Sunshine Mills dog food has voluntarily recalled Nature's Menu Super Premium Dog Food with a Blend of Real Chicken & Quail after samples tested positive for salmonella.
Dogs and humans can both get the bacterial infection.
The current salmonella outbreak is now affecting dogs along with humans.
On Monday, Sunshine Mills dog food recalled their Nature's Menu Super Premium Dog Food with a Blend of Real Chicken & Quail for possible salmonella contamination. The dog food brand is sold at various stores.
While salmonella may not infect an entire batch, the company still decided to recall the food "out of an abundance of caution."
In a statement from the FDA, not only can the the dog consuming the food get salmonella, but humans can as well, "especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the products or any surfaces exposed to these products."
Symptoms of salmonella in dogs include lethargy, fever, and diarrhea. As of Thursday, no infections or deaths have been reported.
If you have the eligible brand of dog food, you can return to the place of purchase and receive a full refund.
And while you're looking to see if you purchased it, check the pantry for some specific types of human food as well. — both peaches and onions have been recalled in August for possible salmonella contamination.
Since the cabin of a car is where you spend most of your time throughout the ownership of a car, a nice interior can make a world of difference. EV startup Rivian agrees. It wants to create luxury interiors that will really impress buyers, a company executive told WardsAuto.
The all-electric R1T pickup truck and R1S SUV will be officially introduced next year. When they do, Richard Vaughan, the company's director of crafted quality, told WardsAuto's Steven Finlay that the company is aiming for the top dogs of car interiors — Lamborghini, Bentley, Lincoln, and Audi.
Rivian R1S.
Rivian
"We're benchmarking the greatest," Vaughan said. "We want to ensure our new vehicles are truly world-class." He added that Rivian wants to become "a world leader in quality."
Anyone who's been in a modern Lamborghini, Bentley, or Lincoln will be used to the sight of quilted leather, high-quality materials, and eye-catching textures. Business Insider recently reported on the lovely quality interior of the Lincoln Aviator.
Rivian R1S.
Rivian
In Rivian products, Vaughan wants "rich textures" to draw the eye, tactile satisfaction gleaned from "solid-feeling haptics" and auditory appeal from "the careful management of sensory cues that consciously and unconsciously communicate a sense of quality," he told WardsAuto.
"Quality planning goes further than understanding what customers want because sometimes they don't know what they want," Vaughan said.
Rivian R1T.
Rivian
While we won't see the R1T or the R1S in production capacity until 2021, photos of the vehicles on Rivian's press site show sleek and minimalist interiors. Judging from the photos, the vehicles' interiors exhibit similar design language as their exteriors.
The S&P 500 extended record highs on Thursday after Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell spoke at this year's virtual Jackson Hole symposium.
Powell outlined the central bank's overhauled strategy for controlling inflation and avoiding future crises. He also signaled that the Fed's monetary policy will remain accommodative as it seeks to stimulate the US economy.
A COVID-19 test produced by Abbott Laboratories received emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration, boosting hopes that wait times for results will shorten. Abbott shares spiked on the news.
The S&P 500 set a new closing record on Thursday, extending its multiday streak, after Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell spoke at this year's virtual Jackson Hole symposium. Both the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq composite indexes reached all-time intrday highs shortly after the market open.
Powell outlined the central bank's overhauled strategy for controlling inflation and avoiding future crises. He also signaled that the Fed's monetary policy will remain accommodative as it seeks to stimulate the US economy. Equity futures turned positive as he spoke and opened higher after an overnight sell-off.
Meanwhile, the Dow Jones industrial average erased all post-coronavirus losses at one point on Thursday. The 30-company benchmark has lagged both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq throughout the recent recovery.
Here's where US indexes stood at the 4 p.m. ET market close on Thursday:
On the economic-data front, initial jobless claims came in at 1 million for the week that ended on Saturday, in line with consensus estimates. Continuing claims, measuring the sum of Americans receiving unemployment benefits, totaled 14.5 million for the week that ended on August 15, a slight decrease from the prior week.
Abbott Laboratories received emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday. The company, which saw its stock spike as much as 10%, says its test will cost $5 and deliver results in 15 minutes.
Spot gold fell as much as 2.3%, to $1,910.13 per ounce. Gold briefly surpassed $2,000 per ounce earlier this month as investors bought the precious metal as an inflation hedge.
Oil prices fell. West Texas Intermediate crude slid as much as 2.4%, to $42.36 per barrel. Brent crude, oil's global benchmark, fell 2.4%, to $44.56, at intraday lows.
Webex meetings can be recorded for future reference. This is handy if you need a transcript of a meeting or if some invitees are not able to attend and want to see the meeting at a later time. Your recording options will vary, though, depending on your role and the kind of Webex plan the host is using.
Understanding Webex recording rules
Webex has two kinds of recording options:
Recording a meeting in the cloud: If the host has a paid Webex account, meetings can be recorded and stored in the host's Webex online cloud account. Using a paid account, only the host or alternate host may start recording, and recording can be controlled from the desktop app or the mobile app. If you are an attendee, you should ask the host to record the meeting for you.
Recording a meeting locally, on your computer: Any kind of Webex account, including free ones, may record a meeting directly to a local computer. Only the host, alternate host, or presenter can start recording, and recording can be controlled from the desktop app. If you are an attendee and not a presenter, you should ask the host to record for you.
How to record a Webex meeting
If you have permission to record a meeting – that is, you're a host, alternate host, or presenter, you should see a record button in the toolbar at the bottom of the screen. If the window is large enough, it will be labeled "Record." Otherwise, it'll just appear as a circle to the right of the "Share Content" button.
1. Click "Record."
The "Record" button is at the bottom of the desktop app.
Dave Johnson/Business Insider
2. If you are using a paid account, you can now choose whether to record to the cloud or to the computer. If you are using a free account, you will only see a folder dialog to choose where to save the recording file.
3. Choose a destination and click "Save."
4. The "Recorder" pop-up will appear. You can use it to pause or stop the recording. To hide or unhide the pop-up, click the "Record" button.
Democratic Party officials sent an email to campaign staffers warning them to be wary of opponents digging for information on dating apps.
The email, first reported by CNN, said that opposition groups might seek out campaign staff on dating apps and attempt to orchestrate "sting" operations.
A Democratic official told Business Insider that the warning is "nothing new" and that campaign staff are frequently reminded to be vigilant online.
Several politically-motivated groups have attempted to pull off sting operations online to gather damaging information in the past, though most have backfired.
Security officials working for the Democratic National Committee sent a warning this week to campaign staffers using dating apps: "Swipe carefully."
In an email first reported by CNN, Democratic officials said they've received reports of opposition groups using dating apps to get close to campaign staff in order to orchestrate "sting" operations or extract compromising information.
"Don't put anything out there that you wouldn't mind the opposition seeing. This includes video calls, text messages, emails, photos, or DMs - imagine that it was on the front page of the NYTimes," the email said, according to CNN.
A Democratic official told Business Insider that the warning is "nothing new" and that campaign staff are frequently reminded to be vigilant when interacting with strangers online.
It's not clear if there's a specific incident that triggered the DNC warning, but several politically-motivated groups have attempted to pull off sting operations online to gather damaging information in the past. Project Veritas, a conservative activist group, regularly attempts to pull off sting operations targeting left-leaning organizations — although many of those attempts have backfired.
The sale is available both online and in stores. And now through August 28, you'll receive a $10 reward when you buy online and choose in-store or curbside pickup.
If you'd like to be rewarded for your shopping, you can also join the retailer's free rewards program, The Nordy Club.
The Patagonia Better Sweater is one of our all-time favorite Patagonia styles, and it's a great value even when it's not on sale. It's ideal for lounging, errands, or working from home or in the office. The zippered handwarmer pockets are also a nice, versatile touch.
The Natori Feathers Bra is an all-time customer favorite. This T-shirt bra offers support, comfort, and style at a fraction of the cost during the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale.
This set includes three popular Lancome products designed to create a smoother, more radiant complexion: two full-sized Advanced Génifique Serum and one travel-size Génifique Eye Cream.
