• Some companies are already telling customers they'll need to raise prices due to Trump's tariffs.
• At least one — Chipotle — has said it's not planning on passing the cost to consumers
• The tariff announcement has become a key talking point businesses now need to consider.

I'd like to formally announce I will not be passing the cost of the tariffs down to Business Insider Today's newsletter readers.

President Donald Trump's taxes on Canadian, Mexican, and Chinese goods have absolutely no impact on my ability to produce the daily newsletter. (And it's also free to subscribe.)

But don't let the details get in the way of a feel-good story: I am willing to carry the burden of these taxes for you, the reader.

My declaration might sound silly (It is!), but there are undoubtedly some serious conversations taking place at businesses about communicating the impact of these new tariffs.

Some companies aren't wasting time making clear that customers will have to take this one on the chin. Target CEO Brian Cornell said some grocery costs could go up as early as this week, while Best Buy CEO Corie Barry said price increases on imported products are now "highly likely."

Both executives didn't get too specific on their earnings calls, but the message was clear: Don't blame us if we have to raise prices.

They're not alone. Companies big and small have been telegraphing potential price increases due to tariffs for a while. As legendary investor Warren Buffett recently said of tariffs: "Over time, they are a tax on goods. I mean, the Tooth Fairy doesn't pay 'em!" (We've got a full rundown on the products most susceptible to tariffs.)

But one company took a very different approach. Before Tuesday's announcement, Chipotle made clear it was not planning on raising its prices due to tariffs.

Chipotle CEO Scott Boatwright told "NBC Nightly News" that the chain planned to absorb any price increases.

"We are fortunate to have such an extraordinary economic model at Chipotle that we can withstand those types of inflationary pressures and not have to pass those costs off to the consumer," Boatwright said.

What a win for the finance bros! You can't tax these gains! I'll take double meat and some guac, please!

Oh, wait, there's one more thing.

Boatright went on to say Chipotle could still raise prices if the cost of the tariffs becomes a "significant headwind."

Oh, ok…

And tariffs aren't even set to hit Chipotle that hard. At least, according to Chipotle. Executives previously played down the impact of tariffs on a recent earnings call. Despite Mexico supplying roughly 90% of the avocados eaten in the US, according to CNBC, the chain only gets about half its supply from Mexico. And Chief Financial Officer Adam Rymer said the produce it gets from our neighbors to the south accounts for only about 2% of its sales.

Hmmm, alright.

Chipotle is also not philosophically opposed to passing along the cost to customers. In fact, the chain literally just did it. In December, Chipotle raised prices by 2% nationwide to offset inflation, its first price increase in over a year. The price hike also addressed the hit to its profit margin that came with ensuring "consistent and generous portions."

So, to recap: A chain that says it's pretty insulated from tariffs and recently raised its prices will do its best not to raise prices on consumers. (But no promises.)

Siri, where is the nearest Moe's?

To be fair to Chipotle, the tariffs are projected to cost the chain some money. Rymer previously estimated that tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China would increase its cost of sales — or how much it pays for the stuff it sells you — by about 0.6%.

That's not nothing, especially when fast-food chains have been fighting to keep prices down in the face of an uncertain economic future. So, credit Chipotle for attempting to avoid passing on the costs to customers rather than just waving the white flag on tariffs or using the trade tax as cover to raise its prices.

"It is our intent today to hold pricing constant because we don't know if the tariffs are transitory, if they're going to be permanent, or how they will impact our business in the future." Laurie Schalow, chief corporate affairs officer for Chipotle, told me via email.

But just as some have said Trump's tariff plan is part of a bigger negotiation tactic, don't be surprised if companies look to borrow from the president's playbook. The hot-button issue could be an excuse for businesses to raise prices or an opportunity to tout that they're holding the line to protect their customers.

• The Office of Personnel Management quietly revised a memo about firing probationary employees.
• The update specifies that OPM can't fire workers in other agencies and follows a recent court ruling.
• It's unclear if this impacts the thousands of probationary employees who have already been fired.

The Office of Personnel Management quietly revised a memo on Tuesday about the firing of probationary federal employees. The memo includes two new sentences indicating that individual agencies, not OPM, are responsible for terminating workers.

Less than a week ago, a federal judge ruled that OPM doesn't have the power to fire employees in other agencies and had exceeded its legal authority. US District Judge William Alsup said in his ruling that OPM had to inform agencies it didn't have such power. The updates to the memo appear in line with that directive.

The memo was first published on January 20, President Donald Trump's first day in office, and much of it remains unchanged, according to BI's comparison of original and revised versions.

Originally, the document directed agencies to send a list of all probationary employees to both a general OPM email and Amanda Scales, OPM's chief of staff who is associated with the White House DOGE Office. The new version only says to send the list to the general email.

