• Ukraine drives robots packed with explosives at Russian positions and blows them up.
• The robots can carry much more explosives than aerial drones, a Ukrainian soldier told BI.
• His unit sent a robot with 66 pounds of explosives into a basement and killed Russian infantry.

Ukrainian soldiers use ground robots to blow up Russian troops and equipment. These carry a far heavier explosive payload than drones that fly.

Operators control these uncrewed ground vehicles, or UGVs, remotely. The UGVs can travel close to Russian positions, assuming they're not spotted, and detonate. And Ukraine's soldiers can stay safe and far from the action. They are a lot like flying drones, but the systems pack a greater punch because they don't take flight.

Oleksandr Yabchanka, the head of the robotic systems for Ukraine's Da Vinci Wolves Battalion, told Business Insider that Ukraine's soldiers attach bombs and explosives to ground robots, "turning that system into a kamikaze one."

The UGV actions mirror what has been done with aerial drones in Russia's invasion of Ukraine, where the flying drones explode and drop grenades.

"A crucial difference between aerial and on-the-ground unmanned systems is the mass that they can carry," Yabchanka said. He said Ukraine needs to "always be one step, half a step ahead of the enemy in terms of the powers of destruction." That's where these ground drones come into play.

Packing a much bigger punch

He said that while the biggest aerial drones can carry mines that weigh 22 pounds each, the smallest ground robots that he works with can take more than 48 pounds. On average, they can carry much more.

He said that just a few hours before he spoke with Business Insider, his unit sent a ground robot carrying 66 pounds of explosives into a basement held by Russia, where it eliminated Russian infantry.

Ukraine's soldiers work with a host of drone types linked to do a wide range of work. There are small airborne drones for tactical action ranging from recon to strike and larger aerial uncrewed systems used to hit targets inside Russian territory. There are also naval drones that target ships in the Black Sea, and then there are the UGVs, which can deal damage and carry out missions like casualty evac.

Yabchanka said the growing ground robot technology allows Ukrainian troops to massively amplify their firepower without having to put more soldiers in harm's way. That's key when they're fighting at a disadvantage against Russia's much larger military army.

He said that roughly 80% of Russians killed in battle are killed by uncrewed systems. The other 20% is mostly artillery — at the start of the war, it was the opposite. Aerial drones are responsible for most of the drone kills because of how prolific they are.

More ground robots could mean a major firepower boost for Ukrainian forces. "Imagine how much more powerful we could be if we could bring twice as much explosives to the front line as we do now," Yabchanka said.

Unlike the quadcopters, this technology isn't widely available to all units yet, but where it is being used, UGVs are evacuating wounded soldiers, firing into Russian positions with mounted weapons, carrying gear, laying mines, exploding inside enemy positions, and spying on the Russians, and more.

An uncrewed arms race

This is a technology that Russia is developing too. Yabchanka said that the question is: who will do it faster?

There's an effort on both sides of the war to advance this technology. The dynamic echoes the drone race that Ukraine and Russia are both currently locked in, with both sides developing new drones and counter-drone measures to defeat the other side's drone tech, as well as rushing to make as many drones as possible.

Yabchanka said Ukraine and its partners need to constantly innovate to keep coming out with new ground robot upgrades and improvements to other military technology.

It's something that requires consistent innovation, as "what was up to date and relevant half a year ago is not up to date and relevant anymore," he said.

He said they are developing so fast that they are getting upgraded on the actual front lines — with soldiers sometimes making tweaks themselves or calling the manufacturer directly to make a request for changes and upgrades to future drones.

Calling on Ukraine's partners

Yabchanka called for much greater European involvement in making this type of technology, saying that "whatever is required on our end is at your service."

Europe, like the US, has given Ukraine billions of dollars in military aid, but Ukraine has increasingly made more and more of its own weaponry as it looks to innovate faster, create weaponry that is designed for a fight with Russia, and overcome shortages in Western aid cause by delays and political debate.

Ukraine has become a pioneer in the development of certain types of weaponry, and European leaders and defense ministers have acknowledged that there are lessons Europe's defense industries can learn from Ukraine, particularly on drones, as they warn Russia could attack their countries.

Yabchanka said that Europe also has "more resources than Russia," making deepening cooperation a win-win.

He urged European industry and leaders to get onboard. "The manufacturers, developers, military personnel all stand ready for cooperation. Just come along; we'll deliver training and whatever else is necessary."

• Warren Buffett's retirement bombshell combined careful planning with dramatic flair.
• The Berkshire Hathaway CEO revealed last Saturday that he intends to resign at the end of the year.
• Buffett, 94, prepared for a smooth transition — but announced it with a bang.

Warren Buffett just delivered a masterclass in succession planning with his own theatrical flourish, balancing his desire for a smooth departure and his taste for high drama.

The famed investor shocked the world on Saturday when he told a stadium packed with Berkshire Hathaway shareholders that he planned to step down as CEO at the end of this year, making way for his hand-picked successor, Greg Abel.

Years in the making

The "Oracle of Omaha" has been preparing his shareholders for his retirement as CEO for a long time.

He's frequently underlined his advanced age in shareholder letters and interviews. He's also talked up Abel's management prowess and central role in running Berkshire, and even compared him to his late business partner, Charlie Munger.