Voluspa Maison Blanc Saijo Persimmon Maison Metallo 2-Wick Candle
Voluspa candles are made with essential oils and a coconut wax blend for a clean burn. They're great to set around the house or give as a gift thanks to their decorative packaging.
This La Mer set includes some of the brand's most popular moisturizers, including Crème de la Mer Moisturizing Cream, The Replenishing Oil Exfoliator, The Regenerating Serum, The Eye Concentrate, and The Treatment Lotion Hydrating Mask. Given the brand's high prices and infrequent discounts, kits like this one can be a good starting point to figuring out which products you like enough to purchase on their own in the future.
The Longchamp shoulder tote is sleek and minimal like much of the brand's offerings. There's a top zip and snap-flap closure, interior wall pocket, and contrast logo detailing. It's also available in four fun summer colors.
This cult-favorite hairdryer is lightweight (weighing less than one pound) and uses a patented "EcoDrive" motor to dry hair in as little as 10 minutes. Bio Ionic says the dryer emits negative ions as you use it, which drives tiny water molecules further into the hair for added shine, and it should last up to 10 years.
The Wacoal Red Carpet Convertible Strapless Bra is a cult-favorite — smooth, with light and molded cups that offer a more natural shape. We ranked it as the best convertible bra you can buy.
These dramatically wide-legged palazzo pants are designed to bring sporty and street-casual aesthetics together. The pants are made from a soft cotton-blend and have pintucked creases in the front.
Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cleanser is suitable for all skin types, and uses emollients like apricot kernel oil and squalane to gently cleanse the skin without stripping it. You only need a small amount, so this jumbo bottle should last you a nice long while.
Serene House Ultrasonic Cool Mist Aromatherapy Diffuser
This simple diffuser is an unobtrusive way to fill any space in your home with scents that you love. It has a built-in timer and automatic shut-off for easy use.
Morrocanoil's set of hydrating products includes shampoo and conditioner, an argan oil treatment, and a ceramic round brush that can help you achieve a good blowout at home.
The Neulash Lash Enhancing Serum is designed to enhance the appearance, shine, and elasticity of your eyelashes with a blend of biotin, panthenol, and sodium hyaluronate.
These Marc Fisher booties are a more versatile version of the classic Western boot, complete with the gored details that make it possible to pull on and take off easily, and a versatile stacked heel.
This article is brought to you by the Personal Finance Insider team. It has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the issuers listed. Some of the offers you see on this page are from our partners, like Citi and American Express, but our coverage is always independent.
I created a spreadsheet to manage my family's rewards credit cards to make sure we never miss a payment. It worked until one of my credit cards was closed because I hadn't used it in a while.
When a credit card account is closed, it can negatively impact your credit utilization and your average age of accounts, two important factors that determine your credit score.
I tweaked the spreadsheet to include the last time I used a credit card. If I haven't used a card in the last six months, I make it a priority to use that card for a purchase.
Another method for making sure none of your cards are closed for lack of account activity is to set up a recurring payment, such as a streaming service subscription.
As credit card rewards enthusiasts, my wife and I have over a dozen cards. With each new card, we earn a sign-up bonus for meeting a minimum spending requirement in the first three months. After that, we continue using the cards when they offer great rewards in a certain category, like groceries or dining.
We don't use every single card on a regular basis, though. I generally use the Citi® Double Cash Card the most, along with the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and the Chase Freedom and Chase Freedom Unlimited.
With a growing number of credit cards, we wanted to make sure we didn't accidentally miss a payment. To help with this, I set up a credit card bill-tracking spreadsheet and I update it couple of times each month.
My credit card-tracking spreadsheet
The spreadsheet tracks the following:
The credit card name
The date the statement is usually issued
The date the bill is normally due
It also has a column for each month, so I can mark that I checked the bill and made a payment, if necessary.
I thought the spreadsheet was working as planned to keep my credit score in great shape until something unexpected happened ...
One of my cards was closed because I hadn't been using it
A few years ago, a credit card company notified us that it was closing one of our cards because we hadn't been using it. I'd heard of companies doing this before, but never experienced it myself before this incident.
Having a credit card closed can negatively affect your credit in a few ways. First, it can impact your overall credit utilization, or the amount of credit you use divided by your total credit limits. This is a factor in the second-largest portion of your FICO score, called amounts owed.
In my case, this didn't do any significant damage because I always pay my cards off in full. Had I been carrying a large balance on my other cards, though, this could have done considerable damage to my credit score.
The other part of my score that could have been affected was my length of credit history. This is a smaller portion of the FICO scoring formula but it still accounts for 15%.
By having a credit card closed, my average age of credit accounts decreased. Due to the large number of credit cards I had, this wasn't a major negative impact, either. That said, people with only a couple of credit cards could see their scores drop significantly if one of their older cards gets closed.
My updated spreadsheet to avoid credit card closures
Lance Cothern
I tweaked my credit card-tracking spreadsheet to avoid having other cards meet the same fate. Rather than simply mark that I had taken care of a bill for the month, I now input one of two phrases.
I input the word "Paid" for bills that had a statement balance and were paid in full.
The other option is "No Balance" for cards that didn't have a statement balance and did not require making a payment.
To make this even easier to see, I fill the cell color green for "Paid" bills and yellow for "No Balance" bills.
This new method of marking my credit card spreadsheet each month gives me a visual representation of the last time I've used a card. If the word "Paid" is not marked within the previous six months, I make a priority to use that card for a purchase in the coming month.
After making a purchase, I wait for the statement to generate with a balance due so the activity reports to the credit bureaus. Then, I pay the card off in full and mark it "Paid" for that month. I haven't had a credit card closed due to non-use since implementing this new method.
If you want to avoid having a particular card closed due to inactivity, you can also set a recurring payment, such as your Netflix subscription, on a card. This way, the card gets consistently used every month. Just don't forget to pay the bill on time if you don't use the card for other purchases.
Former Director of the CDC Dr. Tom Frieden on Capitol Hill in Washington DC, May 6, 2020.
Alex Wong/Getty Images
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is drawing scrutiny from scientists and public health experts this week for its shift away from recommending COVID-19 tests for "all close contacts" of people with confirmed cases of the coronavirus in the US.
Dr. Tom Frieden, who ran the CDC from 2009 to 2017, called the move "dangerous" and "not scientifically supportable."
He said the move is "self-defeating" for the federal government because it will erode trust from the public.
"Trust is an essential component of any epidemic response," he said. "Anything that corrodes trust risks lives."
The CDC had previously maintained that "testing is recommended for all close contacts" of people who have a confirmed case of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.
However, in a shift to its nationwide guidance on Monday, the agency said that "you do not necessarily need a test," for COVID-19 unless you are symptomatic, with tell-tale signs of the virus, like a fever, headache, or cough — even if you've been in close contact with someone who has a confirmed coronavirus infection.
On Wednesday, CDC Director Robert Redfield unofficially walked back the change after uproar from health departments and scientists, saying that "testing may be considered for all close contacts of confirmed or probable COVID-19 patients."
But the damage to the agency's scientific credibility had already been done, and a former head of the CDC says it's indicative of a clear and problematic shift for the agency, which until now, has operated with a fair degree of scientific autonomy from higher-ups in Washington DC.
Dr. Robert Redfield, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention speaks while U.S. President Donald Trump listens during the daily briefing of the coronavirus task force at the White House on April 22, 2020 in Washington, DC.
Drew Angerer/Getty Images
'Dangerous' and 'not scientifically supportable'
Former CDC Director Tom Frieden, who directed the agency from 2009 to 2017, says this is not how the CDC usually operates, and it's "a big problem."
"I don't think there has ever been a time before when people from the White House or HHS are dictating what goes on technical documents on the CDC website," Frieden told Insider during a question-and-answer session on Thursday. "This is dangerous."
These mandates from above "are frankly not scientifically supportable," Frieden said.
"That's problematic because it undermines our trust in government," he said, calling the move one that's ultimately "self-defeating."
"Trust is an essential component of any epidemic response," he said. "Anything that corrodes trust risks lives."
