much smaller subset — and making us wildly unpopular parents. The study also found that these teens are on social media apps "almost constantly."

Smartphones bombard teenagers with constant notifications, curated images, and overwhelming amounts of information — all of which can contribute to increased anxiety, depression, and isolation.

The social and physical comparisons on social media are unrelenting and incredibly harmful, especially for teenage girls. Teenagers are especially susceptible to visual comparison and perfectionism, and social media platforms give much more life to these ideas than I could ever counter as a parent. I cannot compete with that, so I am not going to spend my energy trying to do so.

I am worried my daughter will feel left out

Our daughter has played competitive sports for several years, which involve travel and significant time at practice and games. I connect with her through an Apple Watch, which gives me a way to communicate while keeping track of her safely and allowing autonomy. However, it doesn't give her the ability to communicate with her friends or teammates.

If you ask her what bothers her the most about having an internet-less phone, the top complaints are that she won't have the internet to look information up and that she won't be able to download games. Luckily, being on social media holds no value for her as a middle schooler heading into high school, but she's a teen, and that could change tomorrow.

I'm sure she'll struggle to communicate with friends outside school, but she can still make phone calls. She will also have a laptop for high school.

I'm open to changing my decision, but I doubt I'll budge

I told my daughter that if she can find three studies demonstrating the benefits of smartphones and social media, I will renegotiate my stance. The empirical evidence is not in her favor.

When she's an adult — and there is far more research and data — I'm more than willing to admit I was wrong if studies show that social media and smartphones weren't the problem.

I just don't think that will happen.

• On Thursday, federal prosecutors unsealed an updated sex-trafficking indictment against Sean Combs.
• The indictment brings no new charges but does make reference to two additional anonymous victims.
• The feds are asking for Combs to be arraigned on the new indictment on March 17.

Federal prosecutors in Manhattan filed a long-awaited updated sex-trafficking indictment on Thursday against Sean "Diddy" Combs — and while it makes reference to two additional anonymous female victims, there are no new charges or defendants.

The new indictment does not warrant delaying Combs' scheduled May 5 trial date, prosecutors said, asking that he be arraigned on the new charges at his next court date, March 17.

"The latest indictment contains no new offenses," defense attorney Marc Agnifilo said in an emailed response. "The government has added the ridiculous theory that two of Mr. Combs' former girlfriends were not girlfriends at all, but were prostitutes. Mr. Combs is as committed as ever to fighting these charges and winning at trial."

Combs pleaded not guilty to the first indictment and says that any sexual activity with his accusers was consensual.

Prosecutors had been warning since October, just weeks after Combs' arrest, that they may seek to re-indict the entertainment and fashion entrepreneur, signaling that they were looking at potential weapons and drug charges and possible additional victims.

The second indictment makes no new mention of weapons or drugs, and repeats almost verbatim the allegations of Combs' original indictment from September, charging him again with racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, and transportation to engage in prostitution.

It does allege that Combs trafficked an unnamed "Victim-2" and "Victim-3." The original indictment had listed only "Victim-1," Combs' ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura.

The new indictment also adds a smattering of details.

In describing the conspiracy, it now specifies an allegation that back in 2016, Combs or his associates paid a $100,000 bribe to a security employee at the InterContinental Hotel in LA. In return, the employee provided the hallway surveillance video that shows Combs kicking and dragging ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura, it says. The previous indictment had just alleged that there was a bribe.

The new indictment names two additional drugs that prosecutors say the Combs conspiracy used in its trafficking scheme: a psychedelic and methamphetamine. The original charges allege he gave ecstasy. ketamine, GHB to his victims.

It also alleges that Combs' sex trafficking conspiracy began in 2004, instead of in 2008 as alleged in the original indictment.

Prosecutors had said they recovered baggies of a pink powder they believed to be narcotics from Combs' hotel room when he was arrested in September. The new indictment makes no mention of this seizure.

The indictment also does not charge Combs with guns and ammo prosecutors say they seized when search warrants were executed in March at Combs' homes and a Florida airport.

Federal agents had seized three AR-15 rifles with defaced serial numbers, plus two magazines containing 29 rounds, prosecutors said. Two of the weapons were found broken down into parts in the bedroom closet of Combs' $48.5 million Miami mansion, prosecutors alleged back in September.