"At 94, it won't be long before Greg Abel replaces me as CEO and will be writing the annual letters," Buffett wrote in this year's missive. He said that in the rare moments when bargains abound, Abel has "vividly shown his ability to act at such times as did Charlie."

Buffett has built a team to replace him that includes Abel, insurance chief Ajit Jain, investment managers Todd Combs and Ted Weschler, and his son Howard. His job will be to preserve Berkshire's culture as chairman once Buffett is no longer around.

The billionaire philanthropist has also detailed that upon his death, his Berkshire stock will be placed in a trust for his children to allocate toward good causes. The move should help prevent an activist investor scooping up his shares once he's gone and seeking to dismantle the company he built.

Successful leaders prepare their companies for when they step down, Bret Bero, an assistant professor of practice in management at Babson College, told Business Insider.

Buffett has done plenty to prepare for this transition, but ultimately its "success will be measured" by how Berkshire performs under Abel, Bero said.

Softening the blow

Buffett knew his resignation news could spook investors — Berkshire stock fell 5% on Monday — so he took pains to reassure his shareholders.

He plans to remain CEO until the new year, and continue as Berkshire's chairman beyond that, indicating he'll still be overseeing Berkshire and guiding Abel for a while yet.

Buffett pledged not to sell a single share of his near-14% stake in Berkshire, a position worth more than $160 billion. He championed Abel in the process, describing the move as an "economic decision" because he expected the company to fare better under his successor.

Spilling the beans on his retirement to stockholders without first telling Abel or Berkshire's board (apart from two of his children who are directors) also sent the message that he truly values their trust in him and acts in their interests.

"It's basically a thank you to all those long-time shareholders who have stuck with the company," Jason Schloetzer, an associate professor at Georgetown University's McDonough School of Business, told BI.

Zooming out, Buffett may have felt that personally selecting Abel to succeed him would help win over Berkshire shareholders. That approach eschewed the corporate norm of hiring a consulting firm to search the world for external candidates, said Larry Cunningham. He is the director of the University of Delaware's Weinberg Center on Corporate Governance and the author of several books about Buffett and Berkshire.

"Here we have an excellent succession plan created by deep and long thought," he told BI, adding that the "best practice for one company is not the best practice for all."

Putting on a show

Buffett may have readied Berkshire shareholders for his retirement, but he couldn't resist breaking the news in dramatic style.

He kept the decision a secret, giving no advance warning to either non-family board members or Abel, who sat next to him on stage. That limited the risk his big surprise would be leaked or spoiled and ensured it had maximum impact.

He fielded questions for nearly five hours before dropping the bombshell in his closing comments and leaving to a standing ovation, throwing out the planned agenda. That made it the climax of his Q&A session and the entire weekend.

Keeping tight-lipped avoided "speculation or fanfare" beforehand, freeing Buffett to focus on answering questions and to "enjoy the engagement with shareholders without the succession overhang," Macrae Sykes, a portfolio manager at Gabelli Funds, told BI.

"He has always created great, positive Berkshire theatre and this deserved another Oscar as well as consideration for a lifetime award," Sykes added.

Buffett is a "great showman," Steve Hanke, a professor of applied economics at Johns Hopkins University who's been teaching Buffett-style valuation for decades, told BI.

"He knows that either you run the show or the show runs you," Hanke said, nodding to the fact that if Buffett had let slip the news early, the crowd reaction and media frenzy would have overwhelmed anything he said afterward.

Schloetzer also hailed Buffett's icon status and marketing flair, saying that a "unique leader gets to design his surprise finale."

"No Form 8-K or email blast could pull off such a memorable moment," he added.

• Selma Mouloudj faced layoffs at Meta and a sales startup before landing a job at Salesforce.
• She navigated the competitive market in between by attending networking events and using LinkedIn.
• Mouloudj's six strategies for standing out in Big Tech also include negotiating every offer.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Selma Mouloudj, an account executive at Salesforce in Dublin. It has been edited for length and clarity.

I received a project management job offer from Meta in 2021 while I was living in London. I relocated to Dublin to accept the position in February 2022.

In 2023, I was affected by the global layoffs and lost my job. I had to start over. Even after just a short time at Meta, I had difficulty imagining working elsewhere.

I knew I needed to find work

After trying to run my own e-learning business for six months, I realized the corporate world was more for me, so I started my job search again.

This led me to a sales startup in Ireland, but again, I was affected by another layoff. I was in that same position, uncertain about what to do next.

I remember thinking, If I'm going to be laid off again, it should at least be at a Big Tech company because then I'll be offered a package.

Through these layoffs, I realized how difficult the job market was and how competitive things can become when budget cuts occur. Everyone is competing for the same roles, which means you really need to find ways to stand out.

I landed at Salesforce after interviewing around Big Tech

I interviewed at Google, LinkedIn, TikTok, and Pinterest before ultimately landing my current job at Salesforce.

The layoffs taught me a lot, but landing jobs at Meta and Salesforce and interviewing at some of the biggest tech companies in the world also gave me valuable insight.

If you want to stand out in Big Tech I recommend these six things.

1. Quantify your résumé

One of the biggest ways to make your résumé stand out in Big Tech is by using quantifiable metrics.

Instead of simply listing responsibilities, highlight your impact with data: "I drove growth by 40% in this region" or "I worked on the French market and achieved 115% of my quota."

Always quantify and measure your success, and then showcase it. Big Tech companies prioritize numbers and data. If your résumé lacks measurable results, they'll move on to the next candidate.