Despite Redfield's backtracking statement, the agency's official guidance on its website still maintains people without symptoms don't necessarily need COVID-19 tests. The CDC does not mention anything about a self-imposed quarantine for asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic people, despite widespread evidence that people who have the virus can transmit it well to others, especially in the critical early days and hours of an infection, just before people may start showing signs of sickness.
Americans trust the CDC a lot more than the President, but that could change
US President Donald Trump alongside US Health and Human Service Secretary Alex Azar (at left), and CDC Director Robert Redfield (at right) during a tour of the CDC headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia, on March 6, 2020.
Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images
Despite all the confusion, recent polling suggests that most Americans still trust the experts at the CDC with their health, but that could change, if the agency's edicts and advice continue to take unscientific edits from above.
A June 2019 nationwide survey conducted by the non-partisan Pew Research Center suggested that 64% of the country said the CDC gets its facts right about the pandemic "almost all" or "most" of the time, while only 30% said the same of President Trump and his administration.
If the agency becomes increasingly seen as his administration's mouthpiece, it could undermine its public credibility further, which would have devastating consequences for ending this outbreak, Frieden said, particularly in the months ahead, as Americans weigh whether to get a vaccine.
"It's likely that some vaccines will be shown to have some effectiveness in the coming months," he said. "We'll need to know, are they safe? Who do they work for? Who should get them first? And that kind of question can only be reliably answered and believed if that trust is maintained."
It's totally normal to have a little back and forth, in discussions and policy debates among different agencies and sections of the federal government, Frieden said, but "until this pandemic, [CDC] has had a respected autonomy within the federal government."
It's high time to bring that kind of autonomy back to Atlanta, he said.
"At CDC there are thousands and thousands of hard-working scientists, experts, doctors, PhDs who care deeply about protecting Americans," Frieden said. "I hope they can get back to that work, and do that without political interference."
Americans are sending each other flowers because they can't get together.
AP Photo/Seth Wenig
Flower delivery companies are booming during the coronavirus pandemic.
On Thursday, 1-800-Flowers reported record revenues and profit growth in its most recent quarter.
Sending flowers gives consumers a chance to connect with family and loved ones as they miss out on their usual gatherings because of social distancing, experts say.
Research has also pointed to flowers' ability to reduce stress.
Flower delivery services are thriving in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.
1-800-Flowers reported on Thursday record revenues and profit growth in its fiscal fourth quarter of 2020. Total net revenues grew by a record 61.1%, to $418 million, compared to $254.9 million for the same quarter last year.
1-800-Flowers delivers flowers and gourmet food gifts from a network of about 6,000 shops across the country. Both Easter and Mother's Day — typically big occasions for the flower industry — took place in the most recent period. The company also credited its focus on technology, innovation, and customer service for the successful quarter.
Executives also said that new demand created by the pandemic was a major factor. During 1-800-Flowers' earnings call, CEO Christopher McCann referred to "the need to be socially connected to each other, to maintain relationships, to express ourselves."
He added that the company has benefited from more consumers "nesting" and "celebrating and expressing themselves more and more around their home."
The desire to reach out to loved ones from afar is providing a big opportunity for florists across the industry.
Katie Butler, senior vice president at the Society of American Florists, said that sending flowers can help people to celebrate the "missed moments" they would have spent together if not for the pandemic, like birthdays, graduations, and anniversaries.
"I think that flowers are throwing consumers a lifeline of sorts — a way to connect and communicate and truly make an impact on your own or a loved one's mood in a way that is otherwise not accessible, due to social distancing," Butler said.
"With the increased stress in everyone's life, flowers are a product that makes people happy. And people are looking for even small ways to spark joy in their days and connect with others," Butler said.
Florists have traditionally been experts at delivery. Those shops with delivery already set up to sell their wares online were poised for success during the pandemic. At the same time, the market for weddings, conferences, and other events has been hit hard as gatherings continue to be restricted. Florists focused on that area have largely had to pivot.
"We are seeing many local shops' online sales increase 100% from the prior year," Gregg Weisstein, co-founder and COO of BloomNation, said. BloomNation is an online marketplace that works directly with about 4,000 local flower shops and independent designers in cities across the country.
"There is an increase in the amount of traffic going online and they are converting at a 15% higher rate than the prior year as shoppers become more comfortable with purchasing online," Weisstein added.
"We've also added a tipping function on the site and have seen a lot of adoption here with over 70% of the orders having a tip, which has shown how people are trying to give back to their local communities during this tough time."
Darius Foroux is an entrepreneur, blogger, and podcaster who has written extensively about how to live a productive, more useful life.
In this piece, he writes that reading books is one of the very best ways to learn something, or become totally immersed in another perspective or time.
Not every single book will be, or should be, lifechanging, but a select few can truly change the way you think.
Below, Foroux identifies 22 books that caused a mental "shift" for him.
"Some books should be tasted, some devoured, but only a few should be chewed and digested thoroughly."
So when I recently stumbled upon a question on Quora that went like this: "What are some books that expand our mind?" I started thinking about the books that had such an impact on me. Because not every book has the same impact.
To me, expanding your mind means that a book had an impact on the way I look at the world.
And after serious thought, I came up with the following 22 books that caused a real shift in the way I think. I hope they expand your mind, too.
I still think about this book almost daily, years after I first read it. What happened to millions of Jews 70 years ago is truly horrific. We forget that it was only a few decades ago. Not centuries. And Victor Frankl's account of his experience in concentration camps is almost superhuman. His philosophy and perspective on life should be cherished and passed on forever. Read this book.
Thoreau started my "thinking about life" journey ten years ago. I remember how I discovered his writings — through the movie "Into The Wild." The movie (released in 2007) was based on a Jon Krakauer book with the same title about Christopher McCandless, a young and naïve idealist who wanted to live a simple life. McCandless's story is sad. But his biggest inspiration was Thoreau. And since Thoreau isn't recommended reading in school in the Netherlands, I decided to pick it up by myself (and the Jon Krakauer book too). I haven't stopped thinking, reflecting, and living more consciously ever since.
We make a lot of decisions in our life. How many of those decisions are rational? If you ask Dobelli, very little. This book is an excellent collection of 99 thinking errors — from cognitive biases to social distortions. This is the most practical book I've read on decision making.
This book lives up to its hype. You will change the way you think after reading Kahneman's book. It's a summary of his most important findings ever since he started as a cognitive psychologist in 1961. I think it's one of the most important books that's published in recent years.
Self-control is the number one skill that helped me through my college years. And this practical book inspired me to bring my willpower to the next level. McGonigal writes in a down-to-earth manner that inspires you to take action.
Your ability to enjoy your work not only determines work satisfaction, but it also impacts how good you become at something. "Flow" is one of those books I think about every day. Getting in a flow state is something that actually changes the way you work and experience life.
Who knew that knowledge about human evolution could change the way you live? At least, that's what happened to me. To truly understand your body, you have to know how it evolved. You'll appreciate it more after reading this book — I can tell you that.
I'm a big believer in daily exercise. To me, it's as important as breathing. John Ratey's book inspired me to include daily exercise into my life. And I can't tell you enough how significant the impact has been on my productivity, confidence, health, happiness, and overall enjoyment of life.
I don't agree with all the hype of this book being the best book of all time. It is, however, a great summary of human history and evolutionary psychology. And, most importantly, it reads beautifully.
A novel about a young, nameless black man, as he moves through life invisible, "simply because people refuse to see me." Is the book fact or fiction? Doesn't matter because it paints the picture from one person's perspective on race — that's what matters. The book was published in 1952, but still seems current after all those years. Life is about understanding others. This book will help you do that.
This classic book teaches you the science of persuasion. And it's full of research and anecdotes that will change the way you look at life, relationships, business, and people's intentions.
Most introverts don't even know they are introverts. "Quiet" is a book about knowing yourself. And that simple skill can change the outcome of your life. It comes down to this: Don't try to be something you're not.
One of the most entertaining life stories I've read. Weintraub is a Hollywood legend. He's someone who genuinely thought different from the rest of his industry. And this book inspires you to be more practical, hard-nosed, and persuasive.