The original version described probationary periods as tools to "assess employee performance and manage staffing levels," suggesting they could be used for workforce reductions. The revised memo drops the staffing management language, instead describing probationary periods only as a way to ensure employees "will be an asset to the Government."

OPM sent agencies' chief human capital officers an email about the new memo, saying that it is "aware of recent litigation challenging the terminations of various probationary employees in different departments of the federal government," according to a copy reviewed by BI.

"The revised memorandum clarifies and confirms that OPM has not directed, and is not directing, your agency to take specific performance-based actions against probationary employees," the email says. It is signed by the "CHCO Council."

Thousands of probationary employees — typically people with less than two years of experience in their roles — have already been fired. It's not clear whether they will be re-hired under the new guidance.

Representatives for the White House and OPM did not respond to BI's request for comment.

• President Donald Trump ordered a pause in US military aid for Ukraine.
• An advisor to Ukraine's president told BI the decision puts a spotlight on Patriot air defenses.
• The US-made Patriot missile batteries have been critical to defending Ukraine from Russian attacks.

KYIV, Ukraine — President Donald Trump's decision to freeze military aid to Ukraine is fueling concerns about the future of key weapons, particularly its American-made Patriot air defense systems.

"For us, the most critical positions are, undoubtedly, everything related to missile defense systems, particularly the Patriot systems. The largest production of these is in the United States," Mykhailo Podolyak, an advisor to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, told Business Insider during an interview in Kyiv on Tuesday.

Trump on Monday ordered a pause in the delivery of military aid to Ukraine to pressure Zelenskyy into peace talks with Russia on unfavorable terms. The move, though not necessarily surprising, has escalated the already tense situation following a contentious Oval Office meeting last week.

Podolyak, speaking through a translator, said that Ukraine still needs to identify which areas of US security assistance would be affected by Trump's aid decision and which weapons or ammunition could be replaced by other partner nations.

He singled out Ukraine's Patriot air defenses as an important concern and said Kyiv would continue to work with the US and Europe to find ways to protect civilians and infrastructure from regular Russian bombardments.

"Russia is not stopping its attacks; it continues missile strikes on civilians and critical infrastructure. Russia is not stopping and will not stop," Podolyak said. "Therefore, we will continue to look for ways to counter Russian strikes — both across the entire territory of Ukraine and along the front line."

"We will search for available tools on the global market and use them to destroy Russia's capabilities," he said.

Patriots have been crucial

The American-made MIM-104 Patriot surface-to-air missile system manufactured by Lockheed Martin and Raytheon has played a crucial role in protecting Ukraine from Russian attacks since Kyiv first obtained it from the US nearly two years ago.

Ukraine now reportedly operates six Patriot systems at undisclosed locations around the country. These batteries have helped Kyiv shoot down Russian ballistic missiles, including some that the Kremlin claimed were unstoppable.

The US is not alone in providing Patriots; other NATO countries like Germany and the Netherlands have provided Ukraine with batteries and missile interceptors. But Trump's decision to pause aid raises questions about the future of what is now Kyiv's top air defense asset.

Ukraine is said to be running low on Patriot interceptor missiles, for which the US has been a key supplier. Halting further supply could prove detrimental.

Trump's move was a sobering moment for Ukraine. The Biden administration pledged more than $65 billion in security assistance to Ukraine after Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.

On Tuesday, in Kyiv, locals expressed frustration and anger with the new military aid pause in conversations with BI.

"There [are] consequences for the front-line cities," said one local resident, who introduced himself as Viktor and didn't give his last name. "Lack of weapons will result in more bombing of those cities. If we are talking about air defense — here in Kyiv and other cities where civilians will die because we don't have enough Patriots, for example."

The military aid pause escalates a substantial rift between Washington and Kyiv, coming just a few days after Trump and Vice President JD Vance berated Zelenskyy at the White House over peace negotiations. Ukraine's leader left without signing an anticipated rare-earth-minerals deal.

Zelenskyy said Tuesday that it was "regrettable" how the meeting unfolded and that it was "time to make things right."

"Regarding the agreement on minerals and security, Ukraine is ready to sign it in any time and in any convenient format," he wrote on social media. "We see this agreement as a step toward greater security and solid security guarantees, and I truly hope it will work effectively."

• Warner Bros. Discovery drew criticism for its decision to end its TV deal with the NBA.
• WBD CEO David Zaslav said, "Not doing the NBA was a great decision" for the company.
• He said at a conference that WBD would turn its attention to franchises it owns, like Harry Potter.

When Warner Bros. Discovery decided to end its 35-year partnership with the National Basketball Association, some industry insiders worried the company was making a huge mistake. CEO David Zaslav is putting those fears to rest.

"Not doing the NBA was a great decision for us," Zaslav said at a Morgan Stanley conference on Tuesday.