2. Attend networking events

One of the most important lessons I learned when job hunting in Big Tech was how valuable networking is.

Most of the interviews I've landed have come from networking events, including my job at Salesforce. When I interviewed at Google, I got the interview because of a friend I made at a networking event, and when I interviewed at Pinterest, that was a networking connection, too.

Networking events give you direct access to hiring managers, who might connect you with recruiters. Sometimes this connection can even help you bypass the initial screening call, moving you straight to the interview and technical test.

If you get it, you get it. If you don't, you try again. If you can make a good impression, the hiring teams may contact you later and say, "We have a position open, and we think you would be a good fit."

3. Build relationships online

You can also network online but that still means building relationships with the person you would like to have a job with, not just DMing them once. Don't head over to LinkedIn, slip into someone's DMS, and say, "Do you have opportunities? Can I work with you?"

Instead, engage with leaders you want to work with, comment on their posts, and try to engage in conversations before asking for help.

When you're in a position where you can ask someone for help, and you find a job you're interested in, send the job ID and politely ask if they'd be willing to refer you. Big Tech companies offer employees a bonus for successful referrals — so if I refer you and you get hired, I get a bonus.

4. Never stop interviewing

When you're job seeking, never stop interviewing — even if you feel confident about an offer.

Before joining Salesforce, I received two job offers — one from Salesforce and another. I ultimately chose the best offer.

There were also times when I made it to the final round of an interview, only for the company to enter a hiring freeze. Or once, a company came back and said they accidentally miscounted their head count and really couldn't afford to hire after all.

When things like this happen, it's helpful to have a Plan B or to have your name out there with more than one company.

5. Follow up, but not desperately

When I was younger, I didn't have the emotional intelligence I needed. When I got rejected from a job I wanted, I would email the hiring manager and say, "Oh, my God. I really wanted this job."

I've since learned not to make yourself desperate. Instead, after interviewing for a job, I simply send a thank-you note.

If I wasn't told when I would hear back, I would wait roughly five business days before sending a short follow-up email about our conversation.

6. Negotiate, and always know your worth

Job interviews are great for getting your foot in the door, but once you've proven yourself and they make you an offer, negotiate.

If I had known better at 25, I would've negotiated more. Negotiation isn't just about salary — you can also discuss perks like remote work options, education plans, or certifications to help advance your career. Some tech employees pursue MBAs or certifications while working, and it's always worth asking about these opportunities.

Another area to consider is volunteer work. At Salesforce, employees receive volunteer paid time off — seven days of paid leave to support a cause or charity.

My advice to anyone interviewing in Big Tech is this: If you get an offer, push back. Say, "This is what I want." Even a 10% salary increase is a win. Never settle for the first offer— instead, always know your worth, and don't be afraid to ask for it.

• Elon Musk's DOGE moved quickly to shutter America's foreign aid programs.
• Melinda French Gates said Musk shouldn't have made those cuts without going on the ground.
• "Go travel. Then decide what you're going to do," French Gates said.

Melinda French Gates says Elon Musk should reconsider his approach to foreign aid cuts.

French Gates was speaking to Fortune in an interview published Thursday when she was asked about Musk. Musk's cost-cutting outfit, the Department of Government Efficiency, has laid off thousands of foreign workers and shuttered foreign aid programs.

"I would say, before you move on an action, go out and actually see what's going on in the world today," French Gates said of Musk. "Go travel. Then decide what you're going to do."

"Yes, people in our own country are hurting. We need to do things about that. But people are really hurting around the world, and I don't think we want more poverty and more disease when we have a program that's working," French Gates added.

Musk took aim at the US Agency for International Development, a humanitarian aid agency, shortly after President Donald Trump took office in January. USAID spent nearly $32.5 billion in fiscal year 2024, providing aid to countries such as Ukraine, Jordan, and Ethiopia.

"We spent the weekend feeding USAID into the wood chipper. Could gone to some great parties. Did that instead," Musk wrote in an X post on February 3, the same day USAID shut down its headquarters.

Then, on February 4, USAID said nearly all its staff would be placed on administrative leave on February 7. In March, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said 83% of USAID's programs would be canceled, and the State Department would absorb the agency.

French Gates has on several occasions voiced her disagreements with Musk, who previously criticized her for her philanthropy.

In June, Musk said it "might be the downfall of Western civilization" after French Gates endorsed President Joe Biden's reelection campaign. Musk had been responding to an X post by the Babylon Bee staffer Ashley St. Clair about French Gates' endorsement.

"Many super villain arcs being pursued under the guise of philanthropy," St. Clair wrote in a separate X post.

"Yeah," Musk wrote in response.

In an interview with The New York Times published in July, French Gates said she thought Musk's criticism of her political activism was "silly." She added that while Musk's comments did not upset her, she was puzzled at how tech CEOs like him liked to comment on topics they had no expertise in.

"I mean, here's one thing that always has confounded me about society: I've just watched over the years tech leaders interviewed about their parenting style, a male who has spent, you know, 60 hours at his company that week, and I'm sure he's a fantastic C.E.O. and has done a great job — maybe or maybe not — in their company," French Gates said.

"But then they get asked about parenting, and they spew all this stuff, and you think, something doesn't add up here. So I just — some of these comments to me are just kind of silly," she added.