Forming new habits is a practical skill that immediately impacts the quality of your life. Want to lose weight? Be more productive? Exercise regularly? Build successful companies? One thing is sure: Without habits, those things will be extremely difficult to pull off.
Most people are afraid of negotiation. That's an entirely unjust feeling. It's actually fun to negotiate. And you should do it more often. Who doesn't want to pay less and earn more?
To me, Malcolm X is the real symbol of a self-made man. It has nothing to do with money or fame. You make yourself by expanding your mind. That's what Malcolm X did in prison. Hands down, the best biography I've ever read.
You can't put human behavior into perspective without knowing more about our evolution. It's a little depressing. But so is life. Study it, instead of getting sad by it. As a result, you'll be more understanding towards people and yourself.
The ultimate guide to becoming good at what you do. This book is not only a playbook for mastery, but it's also a collection of biographies of great historical figures.
Multiple readers recommended this book to me. Bird by Bird is about more than writing. If it doesn't make you a better writer (which I doubt), it will make you a better person.
Like I've said before, I hope you pick up one of these books and that they will change the way you think. And don't let the money hold you back.
One of my friends recently told me that he had bought a 4K television. But when I told him a year ago to read a few of the books listed above, he answered: "Books are way too expensive."
This reminded me of something my mentor once said when I complained about the cost of education: "Ignorance costs you more than you'll ever know."
Screw 4K televisions. I'm buying and reading books instead.
This article was originally published on Business Insider July 18, 2019.
Last year, Prime Day was a 48-hour event from July 15-16, and dates for Prime Day 2020 have not been announced yet but recent reports say the event will be in October.
Big retail sales are no longer limited to a thinly-veiled partnership with major US holidays. In fact, many retailers have created their own "holidays." Nordstrom has its popular Anniversary Sale. Nike has Air Max Day. And of course, the online behemoth Amazon has Prime Day.
What is Amazon Prime Day?
Introduced in 2015 in part to celebrate Amazon's 20th anniversary, the first Amazon Prime Day was a one-day-only retail holiday for Prime members that sought to overtake Black Friday as the sales event of the year.
The inaugural Prime Day received some criticism from shoppers who weren't happy with the quality and quantity of deals offered but Amazon has stepped up its game in both realms since.
During Prime Day, you can expect prices that are their lowest ever, besting even Black Friday on popular items from tech, beauty, home and kitchen, and virtually every other category under the sun.
Last year, Prime Day was a huge success. During the 48-hour sale event held on July 15-16, members bought more than 175 million items. It was the biggest shopping day in company history until it was surpassed by Cyber Monday shortly after, a familiar pattern of record-breaking.
But onlyPrime members get access to these competitive deals.
New members can try Prime out for 30 days before committing, so if you're not yet a member, you should time your sign-up to the month of October.
When is Prime Day?
Due to recent delays and increased demand related to the novel coronavirus pandemic, Amazon has pushed back the event to the fall. A report says Prime Day will happen in October this year. The exact dates for Prime Day 2020 have not yet been announced.
Based on previous years, we expected it to take place in mid-July.
Every year, the sale event lasts longer and longer, so we wouldn't be surprised if Prime Day 2020 lasts more than 48 hours. Plus, since it'll mark the company's 25th anniversary, Amazon is sure to make this year's Prime Day extra special.
What deals are available during Prime Day?
As for deals you can expect, there will be a lot, and new deals start as often as every five minutes. Last year, members took advantage of deals like:
Historically, Prime Day is the best time of the year to buy an Amazon device
In the past, the company has offered the biggest deals on Alexa-enabled products like the Echo smart speakers, the Fire TV, and Fire tablets. Most of these Amazon devices should be on sale this Prime Day and may include the newest Alexa-enabled products introduced late last year.
Outside of physical device deals, there will be deals on Amazon services and memberships like entertainment (Kindle Unlimited, Amazon Music Unlimited, Prime Video, Audible, etc.) and grocery shopping (Amazon Fresh, Amazon Pantry, Whole Foods, etc.).
Prime Day is also a great time to shop at other retailers in addition to Amazon
In previous years, plenty of other online retailers threw competing sales around Prime Day. However, because Prime Day is postponed this year, we're not sure yet whether retailers like Nordstrom, Target, and eBay will also move their summer sales accordingly.
We'll update you here once we know more about other sales that will happen in October as well.
What we do know is that Amazon's perks like fast and free 2-day shipping remain, making Prime Day more often than not the winner in a competition of price and convenience.
If you plan on shopping Prime Day this year, we'll be covering from nearly every point of entry and combing through thousands of deals to cherry-pick the ones you won't want to miss
Check back at our Prime Day 2020 page (or bookmark it) for easy access to the best deals as they pop up throughout Amazon Prime Day 2020 and to learn about any updates.
If you're interested in specific categories of deals on Prime Day, we have you covered with these roundups:
A Sukhoi S-70 Okhotnik heavy unmanned combat aerial vehicle after the first joint flight with a Sukhoi Su-57 jet fighter.
Photo by TASS\TASS via Getty Images
The Russian Ministry of Defense has proposed expanding the role of the stealthy new Okhotnik (Hunter) drone to include long-range intercept missions, Russian state media reported.
The Okhotnik could be tasked with targeting not only approaching fighter and bomber aircraft, but also the tankers and airborne early warning planes that support them.
An aircraft industry source told the state-run TASS that the drone will rely on artificial intelligence to achieve a certain degree of warfighting autonomy.
Like Russia, the US military is pursuing several lines of effort to field AI-driven autonomous aircraft for manned-unmanned teaming in combat operations.
Russia is considering giving the stealthy Okhotnik (Hunter) combat drone an air-to-air combat mission as a long-range interceptor, Russian state media reported this week.
The Russian defense ministry has proposed a concept of operations that would see the drone deployed forward with long-range weaponry to "attack air targets before they approach the air defense zone," an aircraft industry source told the TASS news agency.
While development of the flying-wing Okhotnik unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) began years earlier, it was not until January of last year that the world saw the first pictures of the drone.
The drone, a Sukhoi Design Bureau project, took flight for the first time in August 2019, and then in September of last year, it flew alongside a Su-57, Russia's most advanced fighter aircraft.
"As originally designed, it was supposed to be an air defense penetrator," Samuel Bendett, an adviser with CNA and an adjunct senior fellow with the Center for a New American Security think tank who studies Russian military autonomy and AI, told Insider.
"Then, they announced that it would function in a manned-unmanned teaming formation with the stealthy Su-57 manned aircraft and the Su-35, also an advanced Russian manned aircraft," he said. "And, now they are saying that it's going to get an interceptor role."
As a forward operating system, the Okhotnik could be tasked with targeting not only approaching fighter and bomber aircraft, but also rear-echelon assets such as tankers and airborne early warning planes that support them. It could even dogfight with enemy manned aircraft, as well as engage unmanned systems.
In addition to intercepting adversary assets, it could also be used to draw fire, force an enemy to reveal itself, or cause an adversary to expend higher-value, sophisticated munitions on a drone that could be needed for later fights.
The first joint flight of a Sukhoi S-70 Okhotnik heavy unmanned combat aerial vehicle and a Sukhoi Su-57 jet fighter.
Photo by TASS\TASS via Getty Images
Russia characterizes the Okhotnik as a stealthy unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) with a reduced radar signature, which gives the aircraft the ability to slip past defenses or approach enemy assets with less chance of being detected.
The design of the prototypes that have been used in recent tests do not appear to provide the desired all-aspect low observability. However, that may not be the case with the final design.
Last August, Sukhoi unveiled a stealthier design at an event outside Moscow, indicating that Russia intends to further refine the aircraft to achieve the intended stealth capabilities.
As for how it might operate, TASS reports that Okhotnik's actions in battle will be coordinated by both ground stations and manned fighter aircraft.
Bendett told Insider he suspects the Okhotnik drone "will have a similar role to Skyborg," a US Air Force project aimed at developing low-cost, attritable AI-driven autonomous UCAVs to fly alongside manned fighters.
A video screen grab shows a Sukhoi S-70 Okhotnik heavy unmanned combat aerial vehicle performing first test flights.