Agnifilo, Combs' attorney, had suggested during bail arguments in September that the weapons belonged to his client's security guards.

"I don't dispute that Mr. Combs has used armed security," Assistant US Attorney Emily A. Johnson had told the judge in response.

"But it is incredulous that armed security in a professional security company would use defaced AR-15s and store them in pieces in the defendant's personal closet."

This story was updated to include a statement from Combs' defense lawyer.

• I have four kids, two of them are teens. I don't want any of them using social media.
• The risks of teen bullying and my own experiences with online threats have led me to this decision.
• My 16-year-old recently thanked me for shielding her from the anxiety her peers have experienced.

I have four children, ranging in age from 8 to 16. I am that mom, the one who won't let my kids have social media. Of course, my teenagers have pitched fits over my rule many times. However, I'm grateful I've stuck to it.

I've been an influencer since blogs debuted. Social media has been both a gift and a curse for the last 15 years. Yes, I can use social media to promote my work as a writer, but with an online presence also comes degrading, ignorant, and sometimes threatening comments and messages from total strangers.

Countless articles tout how social media access provides open season for bullying, discrimination, stalking, trafficking, and safety threats — especially for teens who can be more vulnerable in these situations. I knew, from my own experiences, that social media is overwhelmingly not a safe space for teens and I didn't want my own kids having any part of that world.

Initially, my teens hated me

My teenagers, starting around early middle school, didn't understand why, according to them, everyone else got to have social media accounts but they didn't. They pleaded with me, assuring that they would always use social media for positive interactions with peers, entertainment, and information. No way would they share their personal information or interact with strangers.

My teens, now 14 and 16, felt I was being unfair and too strict. I certainly empathize with their feelings, remembering when I thought my own parents weren't fair to me, like not letting me attend sleepovers or date when I was in middle school, but I've held strong to my decision

We've revisited the topic many times

I'm not a "because I said so" parent. I took the time to answer my teens' complaints — er, questions — about why social media is not, or even mostly, all fun and games. I shared concrete examples of what's happened to me, including name-calling, trolling, and even threats to my safety. If I'm an adult dealing with these issues, imagine teenagers, whose brains aren't fully developed, using social media, I explain to them. I've also re-explained the dangers, including catfishing, bullying, and even receiving loads of misinformation on important topics. I was met with eye rolls.

I have my reasons

We live in a digital world, which is why some parents give their kids, even those younger than teens, the all clear to freely use social media. "They need to learn somehow, this is just how society is now," other parents have said to me.

I disagree with that line of thought. We know that that a person's brain, specifically the reasoning part, doesn't fully develops until around age 25. My oldest child is nine years away from their new "reasonable" brain. Why would I let my teens be exposed to numerous dangers and influences when they aren't brain-ready?

One of my teens thanked me recently

Surprisingly, not that long ago, my 16-year-old daughter thanked me for not letting her have social media, especially during her middle school years when she was constantly begging me for access. As she's matured, as well as observed her peers who have social media, she's noticed some of the fallouts of teens obsessing over what gets posted on Instagram, Snapchat or TikTok.

I believe in "never say never." I may ease up on my rule or change my mind at some point and allow my teens very limited and well-supervised social media usage with gradual access. I want them to learn self-control, listen to their intuition, and learn to balance an online presence with real life. Raising teens is about training them to become adults. However, for right now, the rule is right for us.

• Glenn Close is giving her opinion on the Trump-Vance administration.
• Close played Vance's grandmother in the 2020 movie "Hillbilly Elegy," based on Vance's memoir.
• She told BI she's "very disturbed" by what's happening and referenced 1930s Germany.

Glenn Close may have once played JD Vance's grandma in a movie, but she doesn't appear to have much affection for him now.

On the red carpet for the 2025 Sundance Film Festival gala fundraiser, Close, who attended the gala and is Trustee Emeritus of The Sundance Institute, spoke to Business Insider about her feelings toward the Trump-Vance administration.