French Gates' charity work goes back decades. In 2000, she cofounded the Gates Foundation with her now ex-husband, Bill Gates. The couple had been married for 27 years when they got divorced in 2021.

French Gates announced her departure from the Gates Foundation in May 2024. Her charity work is now mainly led by Pivotal Ventures, an investment and incubation company she started in 2015.

In an op-ed written for the Times in May 2024, French Gates said she would give $1 billion over the next two years to causes related to women and families worldwide, as well as for reproductive rights in the US.

"Many years ago, I received this piece of advice: 'Set your own agenda, or someone else will set it for you.' I've carried those words with me ever since," she wrote.

Last month, French Gates appeared on business professor and author Scott Galloway's podcast, where she was asked about the criticism she gets from tech bros regarding her philanthropy. French Gates told Galloway that she chooses to ignore those attacks and focus on her charity work.

"I think when you're not doing the work and you're not in the arena, it's easier to criticize others and to project onto others or make them look bad because you don't want to go do that work," French Gates said.

"That's up to them. If that's how they want to act? Fine, but it doesn't bother me. My work goes ahead," she added.

Musk and French Gates did not respond to requests for comment from Business Insider.

• AI21 is raising a $300 million Series D funding round to build its own LLMs.
• AI21 aims to reduce hallucinations in generative AI, enhancing reliability for companies.
• Investors include Google and Nvidia; customers include Wix and Capgemini.

AI21, an Israeli startup building its own large language models (LLMs), is raising a $300 million Series D funding round, according to a source with knowledge of the deal.

The valuation could not be learned. The company last raised $208 million at a $1.4 billion valuation in 2023. This round would bring the company's total funding to $636 million.

AI21 was founded in 2017 by entrepreneurs and AI researchers Amnon Shashua (founder and CEO of Mobileye), Professor Yoav Shoham (Professor Emeritus at Stanford University and former Principal Scientist at Google), and Ori Goshen (serial entrepreneur and founder of CrowdX).

While many AI startups rely on existing LLMs built by companies like Anthropic or OpenAI, AI21 is building its LLMs from the ground up.

Its goal is to make generative AI more dependable for companies by reducing hallucinations, which are when LLMs present false information as fact.

In March, AI21 launched an AI orchestration system called Maestro it says is capable of reducing hallucinations by 50% and boosting reasoning model accuracy to over 95%.

Existing investors in AI21 include Google, Nvidia, Intel Capital, Walden Catalyst, Pitango, SCB10X, b2venture, Samsung Next, Comcast Ventures, and Ahren Innovation Capital. Customers include FNAC, Capgemini, and website builder Wix.

About $7 billion in investment went to AI-related startups last month, representing 30% of venture funding worldwide, according to Crunchbase data.

Israeli tech companies have raised more than $12 billion in 2024, up 31% from 2023, according to Startup Nation Central. Israeli cybersecurity company Wix was just acquired by Google for $32 billion, the search giant's largest ever acquisition.

• Trump's tariffs have made the jobs of global trade professionals even more complicated.
• It's an industry that was already known for its complexity.
• One advisor even started a support group for fellow "trade nerds" navigating the uncertainty.

Derek Lossing, a global supply chain and transportation advisor, was recently invited to speak at an investor conference for a large bank.

The invitation came at somewhat short notice: He agreed to the engagement on a Friday, and it took place virtually the following Tuesday.

But despite the bank only having the weekend to promote it, about 300 analysts showed up to hear him speak, a far cry from the usual dozen or so investors who typically show up to this kind of event, Lossing told Business Insider.

They were eager to gain any insight they could into how the latest executive orders on trade issues, such as tariffs and the end of de minimis, could impact businesses and the economy at large.

"I think people are just lacking information," he said. "Things are so fluid right now."

All of the uncertainty is making global trade experts very busy — and maybe a little stressed.

Cindy Allen is the CEO of consulting firm Trade Force Multiplier, which advises companies on global trade issues like tariffs and the end of de minimis. She has 35 years of experience in trade, mostly as a customs broker and freight forwarder. She also held leadership roles in data automation at US Customs and Border Protection and in compliance at FedEx Logistics.

Allen described the current trade environment as "unprecedented." The closest comparison she could think of was the COVID pandemic, but she said that was more a transportation and availability issue, while the problems created by tariffs are more financial in nature.

Working in this industry means having in-depth knowledge of complex regulations. Becoming a certified customs broker, for example, requires passing an extremely complicated test that most people fail.

"It was complicated already assessing duties, determining what regulations apply to products," Allen said. "But now with all of the additional tariffs, it has become extremely complex."

A support group for 'trade nerds'

Paul Diedrich is a director of customs brokerage and trade services at freight forwarder Ardent Global Logistics. As a trade compliance professional, his job is to help Ardent's customers navigate the latest customs regulations and ensure they are importing in a compliant manner.

He said that he worked 12-hour days, plus weekends, in the weeks following "Liberation Day," providing guidance and answering questions for small and medium-sized business owners who were worried about the impact the tariffs would have on their bottom line.

"It really wasn't the physical act of importing a shipment on behalf of one of my customers," Diedrich said. "It was just talking them down off ledges, in some cases."

"When you had a container that yesterday, or prior to all of these tariffs, would've been $3,000 to $5,000 in duty, and now it's $54,000 in duty — for a small company, that's a big hit, and not many companies can take that kind of a cash hit all at once," he said.