Photo by TASS\TASS via Getty Images
TASS' source told the outlet that the AI-driven platform will be "fully autonomous" and have the ability to "independently search for certain types of targets, report on them, and attack."
"Full autonomy is, I think, more of a conceptual statement," Bendett said. "It's a statement that kind of provides a goal for the domestic defense sector to work towards and kind of puts everybody else on notice that this is what the Russians are working on."
He said that across the Russian defense establishment, researchers and developers are looking at "unmanned systems eventually having full autonomy and fighting alongside humans, selecting the targets and making the evaluations for a human operator to then make the final decision."
As for that final decision on whether or not to engage, Russia is currently keeping the human in the loop, but, "we are starting to see the debate shift a little bit into that gray area where AI-enabled decision-making systems in various weapons are going to be given a greater and greater role in combat to the point where the human role is diminished," Bendett said.
It is not clear to what degree the Okhotnik combat drone is presently autonomous, assuming it is at all.
The US military is currently pursuing projects to advance research for unmanned warfare with AI at the stick.
Last week, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) put an AI algorithm up against a well-trained US Air Force F-16 pilot in a "simulated within-visual-range air combat" situation, or dogfight.
The AI achieved a flawless victory, one that a former US Navy TOPGUN instructor said was a "significant step toward one day providing an unmanned aircraft that can perform dogfighting" but not evidence "that we're there now."
The Air Force has said that it plans to pit an AI-driven autonomous aircraft against a human pilot in some type of aerial engagement as early as next year, more work is required to get AI ready for real world combat.
"The United States is ahead of the competition in trying to understand what AI's role is in aerial combat," Bendett said, adding that Russia will likely need to put its unmanned systems through similar tests before platforms like the Okhotnik can carry out missions as intended.
The Russian defense ministry has called for deliveries of the Okhotnik combat drone to begin in 2024.
Hello, everyone! Thanks for reading. A brief note to say that this will be our last edition of "Insider Today" for a while.
Our intrepid leader, David Plotz, has concluded his six-month break from entrepreneuring and has settled on his next adventure, which will be launching a cool new podcast company (Details from him soon!). David will continue to host the "Political Gabfest" each week, so you can keep up with his commentary there. Our op-ed columnists Linette Lopez and Anthony Fisher will continue to publish daily commentary on Insider, and I'll also lob in a column once in a while.
Thank you very much for reading, encouraging, and sharing your thoughts with us over the past few months. It has been a privilege and pleasure to correspond with you! — Henry Blodget
QUOTE OF THE DAY
"This election will decide if we save the American dream or whether we allow a socialist agenda to demolish our cherished destiny." — President Trump, during his RNC speech on Thursday night.
WHAT'S HAPPENING
President Donald Trump delivers his acceptance speech for the Republican presidential nomination on the South Lawn of the White House August 27, 2020.
President Donald Trump speaks at the first day of the Republican National Convention on August 24, 2020, in Charlotte, North Carolina.
BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images
Trump's socialist moment(s)
Blink and you might have missed it, the moment when Donald Trump told America that if reelected he would put more restrictions on US businesses to serve his populist economic agenda.
"I will not raise taxes; I will cut them, and very substantially," he said. "And we will also provide tax credits to bring jobs out of China back to America, and we will impose tariffs on any company that leaves America to produce jobs overseas. We will make sure our companies and jobs stay in our country..."
Trump is calling the other guys "socialists" but this a promise of government intrusion that will likely make CEOs even more uncomfortable than they were around this time last year, when Trump said that he "hereby" ordered CEOs to move operations out of China.
Now you may be saying to yourself, but Linette, that's just talk, Trump can't force companies to do any of this.
To that I say, Trump has no respect for what he can't do. Consider that he was first told he couldn't put a ban on immigration from Muslim countries, and then he kicked the tires of our democracy until he figured out how to get it done. He believes that rules are meant to be broken and that principles — like capitalist ones — only matter when they serve him. If Trump is really dedicated to messing with something in our economy he will find a way. Just ask the now-former CEO of TikTok.
And what cool head in the White House will try to stop him? The Trump administration has gotten farther and farther away from a normal American democratic (little d) capitalist administration as time has gone on. When it started it was populated with a few technocrats, military men, GOP party people, and Goldman Sachs guys. Not everyone's cup of tea, but not weird.
As time has gone on, though, the normal people left the Trump administration. Now instead of Gary Cohn, former COO of Goldman Sachs advising on economic policy, we have crank economist and China fear monger Peter Navarro.
Trump's basic instinct is nationalist grievance, which is why he's held onto his populist economic policies so tightly — especially those concerning China. When the normal guys were in the White House there was someone to temper that instinct, but now (and through the entire second term if he's reelected) those people have been replaced with spineless sycophants.
We've already seen the consequences of this. Trump's trade war with China cost American households and companies billions a month, and that was bad. In 2019 manufacturing had its worst year since before the financial crisis. That was also very bad. But now Trump's meddling in the economy is becoming more bold (again, talk to the TikTok guy). And there is no one to stop him. He's surrounded by cheerleaders. This smacks of socialist central planning, and it will only get worse unless we stop it in November. — Linette Lopez
AP Photo/Rick Bowmer
Guns are the enemy of free speech.
What happens when the Second Amendment meets the First Amendment?
The First Amendment loses.
The BLM protest movement represents the highest expression of the First Amendment. In cities and towns across the US, the people have peaceably assembled to express their grievances. These demonstrations have occasionally degenerated into violence and vandalism — though the violence has been disproportionately instigated and magnified by the police — but they have overwhelmingly been peaceful mass expressions of public discontent.
But what's increasingly happening — as the murder of two demonstrators in Kenosha tragically proved, and as the Washington Post documents here — is that peaceful demonstrators are encountering heavily armed counterprotesters, often representing alt-right or White nationalist groups.
Here we have the full flowering of the First Amendment — free speech about matters of public urgency — marching headlong the unbridled expansion of the Second Amendment — citizens openly brandishing loaded rifles, often semiautomatic ones, in public places.
These two cherished American principles do not meet on equal footing, because a gun is the opposite of speech. A loaded weapon discourages speech, intimidates, and demands compliance. Even someone who intends no harm with a gun — and I believe that these counterprotesters intend no harm — is quashing the free speech of those around them, because it is impossible to speak openly when someone who hates your opinion is holding a loaded gun near you and telling you to shut up and leave.
It's right-wing cancel culture.
Guns also intimidate the police, who are proving incapable of keeping order — or unwilling to keep order — when heavily armed counterprotesters decide they want to scare off progressives. This is teaching the gun-bearers that they can dictate what happens in the street because the cops aren't able to control them the way the cops are all-too-happy to control the peaceful protesters.
Guns can turn what should be harmless exchanges into potential tragedies. We're still learning exactly what happened in Kenosha, but it appears an unarmed protester verbally accosted Kyle Rittenhouse, and perhaps threw a plastic bag at him, which prompted Rittenhouse to shoot and kill him and then another protester who tried to intervene.
How can citizens possibly engage in the give and take of political argument — the pure heart of the First Amendment — when any wrong move could lead to mass murder? The Second Amendment is squashing the First.
There is no easy solution to this problem. Actually, there is an easy solution, but it's inconceivable in a country where open-carry is legal almost everywhere, and where there are hundreds of millions of legally owned guns. The easy solution is that citizens should not be permitted to brandish guns in public places. — David Plotz
A scientist holds a block of ice in Fournier Bay, near Anvers Island off the Antarctic Peninsula, on February 3.
Not the convention, Not the most-powerful hurricane to hit Louisiana in 150 years. Not the police shooting in Kenosha, the unrest, the murder of two demonstrators. Not the relentless attack of the pandemic. Not the 1 million new unemployment claims.
This. Scientists have found that the earth lost 28 trillion metric tons of ice between 1994 and 2017. These losses match the worst-case scenario predictions by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The report came just a few days after another set of scientists found that the melting of the Greenland ice sheet has passed the point of no return. — DP
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
A normally busy road leading to Dallas on March 24.
First lady Melania Trump stands with Ivanka Trump at the White House on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC.