Though the actor previously had relatively positive experiences with Vance and his family while making "Hillbilly Elegy," the 2020 Ron Howard movie based on Vance's memoir of the same name, the star and outspoken supporter of women's rights and same-sex marriage said she was "disturbed" by the new administration's moves so far.

"I do not think it's what this country is," she told BI. "But I also read a lot of history, and I know what happened in Germany in the 1930s. And we think because we're America, it might not happen here. We're wrong."

Still, Close indicated she had hope that things could change in the future.

"If it's going to happen, we gotta get through it and hope that the pendulum swings back. Usually, that's what history does, but it could take a while," she added.

Close has spoken about her experiences with Vance several times before. Most recently, in a January appearance on "The View" to promote her new Netflix movie "Back in Action," the actor recalled how she and other "Hillbilly Elegy" cast members had met with Vance and other members of his family to inform their performances. She said they were "very generous."

Host Joy Behar remarked that Vance must have "had a whole different personality in those days than he has now," to which Close replied, "I don't know what happened."

"Power is probably the biggest aphrodisiac for a human being," Close added.

The White House did not respond to Business Insider's request for comment about Close's remarks.

• Josh Brolin spoke about auditioning for "The Goonies" on the podcast "Literally! With Rob Lowe."
• Brolin, the son of actor James Brolin, said he auditioned multiple times to prove his talent.
• "Instead of that kind of nepotistic thing, they looked at me and they were like, 'Oh yeah? So act,'" he said.

Josh Brolin says his famous lineage backfired and put him at a disadvantage when he auditioned for "The Goonies."

"'I think 'Goonies' was quite an accident," Brolin, the son of actor James Brolin and Jane Cameron Agee, said during an interview on the podcast "Literally! With Rob Lowe."

"I went in there, I'd been told, they pulled the Brolin thing, 'Are you Brolin's kid? You want to be an actor, huh?'" Brolin continued. "So instead of that kind of nepotistic thing, they looked at me and they were like, 'Oh yeah? So act.'"

Brolin made his film debut in the 1985 adventure movie directed by Richard Donner and executive produced by Steven Spielberg, who also wrote the story.

The movie centered on a group of misfits led by Sean Astin's Mikey Walsh. Brolin starred as his red bandana-wearing older brother, Brand Walsh.

Brolin said that prior to auditioning for "The Goonies," his mom had kicked him out of their house, and he was staying on his dad's couch. Then 16, said he'd already missed a considerable amount of high school days and "really wanted to try something new."

"I said, maybe I should do this acting thing," Brolin recalled. "It's kinda what everybody resorts to when they don't know what to do. They either become a real estate agent or an actor. So I chose acting."

Brolin said that he went on 350 auditions, sometimes even four in one day. He vowed to prove himself to casting directors who may have speculated that he wanted to take advantage of his famous connection so he could easily land roles.

So he studied acting, read books, and "stayed in a bookstore 90% of the time." Then he met director Donner and Spielberg and it all clicked.

"I just looked right for the part," Brolin said. "You look at Sean Astin, you look at the type of movie it is, I looked like a bit of a bad boy, but sort of a jock, and I was in good shape, so they were like, 'That's the guy.'"

"I went back six times, just so they could make sure, and then I did it," he said.

Brolin went on to land notable roles in films like "No Country For Old Men," "True Grit," "Sicario," and the "Dune" franchise. He's also known for playing the villains Thanos in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and Cable in "Deadpool 2."

Brolin reminisced about his breakout role during an interview with Howard Stern in November in support of his memoir, "From Under the Truck."

Brolin said that "The Goonies" was a lucky break, and he knows that perhaps being the son of James opened the door for his acting career. However, he believed that he was a good fit for the part of Brand.

"I was the right guy," Brolin said. "I look at that objectively now and I go, 'That's the perfect specimen for that role.'"

• Amanda C. Riley is serving prison time for faking cancer and scamming supporters out of thousands of dollars.
• A 2023 podcast and a new docuseries cover her story, which also mentions her husband, Cory.
• Cory and Amanda have two sons together. Here's where Cory is today.