Diedrich decided to start a "Tariff Turmoil Support Group" for "trade nerds" navigating the uncertainty. He hosted the first meeting at the end of March and a second in April.

"More chaos yesterday with a softening of the language around the China tariffs putting more pressure on myself and my fellow brokers. I hope everyone repolished those crystal balls," Diedrich said in a LinkedIn post promoting the first meeting of the group. "We are judgement free, politics free, and open to any broker, importer or compliance professional beaten up over these last few weeks."

One area of frustration for people joining Diedrich's support group is how difficult it has become to interpret executive orders that often lack the specific details they need to do their jobs effectively.

"It's leading folks in my industry to come up with contradictory opinions" on things like what a duty on a particular import might be, and whether an exemption might be available, Diedrich said. "Honestly, you can look at both opinions and look at the order and say, 'Okay, I can see where you're coming from.'"

'I'm usually there with a glass of wine, waiting'

Keeping up with the latest executive orders and interpreting them for clients is a time-consuming part of the job.

"The first place you've got to check is the White House website for executive orders," Allen said. "5 p.m. on Friday seems to be the preferred time to drop major trade issues, so I'm usually there with a glass of wine, waiting."

She added that trade publications and associations, such as the National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association, are invaluable sources of information.

But staying up to date also means monitoring social media, including Trump's posts — or "truths" — on Truth Social.

"The work to stay current right now is a very different type of work than what historically has made consulting firms good at what they do," Lossing said. "Historically, it was unbundling historical trade data, but now it's catching the luncheon interviews that the treasury secretary had in DC this afternoon and monitoring his comments."

That makes it difficult for trade experts to make firm recommendations as they have historically been able to. Lossing said he has instead presented his clients with data points and "scenario modeling" they can consider when making decisions.

"We could be 30 seconds away from the next 'truth,' and everything we thought to be true could be different with China," Lossing said. "Usually when you're helping clients with some sort of strategy, it doesn't change on a day-to-day basis."

However, being at the center of a national conversation could have some silver linings.

Allen said that for most of her 35-year career, most people, including her family, didn't really understand what she did for work. Trump's tariffs changed that.

"There's a greater appreciation for compliance professionals. The CEO now has their phone number and knows their name," Allen said. "Our industry has become much more valuable in the boardroom."

She said she hopes the attention will get more people interested in the field.

"Trade is only getting more complicated, and we need younger, newer people to come in with great ideas to help us modernize the process," she said.

Have a tip? Contact this reporter via email at [email protected] or Signal at @mlstone.04. Use a personal email address and a nonwork device; here's our guide to sharing information securely.

China said it firmly supports Egypt in defending its sovereignty and legitimate rights and interests.

"Michiganders deserve a champion in the U.S. Senate, and I believe that champion is me," the Senate candidate told Newsweek.

Including picks from Revlon, Cuisinart, and Beats

Terri McAdams was murdered in 1985, but her killer wouldn't be identified until 2024

Summer House’s Lindsay Hubbard and Carl Radke are going head to head after Lindsay skipped the soft opening of Carl’s new bar.

In screenshots posted via the @Commentsbybravo Instagram account on Thursday, May 8, Lindsay, 38, reacted to her ex-fiance Carl, 40, appearing to call her “disrespectful” for not attending his event for his new nonalcoholic bar business.

In season 9, episode 8, Carl threw a garden party in New Jersey to soft-launch the business, which he had invested $100,000 of his own money into, but Lindsay was nowhere to be seen.

According to the screenshots, Lindsay took to her Instagram Story following the airing of the episode to take aim at her ex and explain the real reason she didn’t attend.

'Summer House' Finale Shows Carl and Lindsay Split: How It Went Down

“What are we in middle school? Embarrassed is not the word here. This man (my best friend of 8 years/fiance/partner) blindsided me and publicly humiliated me on National Television with less respect than you would have for your enemy,” she wrote. “Why ON EARTH would I need to go to his ‘soft launch’ for his bar that wasn’t even opening yet?”

Lindsay insisted that she wasn’t too “embarrassed” to attend the event. Instead, she didn’t want to go for other reasons.

“I didn’t attend said ‘launch’ NOT because I was ‘embarrassed,’ but good try. I didn’t attend because why would I go 3 hours deep into New Jersey, in the middle of rush hour traffic on a Summer Thursday, for a bar — at that time — didn’t even have a location locked in?” she continued. “And that you’re talking about opening in Brooklyn (the complete opposite direction)? Call me when it’s launching, but I’m not going to waste 8 hours of my life to go celebrate him talking about potentially doing something at some point, maybe, in the future. Call me when it’s opening!”

After seeing her Instagram rant, Carl also weighed in — and his response was shared via the Commentsbybravo Instagram account. He argued that the “embarrassed” comment wasn’t specifically to do with her no-show at the soft opening.

“This had nothing to do with her coming to NJ or the Soft Bar event. Zero,” he wrote. “I was asked a question about Kyle about why she’s making jabs all summer and I responded with an opinion in the moment and I regret even saying anything about her cause here we are with the post-episode story rant and bullet points about something that hasn’t nothing to do with that conversation.”

'Summer House' Recap: Lindsay Hubbard Says ‘Cocaine Carl’ Came Out in Fight

Hours later, the Commentsbybravo Instagram account shared another update after Lindsay spotted Carl’s response and reacted.