WBD's latest distribution deals with Charter and Comcast have shown that the company can still secure higher rates for most of its TV networks without the NBA, as Business Insider previously reported.

The company is also investing in other sports. It's kicking off a new deal with NASCAR this year, and has picked up more rights to college sports.

Not having the NBA also saves WBD money. The NBA's last TV contract was worth $24 million over nine years and the league scored a big increase with its latest deal. The new 11-year contract with Disney's ESPN and ABC, Comcast's NBC, is worth $76 billion.

WBD is pivoting to bolster its own franchises

Without the NBA, Zaslav said WBD can reinvest in franchises it already owns and generate more revenue. New content is coming to its Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, DC Universe, and Game of Thrones franchises.

Zaslav thinks this move will provide some stability to the company as it continues to work with distributors to get its content to more people. Its recent pay-TV deals with Charter and Comcast let those cable companies bundle Max with their services, effectively making it free for those subscribers.

Zaslav said the company can monetize franchises it owns through content and merchandising, more than it can with sports.

"We own those," Zaslav said. "Sports is a rental business, and so you got to look and say, 'Are we going to be able to make money on this?'"

MLB all-time hits leader Pete Rose, in an interview 10 days before his death in September, said he believed "that I'll make the Hall of Fame after I die."

Enjoy live updates from Tuesday's Champions League action as Real Madrid take on Atlético Madrid, PSV take on Arsenal and Dortmund take on Lille.

Apple yesterday released the latest iOS 18.4 beta and it enables support for RCS on Google Fi. iPhone users on the Google MVNO have been waiting for this improvement to Android-iOS messaging since September. 

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We have now moved on to day 2 of the Discover Samsung sale, but we also have a fresh batch of discounted Android game and app deals to check out as well. Just be sure to also scope out the deals we have on Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 at up to $820 off as well as its 43-inch M7 4K Smart Monitor at $200 off and Google’s linen Nest WiFi Pro router at 50% off. As for the apps, highlights include titles like MONOPOLY, Exolotl : Zian, Kenshō, Titan Quest: Ultimate, and more. Head below for a closer look. 

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Apple launched two new iPads today, an M3 iPad Air and A16 base iPad. In somewhat of a surprise, the new entry iPad doesn’t support Apple Intelligence—an omission that’s perhaps passable for a budget device, but that makes the iPhone SE’s recent discontinuation all the more perplexing.

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Mobile World Congress 2025 is well under way in Barcelona, Spain, and while there’s still two days left, the mobile-focused show has already delivered lots of new laptops, smartphones, concepts, and innovative accessories.

Some of the biggest announcements were made over the weekend, so we want to make sure you didn’t miss anything. Here are the best gadgets that have debuted at MWC 2025 so far, but there’s still more to come. You can catch up on all of our coverage of the show right here.

Samsung Display’s folding handheld console concept

Many of the most innovative devices making their debut at MWC are concepts that could one day make their way into consumers’ hands. Samsung’s Display group demonstrated a few different prototypes including an asymmetrical Z Flip-style phone that folds in two places leaving the middle of its screen visible, and a larger folding display hidden inside a briefcase. Its most interesting concept was a Nintendo Switch-style handheld console with a hinge in the middle allowing it to fold in half for improved portability.

Lenovo ThinkBook Flip concept

The ThinkBook Flip concept uses the same flexible OLED screen as Lenovo’s ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 that’s expected to arrive as early as June 2025 and start at $3,499. But instead of the screen extending out from beneath the laptop’s keyboard to increase screen real estate, on the ThinkBook Flip it’s static and designed to fold backwards. That will potentially allow the Flip to be used as a more traditional 13.1-inch laptop, as a 12.9-inch tablet, or as a laptop with an abnormally tall 18.1-inch display. The lack of a motorized mechanism could also make the ThinkBook Flip cheaper, if it ever sees the light of day.

Xiaomi 15 Ultra

Following the launch of the Xiaomi 15 Ultra in China, the company announced a UK and European launch for its latest flagship phone with pricing at around $1,600, although there’s no word on a US launch yet. Although some may find the 15 Ultra’s quadruple rear camera with an asymmetrical lens layout downright ugly, the phone features a new 4.3x periscope lens paired with a 200-megapixel 1/1.4-inch-type sensor with improved low-light performance that left us thoroughly impressed in our review.

Nubia Focus 2 Ultra

Anyone who can remember fidgeting with the original iPod’s scroll wheel will appreciate a specific feature on the Nubia Focus 2 Ultra smartphone. Surrounding the camera bump on the back of the phone is a physical spinning dial – similar to the dials found on DSLR and mirrorless lenses – that can be used to adjust the camera’s zoom level or switch between a series of filter presets. There’s no word on whether the dial can be used with other smartphone apps, but using it as a tiny steering wheel would be a satisfying way to play racing games.