Mark Wilson/Getty Images
Operation Block Ivanka: Melania Trump's ex-friend taped her disparaging Ivanka Trump and her husband, and scheming to minimize Ivanka's role in the inauguration.
A social distancing sign marks the floor outside the Charlotte Convention Center’s Richardson Ballroom.
Travis Dove/Reuters
The two attendees and two support staff of the RNC in Charlotte tested positive for COVID-19.
Earlier in the week, county health officials expressed concern about the lack of social distancing and masks at the RNC in Charlotte.
The official party business of the RNC took place in Charlotte, where the entire convention was originally set to be held, while President Donald Trump's speech and other events occurred in Baltimore and at the White House.
Trump has consistently faced criticism over his handling of the coronavirus pandemic, and for not taking it more seriously in public. The US has the highest number of reported cases (over 5.8 million) and confirmed fatalities (over 181,000) from the virus in the world.
Four people at the Republican National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina, tested positive for COVID-19, Mecklenburg County officials announced on Friday, per the Charlotte Observer.
The two attendees and two support staff who tested positive for the virus have been told to isolate and people they've been in close contact with were also told to quarantine, the Observer reported.
Much of the RNC, including President Donald Trump's acceptance speech on Thursday, took place at the White House. But the party business occurred in Charlotte.
Almost 800 people who attended or worked as support staff at the RNC in Charlotte were tested for the virus, the Observer reported. But it could be a few weeks until a clear picture emerges on whether others were infected during the event.
According to the Observer, Friday's announcement came after county health officials expressed concern about a lack of social distancing and mask wearing at the convention on Monday.
Public health experts also raised alarm about the large audience of people who attended the final night of the RNC on the South Lawn of the White House. Images of the event showed the crowd of roughly 1,500 people sitting closely together and few wore masks. Coronavirus testing and masks were not required to attend.
"This is deeply irresponsible. It goes against all that we know about keeping people safe. We should expect better from our national leaders," Dr. Ashish Jha, the director of the Harvard Global Health Institute, said in reaction to the scene at the RNC on Thursday, CNN's Jake Tapper reported.
Las Vegas hotels are lavish and live large, and often offered at competitive prices.
Many casinos and hotels have reopened following shutdowns due to the novel coronavirus and we rounded up the best affordable hotels in Vegas, with updated information on their new COVID-19 policies.
Our hotel selections are rated four stars and higher, and are based on our own travels, top Trip Advisor reviews, Booking.com ratings, and priced under $100 per night in slower seasons.
Las Vegas is filled with eye-popping entertainment and attractions — and plenty of potential ways to drop a boatload of cash. But that doesn't always extend to your hotel. Sin City can be the perfect place to score truly luxurious lodging for a price so low it could seem like a typo.
Now, as travelers emerge from lockdowns in response to the novel coronavirus, those discount prices are also increasingly appearing in a bid to lure guests, coupled with stringent new cleaning policies.
One deal worthy of a look? Now through September 11, 2020, Business Insider readers can exclusively save 30 percent on stays at the Venetian. The deal also includes free breakfast and is cancellable/refundable — a serious perk in the COVID-era when travel plans are frequently disrupted.
If you're wondering if it's safe to travel, it's important to understand the risks associated with travel, and hotels specifically. Remember, without a vaccine, there is no firm guarantee and it's crucial to follow guidelines from organizations such as the CDC and WHO, and wear a mask, wash your hands, and maintain social distancing.
If you're considering spending the night, you'll want to be up to date on new policies put in place from major hotels, which we've outlined below. Expect temperature checks, enforced social distancing, contactless check-in, thorough guest room and public space cleaning, and new rules around dining and leisure. As of right now, the state of Nevada also requires face coverings or masks to be worn in public areas.
Because the pandemic situation is constantly evolving, you may want to read up on hotel cancellation policies, too.
Hopefully, these policies will help you sleep easier. The cheap prices will certainly help too. Because Vegas resort operators make a huge chunk of their profits down on the casino floor, where the house always has the advantage, cheap room rates attract guests who then spend their money on slots and tables.
But cheap doesn't mean dismal. The city sets a high bar for accommodations at any price, even for a two-figure price tag — yes, well under $100, and in many cases under $50. Beware when booking though, as a resort fee could inflate that rate much higher. I've seen rooms for $50 per night with an $80 daily resort fee. Of course, in high season or during big events, all rates are subject to change and starting price points can soar.
We rounded up hotels rated four stars or higher, with a prime location on or near the Las Vegas Strip, that are beloved by guests with top reviews on Trip Advisor, excellent Booking.com and Hotel.com ratings — and based on our own past stays.
These are the best hotels in Las Vegas for under $100 per night, sorted by price from low to high.
Bally's Las Vegas Hotel & Casino is one of the oldest hotels on the Las Vegas Strip, but thanks to a full recent renovation to tower guest rooms, it feels brand new again.
The hotel is a member of Caesars Entertainment and is one of the most affordable hotels on the Las Vegas Strip, with prices as low as $31 for a midweek stay in low season, though rates can typically rise $100 to $150 on a weekend. We stayed in a King Resort room while attending one of the busiest trade shows of the year and were impressed by the generous size, comfort, and cleanliness, as well as the access to an on-site monorail station.
Trip Advisor ranking: 65 out of 276 hotels in Las Vegas
Pros: One of the cheapest hotels in Las Vegas with newly renovated rooms in a central Las Vegas Strip location, with a monorail station, and close to the Las Vegas Convention Center.
Cons: While new, the hotel isn't as glitzy as some of the huge Las Vegas Strip resorts.
COVID status and policies: This hotel is currently open and accepting reservations. As a member of Caesars Entertainment, Bally's is following the same policies as all Caesars properties, which include:
Social distancing at gaming tables, slot machines, restaurants, and more, with restrictions around congregating in groups.
Guests are being asked to frequently wash hands for a minimum of 20 seconds and hand sanitizing stations are also available.
Employees will wear masks that cover their nose and mouth, and guests are strongly encouraged to do so as well.
The facility will be frequently cleaned, focusing on high-touch areas throughout the property.
Front desks have been arranged to allow for appropriate social distancing with special markings to identify the appropriate distance between guests.
Team members, including guest room attendants, will not enter occupied rooms, and guest deliveries will be dropped off outside the guest room door.
Salons and spas will adjust schedules between clients to allow time to clean and disinfect surfaces.
Exercise machines will be cleaned and disinfected between use and mobile fitness equipment (dumbbells, mats, etc.) have been removed.
At the pool, seating will be cleaned and disinfected between guests, and cabanas and lounge chairs have been rearranged to allow for appropriate social distancing.
After a stint as the SLS Las Vegas, this property has returned to the building's original roots as the Sahara Las Vegas. As part of the rebrand, the property underwent a $150 million revamp, including an updated casino, renovated hotel rooms and corridors, an upgraded spa, and new hotel lobby.
I found the entry-level rooms to be well-appointed and sleek and offered at a stunning bargain with rates regularly available under $50 in lower seasons. It's also one of the most convenient places to stay near the Las Vegas Convention Center. I even spotted prices as low as $60 during big events such as CES, proving deals can be found even at busier times.
Trip Advisor ranking: 88 out of 274 hotels in Las Vegas
Pros: Newly renovated rooms with a convenient location right near the Las Vegas Convention Center.
Cons: While new, the hotel isn't as glitzy as some of the huge Las Vegas Strip resorts and some rooms have a few quirks that need fixing.
COVID status and policies: This hotel is open and accepting reservations. New policies include:
All hotel guests will have their temperature checked prior to check-in.
In addition to using specialized, CDC recommended disinfectants, the hotel is applying an EPA registered, anti-microbial surface protectant to high-touch items like door handles, gaming chips, elevator buttons, and slot machine panels.
Complimentary masks are available on property.
Guest rooms have been thoroughly disinfected with special attention paid to areas of high contact areas.
Fresh linens are laundered locally to ensure the best quality of cleaning products and proper water temperature. Linens are never co-mingled with those of other major resorts.
Once a room is inspected and deemed cleaned to specifications, it will be considered sealed until the guest checks in. An amenity kit with protective items will be made available to all hotel guests.