“Hey Carl… if all you’re getting from me are ‘jabs,’ after the insane disrespect and gaslighting you showed me the season before, you should be thanking your lucky stars,” she wrote in response. “Seems like someone is a little soft… I owe you literally nothing. I shared a space with you all summer, we are not friends, nor will we ever be.”

Lindsay and Carl were part of the original cast when Summer House premiered in 2017 and eventually became an item after starting out as friends. They announced their engagement in 2022 before things turned sour, and they called time on their relationship in August 2023.

© (Photo by Roy Rochlin/Getty Images)

Lainey Wilson beat out six other nominees to become Entertainer of the Year at the 2025 Academy of Country Music Awards — and she was nearly speechless over the honor.

“Thank you so much. I love every single one of y’all in this category, and y’all have taken me under y’all’s wings, taken me out on the road with you, asked me to be on songs, supported me in every way that you possibly can,” Wilson, 32, said while accepting the award on Thursday, May 8. “I will tell you this, I’m sure everybody deals with a little bit of imposter syndrome, but I won’t lie to you — I have a little bit.”

Wilson — who also won trophies for Female Artist of the Year, Album of the Year for Whirlwind and Artist-Songwriter of the Year — proceeded to thank her support system.

“I really do have the best fans in the world,” she continued, noting that she’s only ever wanted to be a musician. “I dreamed about entertaining. I love making people feel things. I love making people laugh and smile and cry. I ‘m sorry, I like making people cry.”

2025 ACM Awards Red Carpet Fashion: Kelsea Ballerini, Reba, LeAnn Rimes

Wilson, who is engaged to Duck Hodges, concluded by saying, “Country music has given me more than I deserve. … God bless every single one of y’all.”

To take home the biggest award of the night, Wilson had to beat out Kelsea Ballerini, Luke Combs, Cody Johnson, Jelly Roll, Chris Stapleton and Morgan Wallen.

Stapleton, 47, and Wilson were both already Entertainer of the Year winners ahead of the 2025 awards show, taking home the honor in 2023 and 2024, respectively. Stapleton has a career total of seven nominations in the category, while Wilson has two.

As for the other nominees this year, Combs, 35, has been up for Entertainer of the Year for six consecutive years since 2020. Wallen, 31, has received a nod in the category for the past three years, beginning in 2023. Johnson, 37, and Jelly Roll, 40, were both previously nominated in 2024, while Ballerini, 31, earned her first Entertainer of the Year nod this year.

ACM Awards 2025 Nominees and Winners: See the Complete List

Among the group of Entertainer of the Year nominees, Johnson, Wallen and Wilson led the pack with seven total nominations each this year across all of the categories. Johnson received nods for Male Artist of the Year, Single of the Year, Song of the Year and Visual Media of the Year for “Dirt Cheap” and Music Event of the Year and Visual Media of the Year for “I’m Gonna Love You” with Carrie Underwood.

Wallen was up for Male Artist of the Year, Single of the Year, Song of the Year and Music Event of the Year for “I Had Some Help” with Post Malone and Artist-Songwriter of the Year.

Wilson, meanwhile, earned nominations for Female Artist of the Year, Album of the Year for Whirlwind, Song of the Year and Visual Media of the Year for “4x4xU” and Artist-Songwriter of the Year.

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Stapleton trailed with six total nominations this year, including Male Artist of the Year, Single of the Year for “White Horse,” Music Event of the Year for “We Don’t Fight Anymore” with Carly Pearce and Visual Media of the Year for “Think I’m in Love With You.”

Ballerini followed closely behind with four nods, which included Female Artist of the Year and Music Event of the Year for “Cowboys Cry Too” with Noah Kahan.

Combs and Jelly Roll both landed three total nominations — Combs was up for Male Artist of the Year and Artist-Songwriter of the Year, and Jelly Roll competed for Male Artist of the Year and Album of the Year for Beautifully Broken.

© Jason Kempin/Getty Images

The Academy of Country Music Awards is celebrating its 60th year with a star-studded ceremony hosted by country legend Reba McEntire.

The Thursday, May 8, awards show will take place at the Ford Center in Frisco, Texas, and feature performances from artists including Blake Shelton, Lainey Wilson, Kelsea Ballerini, Clint Black, Miranda Lambert and more. This year’s edition marks McEntire’s 18th time hosting the ceremony, which happens to coincide with her 50th anniversary in the music industry.

“I’m just as excited and anxious to see who all’s gonna be singing together. It’s going to be a lot of fun, McEntire, 70, told Entertainment Tonight ahead of the show. “The ACMs are famous for that. And I think that’s a lot of the reason why everybody tunes in. They don’t wanna see who wins. They wanna see the live performances.”