The story of Amanda C. Riley, a Christian woman in California who used her now-archived blog, "Lymphoma Can Suck It," to chronicle her experience after supposedly being diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma was compelling from the start: A young woman blogging about having cancer in order to raise awareness and funds to help pay for her aggressive treatment was actually lying the whole time, leaching attention and more than $100,000 from her friends, family, and even strangers.

It's the reason the "Scamanda" podcast quickly became a megahit upon its 2023 release, and why a new ABC docuseries is telling the story for a second time, delving deeper into how Riley pulled off her scheme and how she was eventually caught.

Amanda pleaded guilty to wire fraud charges in October 2021, and was sentenced to five years in federal prison in May 2022. She was also ordered to pay $105,513 in restitution to her victims. She's currently incarcerated at FMC Carswell, a federal prison in Ft. Worth, Texas, and is scheduled for release on October 15, 2026.

As of January 2025, no one else has been charged with crimes related to their involvement in Amanda's scheme. However, according to the "Scamanda" podcast and docuseries, family members helped her set up websites to acquire donations and contributed posts to her blog. Whether any of them knew Amanda did not actually have cancer or if they truly believed she was ill is unclear.

While Amanda's fake cancer scheme was in full force, her husband Cory Riley was simultaneously battling his ex-wife Aletta Riley in court for custody of their daughter, Jessa. Per the podcast, he cited his wife's supposed diagnosis and medical expenses to try and win custody of Jessa and get his child support payments lowered.

Here's everything we know about Cory Riley's life today.

Where is Amanda C. Riley's husband Cory Riley today?

Cory and Amanda first met when Amanda was a 17-year-old cheerleading coach hired to instruct one of Cory's then-wife Aletta's daughters — one of whom actually had cancer — how to dance. Per the podcast, Cory was about 29 years old at the time.

Cory and Aletta eventually divorced, and he married Amanda a few years later. The couple had two sons together, Carter and Connor, whom Amanda would proclaim were "miracles," since she claimed she shouldn't have been able to deliver a healthy baby while undergoing cancer treatment.

Though the family lived in the Bay Area outside of San Jose for most of the time Amanda was writing her cancer blog, they moved to Texas after Amanda lost her job as principal at Pacific Point Christian School in Gilroy, California.

"Scamanda" podcast host Charlie Webster told Glamour in a 2023 interview that Cory was "looking after his two kids in Texas" where Amanda was serving her sentence.

According to a divorce petition obtained by Today.com, Cory filed for divorce in January 2024. The filing indicated he was still living in Texas at that time.

• The US Army Black Hawk that collided with an American Airlines flight was training on a familiar flight path.
• The 12th Aviation Battalion frequently navigates Washington DC airspace for VIP transport.
• Pilots were flying with night vision goggles and are trained to deal with those challenges.

The US Army crew of a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter that fatally collided with an American Airlines passenger jet on Wednesday was on a routine training flight on a well-known flight path at the time of the incident, an Army official said Thursday.

Jonathan Koziol, a retired Army chief warrant officer aviator with nearly three decades of military flight experience, said during a media roundtable this flight would have likely been deemed "low risk," not medium or high risk.

Such designations are required elements of pre-flight risk assessments and briefings to military mission approval authorities and take into account variables like weather, mission type, and potential hazards. Koziol, the Headquarters Department of the Army Aviation Directorate Chief of Staff, was not involved in flight operation or oversight.

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said earlier in the day that the flight was "routine" and conducted along a "standard" corridor. The flight was along Route 4, a commonly used flight path, and "should not have been a problem," Koziol said.

Crews from the Army's 12th Aviation Battalion, based in Ft. Belvoir, Virginia, are well acquainted with Washington, DC and the surrounding areas, said Koziol. Much of this unit's mission includes ferrying government and military VIPs throughout the National Capital Region (NCR) and being ready to move officials during crises.

Speaking of the Black Hawk's flight path, Koziol said "this is a relatively easy corridor to fly because you're flying down the center of the river."

He said that the dark river flight path, with urban lights on either side to act as informal guardrails, makes the task simple for pilots. The battalion's Black Hawk was also equipped with an in-flight map, meaning the pilots could track their position throughout the flight.

"You have the darkness of the river, and you have the lights on either side of you and obviously the rotating beacon on Reagan National to point out the airfield and all the traffic on it for them to know exactly where they're at," he said.