During their stay, guests can use contactless virtual concierge services to request additional amenities, fresh towels, and trash removal.
Players of live table games will be asked to wear cloth facemasks and to step away from the game if they want to smoke. There will also be increased sanitization of table rails, chairs, dice, and chips in addition to changes in procedures to minimize player touching of cards.
Hand sanitizer will be readily available for all. Guests can expect additional space between slot machines and may request a machine to be sanitized.
Restaurants have eliminated reusable menus, now utilize single-use items, and seating is limited to permit appropriate distance between guests.
The resort will increase the amount of outside air brought into the ventilation system to "turn over" inside air more quickly, and replace air filters on a regular basis.
Markers will note the distance guests should keep between other people not in their group and smaller areas will limit the number of guests.
Plexiglass shields will be used and staff will wear masks and undergo temperature checks.
All pool areas are deep cleaned nightly and the layout will be updated to include social distancing guidelines and proper space between guests. Guests are encouraged to reserve an area ahead of time for themselves or their group.
With nice rooms available squarely in the two-figure range, Planet Hollywood over-delivers on value. I also enjoy staying here for how electric the energy feels within the hotel. The casino floor always feels lively, and there is top-tier dining from the likes of Gordon Ramsay, and designer stores at the Miracle Mile Shops, all on-site.
Planet Hollywood is also a great spot to just chill out. The Spa by Mandara is excellent and the pool boasts dozens of cabanas and the only Vegas pool with a wave machine.
TripAdvisor ranking: 35 out of 276 hotels in Las Vegas
Pros: Excellent location right in the center of the Las Vegas Strip for easy exploring.
Cons: While the rooms appear nice, some negative online reviews cite the cheapest options are in need of renovation. Book an upgraded room to avoid this risk.
COVID status and policies: This hotel is not currently open but is still accepting new reservations. However, the booking page states "The well-being of our guests and employees continues to be our priority. Given the evolving guidance from government agencies, there is a possibility that property closure dates will be extended through your arrival date. If a comparable Caesars Entertainment property is opened during your stay dates, your reservation may be relocated to that property."
A member of Caesars Entertainment, Planet Hollywood is expected to follow the same policies when they reopen, which include:
Social distancing at gaming tables, slot machines, restaurants, and more, with restrictions around congregating in groups.
Guests are being asked to frequently wash hands for a minimum of 20 seconds and hand sanitizing stations are also available.
Employees will wear masks that cover their nose and mouth, and guests are strongly encouraged to do so as well.
The facility will be frequently cleaned, focusing on high-touch areas throughout the property.
Front desks have been arranged to allow for appropriate social distancing with special markings to identify the appropriate distance between guests.
Team members, including guest room attendants, will not enter occupied rooms, and guest deliveries will be dropped off outside the guest room door.
Salons and spas will adjust schedules between clients to allow time to clean and disinfect surfaces.
Exercise machines will be cleaned and disinfected between use and mobile fitness equipment (dumbbells, mats, etc.) have been removed.
As the name implies, rooms at Paris Las Vegas feel European-inspired, with a fashionable color palette, Versailles-inspired fixtures, and chic marble counters. Plus, there's plenty to do on-property that makes staying here exciting, including dining at Gordon Ramsay Steak, or 110 feet above the Strip in the Eiffel Tower Restaurant. I suggest relaxing by the Soleil Las Vegas pool to enjoy a view of the tower, or get pampered at the full-service Voie spa and salon.
Trip Advisor ranking: 59 out of 276 hotels in Las Vegas
Pros: Low prices for a property with a fun, exciting reputation and a center-strip location in the middle of all the action.
Cons: Critics point out a lack of variety with slot machines and a ho-hum buffet.
COVID status and policies: This hotel is currently open and accepting reservations. A member of Caesars Entertainment, Paris Las Vegas follows the same policies as other Caesars properties, which include:
Social distancing at gaming tables, slot machines, restaurants, and more, with restrictions around congregating in groups.
Guests are being asked to frequently wash hands for a minimum of 20 seconds and hand sanitizing stations are also available.
Employees will wear masks that cover their nose and mouth, and guests are strongly encouraged to do so as well.
The facility will be frequently cleaned, focusing on high-touch areas throughout the property.
Front desks have been arranged to allow for appropriate social distancing with special markings to identify the appropriate distance between guests.
Team members, including guest room attendants, will not enter occupied rooms, and guest deliveries will be dropped off outside the guest room door.
Salons and spas will adjust schedules between clients to allow time to clean and disinfect surfaces.
Exercise machines will be cleaned and disinfected between use and mobile fitness equipment (dumbbells, mats, etc.) have been removed.
Palms Casino Resort recently completed a massive property-wide $690 million renovation with newly revamped rooms and suites available at shockingly low prices. Standard rooms can be booked for as low as $52.
I felt downright pampered in my room, with a striped marble bathroom, deep soaking tub, and 65-inch TVs. The Palms is also home to a restaurant from famed chef Bobby Flay, and a brand new spa which sprawls over three stories. Plus, the buffet is only $17, a fraction of what it costs elsewhere.
TripAdvisor ranking: 122 out of 276 hotels in Las Vegas
Pros: Gorgeous new rooms and suites are available for extremely cheap prices, with plenty of amenities, food and drink on-site.
Cons: This property is not located on the Strip. It's an easy ride, but won't be walkable. Additionally, the $39 daily resort fee will inflate otherwise cheap nightly rates.
COVID status and policies: Palms Casino Resort is currently closed, and not expected to reopen until October 2020, though that is subject to change.
The Signature is an all-suite hotel set back from the MGM Grand's main resort and casino but is still easily accessible to it by fully indoor walkways. There's no casino on-site at the Signature, which means the crowd is less rowdy, and the hotel feels peaceful. Rooms are quiet, yet still walking distance to the action.
My colleague used the Chase Sapphire Reserve card to book here and scored extra perks such as free upgrade, late checkout, and complimentary food and beverage credit. Spacious suites include spa baths, flat-screen TVs, separate sitting areas, and impressively outfitted kitchenettes for an apartment-like experience.
I've felt right at home (and saved money) by cooking my own breakfast with appliances much fancier than the ones in my own house.
Trip Advisor ranking: 32 out of 274 hotels in Las Vegas
Pros: Luxe suites with high-end kitchenettes that are a respite from the frenetic pace of the Strip's casinos and party atmosphere.
Cons: Though it's fully connected to the MGM Grand, it can be a long walk and some might view the location away from the main Strip, or lack of casino lobby as marks against it.
COVID status and policies: This hotel is currently open and accepting reservations. New policies follow MGM's 'Seven-Point Safety Plan' and employ the following measures:
Employee screening, temperature checks, and COVID-19 specific training.
Employees will be required to wear masks; Guests are strongly encouraged to wear masks, and in some settings where physical distancing is more difficult and/or barriers do not exist, will be required to do so. Masks will be provided, free of charge.
A physical distancing policy will be implemented, with floor guides serving as reminders. For areas where physical distancing presents challenges, plexiglass barriers will be installed, or other measures will be used to reduce risks.
Standalone handwashing stations designed by MGM Resorts conveniently located on casino floors.
Contactless check-in is offered through the MGM Resorts App to minimize interactions.
Guest room attendants will wear masks and gloves while cleaning and will change gloves between guest rooms. Rooms and public spaces are cleaned based on CDC guidance, and electrostatic sprayers will be utilized in many large public spaces to apply disinfectant efficiently.
Amenities and venues are limited, with digital menus available to view on personal mobile devices via QR codes in restaurants. To minimize groups congregating, guests will receive text message notification when their tables are ready.
Days and hours of operation at all venues will vary.
Another central, non-gaming option, Vdara is located adjacent to Aria at CityCenter and is a totally smoke-free and casino-free property. This makes it a great option for those who prefer to focus on work, relaxing, or traveling with kids in tow.
The all-suite property has amenities like kitchenettes with microwaves, stove tops, fridges, and cookware. Add an additional $50 per night and bring your pup along, too.
Trip Advisor ranking: 48 out of 276 hotels in Las Vegas
Pros: Vdara is an all-suite, smoke-free property that might feel less chaotic, and cheaper than Aria, while still enjoying easy access to its amenities.