Scroll down for the complete list of 2025 Academy of Country Music Awards nominees — and look for the bold names to see who won:

2025 ACM Awards Red Carpet Fashion: Kelsea Ballerini, Reba, LeAnn Rimes

Entertainer of the Year
Kelsea Ballerini
Luke Combs
Cody Johnson
Jelly Roll
Chris Stapleton
Morgan Wallen
Lainey Wilson

Female Artist of the Year
Kelsea Ballerini
Ella Langley
Megan Moroney
Kacey Musgraves
Lainey Wilson

Male Artist of the Year
Luke Combs
Cody Johnson
Jelly Roll
Chris Stapleton
Morgan Wallen

Duo of the Year
Brooks & Dunn
Brothers Osborne
Dan + Shay
Muscadine Bloodline
The War and Treaty

Carly Pearce and Martina McBride Added as 2025 ACM Awards Presenters

Group of the Year
Flatland Cavalry
Little Big Town
Old Dominion
Rascal Flatts
The Red Clay Strays

New Female Artist of the Year
Kassi Ashton
Ashley Cooke
Dasha
Ella Langley
Jessie Murph

New Male Artist of the Year
Gavin Adcock
Shaboozey
Zach Top
Tucker Wetmore
Bailey Zimmerman

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New Duo or Group of the Year
Restless Road
The Red Clay Strays
Treaty Oak Revival

Album of the Year
Am I Okay? (I’ll Be Fine), Megan Moroney
Beautifully Broken, Jelly Roll
Cold Beer & Country Music, Zach Top
F-1 Trillion, Post Malone
Whirlwind, Lainey Wilson

Single of the Year
“A Bar Song (Tipsy),” Shaboozey
“Dirt Cheap,” Cody Johnson
“I Had Some Help,” Post Malone and Morgan Wallen
“White Horse,” Chris Stapleton
“You Look Like You Love Me,” Ella Langley and Riley Green

Song of the Year
“4x4xU,” Lainey Wilson
“The Architect,” Kacey Musgraves
“Dirt Cheap,” Cody Johnson
“I Had Some Help,” Post Malone and Morgan Wallen
“You Look Like You Love Me,” Ella Langley and Riley Green

Lainey Wilson Says She’s Become 'Thicker-Skinned' Since Finding Fame

Music Event of the Year
“Cowboys Cry Too,” Kelsea Ballerini and Noah Kahan
“I Had Some Help,” Post Malone and Morgan Wallen
“I’m Gonna Love You,” Cody Johnson and Carrie Underwood
“We Don’t Fight Anymore,” Carly Pearce and Chris Stapleton
“You Look Like You Love Me,” Ella Langley and Riley Green

Visual Media of the Year
“4x4xU,” Lainey Wilson
“Dirt Cheap,” Cody Johnson
“Im Gonna Love You,” Cody Johnson and Carrie Underwood
“Think I’m in Love With You,” Chris Stapleton
“You Look Like You Love Me,” Ella Langley and Riley Green

Artist-Songwriter of the Year
Luke Combs
Ernest
Hardy
Morgan Wallen
Lainey Wilson

Songwriter of the Year
Jessi Alexander
Jessie Jo Dillon
Ashley Gorley
Chase McGill
Josh Osborne

© John Shearer/Getty Images for ACM

Applying your makeup can feel like a moot point once summer rolls around. Why spend time on primer, contour and lashes if everything’s going to slide off the second you step outside? For most of Us, it’s a risk we’re willing to take in the name of a flawless selfie. And if there’s one person who knows how to stay glam no matter the heat, it’s Paris Hilton.

Whether she’s deejaying a pool party in Ibiza or making appearances at Coachella, Paris somehow manages to look fresh-faced and photo-ready. Her secret weapon? This $15 portable fan with over 68,000 Amazon ratings.

Hilton tells E! News, “I learned this years ago: No matter where I go when it’s hot, I always have my fans,” she said. “It feels amazing to have a little fan to carry around with you everywhere.”

The Jisulife Pocket Mini Fan is a compact, palm-sized device that keeps you cool and doubles as a backup charger and flashlight. It runs up to 19 hours on a single charge and folds flat to fit in your bag. It’s perfect for makeup touch-ups, post-workout cool-downs or keeping your edges from curling during outdoor weddings.

Hilton isn’t the only one obsessed — the fan has earned over 68,500 ratings on Amazon.

One happy shopper wrote, “This fan is a lifesaver. It’s high quality, lasts a long time and is quiet,” adding, “If you’re a club girl, a concert girl, a hot body or a summer hater this fan is for you. It’s super portable and can fit in your purse.”

Setting sprays and powders are nice, but if you’re heading to a festival, a beach day or just running errands in 90 degrees, this under-$20 beauty hack is a must for preventing your makeup from sliding off your face — and keeping your sanity this summer.

Get the Jisulife Pocket Bear Mini Fan for just $15 (was $20) on Amazon!

Megan Thee Stallion Says This $10 Cleanser Is The Only Thing That Calms Her Breakouts

© Photo by Maya Dehlin Spach/WireImage

Keith Urban was the one being honored at the 2025 Academy of Country Music Awards, but his acceptance speech focused on his gratitude for wife Nicole Kidman.

The country singer, 57, received the ACM Triple Crown Award during the Thursday, May 8, ceremony at Ford Center in Frisco, Texas. “I wanna thank the ACM Academy for this, and my wife, Nicole Mary, is here tonight,” Urban began. “I love you, baby girl. Our girls, Sunday and Faith, watching at home tonight, I love you both too.”

He ended his speech with a shout-out to his fans and crew before noting that his High and Alive Tour kicks off later this month. “I have a massive team that I couldn’t possibly thank by name, but I want to thank my team for working so insanely hard behind the scenes, because there’s no such thing as a self-made man,” he said. “I wanna thank my road band and my road family, and I wanna say a special thanks to all the fans that have been coming out to see us play.”