There are several routes for helicopters in the NCR which government aircraft traverse daily and includes airspace that is off-limits to non-approved aircraft, including areas near the Pentagon, White House, National Mall, and Naval Observatory.

Each flight requires coordination with surrounding air traffic control, including the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, which assigns each flight a four-digit tracking number to chart its movements. Within the aviation unit, flights are meticulously planned for and managed, Koziol said.

Koziol said the Black Hawk pilots were training with night vision goggles, which can cut down a wearer's peripheral vision and impact depth perception. Soldiers train regularly with these capabilities to limit the impact.

"They are helpful at night, obviously, and in an urban environment, they're still useful," Koziol said. City lights can make seeing with night vision more difficult, but flying over the river where the Black Hawk was shouldn't have posed any problems with light, he said.

All three crew members, two pilots and a crew chief, were experienced aviators, he said. Both pilots had at least 1500 combined flight hours between them. One pilot served as the flight commander and instructor, overseeing an annual training requirement for the second pilot, who held 500 hours and had previously served as a flight commander.

The cause of Wednesday's deadly crash, in which there were no survivors, is unknown and under investigation.

• There have been more news stories of airline issues and crashes in the past year.
• Distressing news about flying can heighten aerophobia, or fear of flying.
• Two therapists shared tips on how to manage anxiety around flying.

For anyone fearful of flying, the recent news cycle hasn't helped. Last night, a military helicopter collided with an American Airlines passenger jet in DC, killing all 64 people aboard both flights.

Over the past year, news stories have emerged of commercial planes crashing, losing doors mid-flight, or flying through increased turbulence.

People with existing aerophobia might feel vindicated in their fears. "Now they're going to say, 'I was right all along,'" Tom Bunn, a retired airline captain and licensed therapist specializing in aviation phobias, told Business Insider.

Prerna Menon, a New York City therapist who's seen this issue come up a lot in her practice, said her clients' symptoms worsen when they consume more news around crashes.

Bunn and Menon shared a few tips to overcome flying phobias, whether you feel increased discomfort when you land or avoid flying as much as possible.

Where you sit can help you feel a sense of control

For many fearful fliers, the root issue is feeling a lack of control.

Bunn gave an example of a client — an airline captain — who one day felt anxious sitting in an economy middle seat. "If he was in the cockpit, he wouldn't have any trouble because he's in control," Bunn said.

Takeoff, landing, and bad turbulence can exacerbate that feeling of helplessness, Menon said. The tricky thing is finding a way to process your feelings in the moment. "Now that fight-or-flight response has been activated, and you're confined to a seat, you're not really able to expel that anxiety."

For anxious passengers, you can choose a seat closer to the front or over the wing, where you can see outside.

While some experts say it doesn't make much difference, one flight anxiety coach told Condé Nast Traveler that he recommends sitting in the center of the plane. "Factually speaking, the point of balance is over the wings or maybe slightly forward. This is considered the 'best place' by many," Paul Tizzard, a coach with LoveFly, told the outlet.

Don't try to fly your way out of a phobia

For many phobias, treatment involves some form of gradual exposure therapy. Aerophobia is different because "either you're flying or you're not," Bunn said.

However, you don't want to force yourself to go on a bunch of flights, Bunn said. "Once you get sensitized to not being in control and able to escape, you're only going to make it worse."

Instead, he said it's best to start as small as possible, breaking down each part of the flight into bite-sized pieces. Take-off, for example, isn't just one event. "The engines rev up, and when they do, the pitch goes higher," he said.

He recommends having someone you feel safe around, like a partner or friend, hold neutral photographs of an airplane terminal, a plane in flight, and a plane landing to change your associations with the images. You can also picture them holding up the photographs while looking you in the eye, which can have a calming effect.

Menon also said exposure to more neutral images of planes, especially in contrast to distressing videos on social media, can help. If your fear of flying is severe, she recommended taking small steps like going with a loved one to an airport.

Engage your senses when you're in the air

Once you're on a flight, your options for calming down are more limited. Some techniques involve engaging your physical senses to pull away from ruminating.