Lenovo Yoga Solar PC concept

What if you didn’t have to worry about your laptop’s battery life as long as the sun was shining? That’s the idea behind Lenovo’s Yoga Solar PC concept featuring 84 solar cells integrated into the laptop’s lid. When positioned in direct sunlight for 20 minutes, the laptop’s solar panel will generate enough electricity for an hour of video playback. The company says it’s still evaluating power output in other lighting conditions, but the solar charging capabilities could still be a welcome fallback for times when a power outlet isn’t available.

Xiaomi Modular Optical System smartphone concept

Portability is a limiting factor when it comes to how good smartphone photography can get. To create a mobile device that offers photographic capabilities closer to what you can get from mirrorless cameras, Xiaomi is resurrecting an old Sony idea with magnetic lens attachments. The company’s Modular Optical System concept uses lenses that are actually self-contained cameras with sensors larger than what you’ll find in any smartphone. Captured images are processed by the phone the lens is attached to so they’re immediately available to share, and while a smartphone with a giant lens hanging off the back might be a little awkward to use, the temporary approach means the phone maintains its slim form factor the rest of the time.

Infinix solar smartphone concept

Lenovo wasn’t the only company at MWC staring at the sun for inspiration. Chinese phone brand Infinix demonstrated a concept smartphone at the show with an integrated solar panel on the back. Using more efficient perovskite solar cells like companies such as Anker do, Infinix’s says its SolarEnergy-Reserving technology can charge a phone at up to 2W speeds in optimal lighting conditions, although leaving your smartphone in the sun for a few hours to charge isn’t going to help with overheating.

HMD Amped Buds

What sets the HMD Amped Buds apart from other wireless earbuds aren’t their ANC or IP54 splash-resistance. It’s their charging case featuring a 1,600mAh battery that can keep the buds running for an impressive 95 hours before the case needs a power top-off. But if you’ve got a smartphone that’s dying at an inopportune time, the Amped Buds’ charging case can also be used to reverse wireless charge for Qi2-compatible mobile devices. That’s not quite enough power to fully recharge a smartphone, but when these launch in April 2025 for around $206, it could be enough of a boost for a couple extra hours of use.

Nothing Phone 3A and 3A Pro

After a multitude of leaks and official teases from the company, Nothing officially announced its 3A and 3A Pro phones at MWC. Both feature 6.77-inch displays, Android 15, and Snapdragon 7S Gen 3 chipsets paired with 12 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage. The 3A Pro, which starts at $459, features a 3x periscope telephoto lens while the $379 3A’s zoom capabilities are limited to 2x. They’re both well-equipped midrange phones, but stand out with the introduction of a new feature Nothing calls Essential Space that uses AI to extract and store useful information from screenshots, voice memos, and photos.

Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro

Imagine a pair of wireless earbuds that don’t lose their connection when you wander too far away from your smartphone or computer. Xiaomi’s new Buds 5 Pro are the first earbuds to feature Qualcomm’s S7 Pro chip, first announced in October 2023, that can stream audio at a much higher bandwidth over Wi-Fi. Your wireless connection will remain strong as long as you’re within range of your Wi-Fi network, but the buds can fall back to a standard Bluetooth connection when Wi-Fi isn’t available. The Buds 5 Pro are available now for $240, but at launch are only compatible with the Xiaomi 15 and 15 Ultra smartphones.

Tecno Spark Slim concept

The Galaxy S25 Edge that Samsung teased at its Unpacked event earlier this year already has some thin competition. Tecno’s Spark Slim concept measures in at 5.75mm thick with a 5,200mAh battery – larger than what’s included in the Galaxy S25 Ultra – while the Galaxy S25 Edge is rumored to be 6.4mm thick. We don’t yet know when the Galaxy S25 will launch, but it will probably be a lot sooner than this concept since Tecno hasn’t announced any plans to put the Spark Slim into production.

Realme 14 Pro and 14 Pro Plus

Can’t be bothered to unlock your phone and check a weather app to see what the temperature is? The Realme 14 Pro and 14 Pro Plus are available with a pearl white finish featuring thermochromic pigments that change from white to blue when exposed to temperatures below 61 degrees Fahrenheit. Not as accurate as a thermometer, but at least you’ll know if you need to grab a light jacket. The phones first launched in India in January, but are now coming to Europe with a price tag that starts at around $450.

Lenovo ThinkBook 3D laptop concept

The 3D fad may have passed, but Lenovo hasn’t entirely given up on it just yet. The company’s ThinkBook 3D laptop concept uses a combination of directional backlighting and user head tracking to simultaneously display both 2D and 3D content on screen without the need for any special glasses. Lenovo also created an accompanying AI ring concept that allows users to navigate and interact with 3D content using gesture-based spatial controls since trackpads and computer mice are limited to just two dimensions.

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