The Triple Crown Award is bestowed upon those who have won New Artist of the Year, Artist of the Year and Entertainer of the Year throughout their ACM Awards history. Urban previously received Top New Male Vocalist in 2001, Male Vocalist of the Year in 2005 and 2006 and Entertainer of the Year in 2019. Prior to Urban, Carrie Underwood was the most recent artist to earn the Triple Crown accolade during an ACM Awards telecast in 2010.

2025 ACM Awards Red Carpet Fashion: Kelsea Ballerini, Reba, LeAnn Rimes

Before Urban accepted the award, some of country music’s best artists — Chris Stapleton, Megan Moroney and Brothers Osborne — took to the stage to perform his greatest hits as a tribute to him. Moroney, 27, sang “Stupid Boy,” while Stapleton, 47, performed “Blue Ain’t Your Color.” Brothers Osborne closed out the medley with “Where the Blacktop Ends,” which featured a guitar solo from Urban himself.

As for Urban’s relationship with Kidman, 57, the couple have been married since June 2006 and share daughters Sunday Rose, 16, and Faith, 14. (Kidman also shares daughter Bella, 32, and son Connor, 30, with ex-husband Tom Cruise, whom she was married to from 1990 to 2001.)

Carly Pearce and Martina McBride Added as 2025 ACM Awards Presenters

Throughout their nearly two-decade marriage, Urban and Kidman have made a habit of publicly supporting each other at a slew of awards shows. In recent years, the pair’s daughters have also begun stepping out with their famous parents.

In April 2024, Sunday Rose and Faith made their first official red carpet appearance while supporting Kidman at the 49th AFI Life Achievement Award Gala in Los Angeles. The teens looked all grown up as they posed for photos alongside Kidman and Urban.

During her speech at the event, Kidman thanked Urban, their daughters and her extended family, acknowledging the “enormous amount of luck” in her life.

So in Love! Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban's Relationship Timeline

“There’s also the most important thing, love,” she said. “Big, big love. And then right there is the love of my life, and the loves of my life. My daughters have never been anywhere publicly with me on a red carpet, tonight was their first night, so they’re here, Sunday and Faith.”

The following month, Urban revealed Kidman’s impact on his own career, crediting her with motivating him when she attends his concerts.

“It fires me up a bit more,” he told People in May 2024. “I try to impress her.”

© Omar Vega/WireImage

Lainey Wilson was crowned Female Artist of the Year at the 2025 Academy of Country Music Awards.

The singer, 32, won the award during the Thursday, May 8, ceremony at Ford Center in Frisco, Texas, after being introduced by Wynonna Judd.

“My legs are numb. I can’t believe that I’m getting to stand up here with all these ladies that I was influenced by,” Wilson said of the country music legends on stage with her, which included Judd, Martina McBride, Sara Evans, Gretchen Wilson and Crystal Gayle. “Every single one of y’all means so much to me.”

Wilson also thanked her parents, fiancé Devlin “Duck” Hodges and additional loved ones for their support.

ACM Awards 2025 Nominees and Winners: See the Complete List

“Mom and Daddy are here tonight. I love y’all. My fiancé, Duck, love you,” she gushed. “I have the best team in the world, the best team who just work their tails off.”

Wilson then gave her fellow nominees — Kelsea Ballerini, Ella Langley, Megan Moroney and Kacey Musgraves — a shout-out.

“I just wanna say to every single one of these girls in this category, I couldn’t do this without y’all. I couldn’t,” she said. “This is a wild ride, and it’s nice to be able to have people to call and relate to. I’m so proud of every single one of y’all … the girls are kicking down some barn doors. Thank you so much, Jesus. … Here’s to the girls!”

Of the nominees, Wilson and Musgraves are the only previous winners of the coveted Female Artist of the Year trophy. Wilson claimed the title in 2023 and 2024, while Musgraves, 36, secured the trophy once in 2019 with a total of nine career nominations in the category.

For her part, Ballerini, 31, has received eight Female Artist of the Year nominations between 2016 and 2025.

Moroney, 27, earned her first nod in the category in 2024, while this year is the first time Langley, 26, has been nominated for Female Artist of the Year.

Langley received the most total nominations of any artist at the ACM Awards this year. Her eight nods included New Female Artist of the Year, Single of the Year, Song of the Year, Music Event of the Year and Visual Media of the Year for “You Look Like You Love Me” with Riley Green.

Wilson followed with seven nods for Entertainer of the Year, Album of the Year for Whirlwind, Song of the Year and Visual Media of the Year for “4x4xU” and Artist-Songwriter of the Year.

Ballerini was up for four awards, including Entertainer of the Year and Music Event of the Year for “Cowboys Cry Too” with Noah Kahan.

Musgraves received a total of three nominations, with a nod for Song of the Year for “The Architect.”

8 Times Female Country Music Stars Stood Their Ground 

Moroney competed for two awards, including Album of the Year for Am I Okay? (I’ll Be Fine).

Prior to the 2025 ceremony, Langley won her first ACM Award for New Female Artist of the Year, defeating fellow nominees Kassi Ashton, Ashley Cooke, Dasha and Jessie Murph. Miranda Lambert announced the news in a video during Langley’s set at Rock the Country in Knoxville, Tennessee, on April 25.

“Every day of my life I’ve prayed about this and thought about it. Literally everything I’ve ever done was to be able to do this,” an emotional Langley said in a reaction video filmed on her tour bus. “I’m so grateful for the team I have around me.”

© Jason Kempin/Getty Images

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