Bunn suggested using the 54321 grounding exercise, in which you identify five things you can see, four things you can touch, three things you can hear, two things you can smell, and one thing you can taste. (Doing it in that order makes it harder for your brain to blow through the steps quickly, he said.)

If you anticipate being nervous on a flight, Menon said you can bring a tactile activity with you, such as crocheting, drawing, or playing with a fidget toy. "Engaging multiple senses allows us to anchor our minds and bodies into the present moment," she said.

Try the 4-7-8 breathing trick

It sounds simple, but breathing exercises work to quell your fears. Mindful breathing "slows down our heart rate and triggers the relaxation response," Menon said.

Menon recommended the 4-7-8 breathing pattern, in which you inhale for four seconds, hold for seven, and exhale for eight.

Bunn agreed. He said exhaling for longer than you inhale is his trick for calming the nervous system. He added that it may not be a perfect cure-all, especially in times of turbulence.

"When the plane drops, everybody's going to get some stress hormones released, some more than others," he said.

To get the most out of this trick, Menon said it's best to do it a few times prior to boarding the aircraft, as well as when you just sat down.

Look at other stressors in your life

If you suddenly developed aerophobia as an adult, Bunn said it could help to look at other stressors in your life, particularly ones that leave you feeling powerless.

Often, "straws have been put on the camel's back for years," he said, making you less tolerant of situations where you feel trapped — like being on a plane.

• Kash Patel, Trump's nominee to be FBI Director, is worth more than $5.9 million.
• He made more than $2.6 million last year from consulting, paid speeches, and books.
• His clients included Truth Social, one of Trump's PACs, and the Embassy of Qatar.

Kash Patel, President Donald Trump's nominee to be the director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, made more than $2.6 million last year.

According to a financial disclosure obtained by Business Insider ahead of its public release, Patel's income came from a mixture of consulting work, paid speeches, media appearances, and the proceeds of several books.

His total net worth is more than $5.9 million, according to a document filed with the Senate Judiciary Committee. All of Trump's nominees are required to file public final disclosure reports as they are considered by the Senate.

The bulk of Patel's income, more than $2.1 million, came from consulting work. Among his clients was Trump Media and Technology Corp, the company that runs Truth Social. According to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Patel's annual compensation was $120,000, though his contract ended in March 2024.

Pam Bondi, Trump's nominee for attorney general, has also been financially tied up with Truth Social, holding more than $3.9 million in stock in the company as of December.

Patel also listed Save America, Trump's leadership PAC, as a client, along with the Embassy of Qatar and several other organizations.

He earned $306,000 last year from a series of paid speeches and media appearances, including $99,000 for working as a contributor for the Epoch Times and $20,000 for a May 2024 interview on "Our Watch With Tim Thompson."

Writing books also proved to be lucrative for Patel. He earned between $100,000 and $1 million in royalties for his 2023 book, "Government Gangsters," and between $45,000 and $150,000 for his "The Plot Against the King" children's book series.

He also owns Elite Depot, a "fashion management company" based in the Cayman Islands worth between $1 million and $5 million. A spokesperson for Patel did not immediately return a request for comment regarding the organization's purpose.

Patel's assets also include up to $100,000 in Bitcoin, up to $250,000 in NVIDIA stock, and up to $100,00 in Palantir stock. In 2024, he earned $8,000 in director's fees from VK Integrated Systems, a weapons company.

Patel is among Trump's most controversial nominees, owing to questions about his conduct during Trump's first term, his promotion of conspiracy theories, and his extreme rhetoric.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer identified Patel this week as a nominee that Democrats felt they may have a shot at defeating. His first confirmation hearing took place on Thursday.

Read Patel's full financial disclosure below:

• For seven years, blogger Amanda C. Riley told people she had Hodgkin's lymphoma, but she was lying.
• The mom of two swindled over $100,000 from 349 donors.
• A 2023 podcast and a new docuseries explore "Scamanda" and the fallout of Riley's fake cancer scheme.

In 2012, California-based Christian blogger and mother of two Amanda Christine Riley started "Lymphoma Can Suck It," a since-archived blog documenting her journey after being diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma in her late 20s. She used her blog and social media to publicize her journey with the aggressive form of cancer, winning over sympathy from friends, strangers, and even celebrities who gave her money for her medical treatments.

The only problem? Riley didn't have cancer.

Riley, now 39, never had any cancer treatments because she never had the disease. And according to a criminal complaint filed by now-retired Internal Revenue Service (IRS) special agent Arlette Lee in July 2020, she had used the ruse of the illness to bilk people out of over a total of $100,000.

Riley was the subject of Charlie Webster's hit 2023 podcast "Scamanda," which exposed the blogger's web of lies with the help of Riley's victims, journalists, and law enforcement who worked the case. Now, a new four-part ABC news docuseries of the same name premiering on January 30 delves further into how Riley pulled off her scheme and what ultimately gave her away.

According to Lee's complaint, the former teacher and principal convinced friends, coworkers, a megachurch, and complete strangers (including singer LeAnn Rimes) to donate over $100,000 to her and her family to help cover the cost of her non-existent cancer treatments and travel for experiences she said she wanted to have before she died.

Riley shared on her blog multiple times that she was near death. But each time, she would experience a "terminal miracle" that would inexplicably put her cancer into remission, taking her followers on an emotionally manipulative ride. At one point, Riley even claimed that her pregnancy had "reversed the cancer." (It would always eventually return.)

According to the Department of Justice, Riley collected at least 349 donations over the eight years she perpetrated the fraud. They added up to more than $105,000.

So where is Riley today? The end of her story isn't a miracle, but the consequences she faced are now a part of legal history.

Amanda C. Riley faced repercussions for her fraud — and made legal history

The case wouldn't have happened without the work of investigative producer Nancy Moscatiello, who began an initial investigation into Riley after receiving an anonymous tip via email that she should look into the blogger in the summer of 2015.

Riley quickly went on the offensive, and attempted to sue Moscatiello for civil harassment (the judge threw out the suit).

Moscatiello's own sister had died of cancer, and she dug in, calling the hospitals and clinics Riley claimed to have been treated at, and closely examining the photos she posted on her blog. She took her findings to Jose Martinez, a now-retired San Jose-based financial crimes detective. Martinez contacted a facility where Riley claimed to be treated; an employee confirmed to him that Riley was not and had never been a patient there.

Martinez, realizing his scope was limited to San Jose, eventually passed the case on to the IRS, which had federal jurisdiction. IRS special agent Lee took the case over the line, subpoenaing every facility that Riley mentioned in her blog posts to establish that Riley didn't have cancer.

Even as she was being actively investigated — investigators raided her house in 2016 — Riley continued blogging and maintaining her claim she was being treated for cancer. She also took a job as a principal at Pacific Point, a Christian elementary school, and worked there for about three years, resigning just before federal authorities charged her with wire fraud.

Federal charges were eventually brought against Riley in July 2020, related to financial crimes associated with "a scheme to solicit donations from individuals to help her pay for cancer treatments she never needed nor received," the DOJ said.

During the trial, it was revealed just how far Riley went to perpetrate the fraud, including shaving her head to appear as though she was receiving chemotherapy, falsifying medical records, forging physicians' documents, and creating a library of photos depicting her fake cancer journey.

Riley pleaded guilty to wire fraud in October 2021, admitting in the written plea agreement that she knew she did not have Hodgkin's lymphoma and had never been diagnosed or treated with any type of cancer, and that she'd knowingly deceived people to convince them to give her money.

She was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $105,513 and sentenced to 60 months in prison in May 2022.

The case made IRS history for being the first financial conviction of someone who faked cancer for fundraising purposes, according to the "Scamanda" podcast.

Riley is incarcerated at FMC Carswell, a federal prison in Ft. Worth, Texas, that houses prisoners at all security levels and specializes in prisoners with mental and physical health needs.

In 2024, Riley's attorney filed a motion for compassionate release, asking for a reduced sentence because of new medical issues Riley claimed to have. The judge denied the motion after the government opposed it, "pointing to evidence that Defendant is once again feigning illness."

Her scheduled release date is October 15, 2026, according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

"Scamanda" premieres January 30 at 9 p.m. ET on ABC, airing weekly. Episodes will be available to stream the next day on Hulu.