Cons: If you want to be able to smoke and gamble right downstairs, you'll want to stay elsewhere.
COVID status and policies: This hotel is open and accepting reservations. New policies follow M Life Entertainment's 'Seven-Point Safety Plan' and employ the following measures:
Employee screening, temperature checks, and COVID-19 specific training.
Employees will be required to wear masks; Guests are strongly encouraged to wear masks, and in some settings where physical distancing is more difficult and/or barriers do not exist, will be required to do so. Masks will be provided, free of charge.
A physical distancing policy will be implemented, with floor guides serving as reminders. For areas where physical distancing presents challenges, plexiglass barriers will be installed, or other measures will be used to reduce risks.
Standalone handwashing stations designed by MGM Resorts conveniently located on casino floors.
Contactless check-in is offered through the MGM Resorts App to minimize interactions.
Guest room attendants will wear masks and gloves while cleaning and will change gloves between guest rooms. Rooms and public spaces are cleaned based on CDC guidance, and electrostatic sprayers will be utilized in many large public spaces to apply disinfectant efficiently.
Amenities and venues are limited, with digital menus available to view on personal mobile devices via QR codes in restaurants. To minimize groups congregating, guests will receive text message notification when their tables are ready.
Days and hours of operation at all venues will vary.
Caesars is one of the Strip's older properties, but it's always iconic and attracts bold-faced names and ventures. Recently, that includes Lisa Vanderpump's new Vanderpump Cocktail Garden restaurant, as well as celebrity chef spots from Gordon Ramsay, Bobby Flay, Guy Savoy, and Nobu Matsuhisa, and of course, the Mariah Carey residency at the 4,100-seat Colosseum at Caesars Palace theater.
There are 4,000 guest rooms in six towers, many of which have been smartly renovated with marble bathrooms and flat-screen TVs. Among my favorite features here — although not always the best thing for a budget-minded trip — is the attached Forum Shops mall.
TripAdvisor ranking: 29 out of 276 hotels in Las Vegas
Pros: Excellent quality celebrity-backed dining and entertainment, plus the Forum Shops mall.
Cons: Caesars is iconic, but it's far from one of the strip's newest properties and can feel quite crowded when the casino is packed, or a show is happening. If you're looking for a relaxing hotel, consider another option from this list.
COVID status and policies: Caesars Palace is currently open and accepting reservations. New policies include:
Social distancing at gaming tables, slot machines, restaurants, and more, with restrictions around congregating in groups.
Guests are being asked to frequently wash hands for a minimum of 20 seconds and hand sanitizing stations are also available.
Employees will wear masks that cover their nose and mouth, and guests are strongly encouraged to do so as well.
The facility will be frequently cleaned, focusing on high-touch areas throughout the property.
Front desks have been arranged to allow for appropriate social distancing with special markings to identify the appropriate distance between guests.
Team members, including guest room attendants, will not enter occupied rooms, and guest deliveries will be dropped off outside the guest room door.
Salons and spas will adjust schedules between clients to allow time to clean and disinfect surfaces.
Exercise machines will be cleaned and disinfected between use and mobile fitness equipment (dumbbells, mats, etc.) have been removed.
At the pool, seating will be cleaned and disinfected between guests, and cabanas and lounge chairs have been rearranged to allow for appropriate social distancing.
This five-star Las Vegas Strip resort can quickly go above $100 in busier seasons, but if you travel midweek or in winter, you might find a rate right around $100 (before the daily fee, however). For a high-end hotel with 80 restaurants — including Thomas Keller's Bouchon — a glittering casino, the Grand Canal Shoppes, and pool deck that covers 1.2 acres, that's a tremendous value.
All rooms are suites, and huge, starting at 650 square feet. I've stayed here often for work, as the Venetian connects to the Sands Expo & Convention Center, and have enjoyed luxuriating in a suite with a sunken sitting area, dining table, and two high-def TVs. Each also has a luxurious bathroom with oversized soaking tub, separate glass-enclosed shower, and marble counters. Guests are also granted access to the Canyon Ranch Spa Club gym.
Exclusive deal: Now through September 11, 2020, Business Insider readers can save 30 percent on stays at the Venetian. The deal includes free breakfast for two guests and is cancellable/refundable, which is a major benefit if you're worried about changing plans later. The offer is valid for stays between August 20, 2020, through September 30, 2020. See more details here.
TripAdvisor ranking: 30 of 274 hotels in Las Vegas
Pros: Sprawling, all-suite resort with access to some of Vegas' best attractions, entertainment, and dining, all located on-site.
Cons: While luxurious, the Venetian is not as posh-feeling as its newer sister property, the Palazzo, which also tends to be more expensive. And while you might snag a rate as low as $100 at Venetian, it's likely to be a bit higher most times of the year.
COVID status and policies: This hotel is currently open and accepting reservations. New COVID-19 safety precautions promise to meet or exceed the requirements of the CDC and include:
The use of thermal scanners as you enter the resort to detect raised temperatures.
Face masks are worn by all hotel and restaurant staff.
Free masks are available to guests at thermal scanning stations at every entrance.
The frequency of cleaning and disinfecting has been increased in all public spaces, focusing on high-touch surfaces such as door handles, escalator and stair handrails, and elevator buttons.
Visitors are encouraged to wear personal face masks and gloves at the resort.
Guests and staff must practice physical distancing and maintain a distance of at least six feet to help minimize risk.
In every suite, guests receive a "personal care" amenity kit that includes hand sanitizer, sanitizing wipes, two pairs of gloves, and two personal face masks. Gloves and masks are replenished daily. Strict cleaning and disinfecting standards place more emphasis on high-touch items like TV remotes, door and furniture handles, and control panels. Disinfectant sprayers and more are being added to cleaning practices.
Pool seating has been arranged to allow for six feet of space between every family or couple. In addition, swimming pool surfaces are treated with an anti-viral/anti-bacterial treatment daily. Routine cleaning of pool decks, lounge chairs, and restrooms has been increased.
All restaurants and bars have reduced seating to provide spacing between tables and chairs. Single-use or online menus are used to minimize risk.
Located on the Las Vegas Strip within the CityCenter complex, Aria is a glittering curvilinear property with a 150,000-square-foot casino, 16 restaurants, and more than 4,000 rooms. Opened just a decade ago, rooms still feel brand new with fully tricked-out tech. A one-touch room control system operates features like lighting and climate control, and I've felt pretty pampered by making those changes without even having to move around the room.
Plus, Hakkasan Group's Jewel nightclub is located here, as is a huge spa with 62 treatment rooms, and three pools including the Liquid pool club for grown folks.
TripAdvisor ranking: 61 of 272 hotels in Las Vegas
Pros: High-end technology-driven rooms with a central Strip location.
Cons: Some people complain of pricey food on property, which can cumulatively counter bargain-priced rooms.
COVID status and policies: This hotel is currently open and accepting reservations. The hotel's new policies follow MGM's Seven-Point Safety Plan and employ the same measures and include:
Employee screening, temperature checks, and COVID-19 specific training.
Employees will be required to wear masks; Guests are strongly encouraged to wear masks, and in some settings where physical distancing is more difficult and/or barriers do not exist, will be required to do so. Masks will be provided, free of charge.
A physical distancing policy will be implemented, with floor guides serving as reminders. For areas where physical distancing presents challenges, plexiglass barriers will be installed, or other measures will be used to reduce risks.
Standalone handwashing stations designed by MGM Resorts conveniently located on casino floors.
Contactless check-in is offered through the MGM Resorts App to minimize interactions.
Guest room attendants will wear masks and gloves while cleaning and will change gloves between guest rooms. Rooms and public spaces are cleaned based on CDC guidance, and electrostatic sprayers will be utilized in many large public spaces to apply disinfectant efficiently.
Amenities and venues are limited, with digital menus available to view on personal mobile devices via QR codes in restaurants. To minimize groups congregating, guests will receive text message notification when their tables are ready.
Days and hours of operation at all venues will vary.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell speaking to reporters after a meeting to wrap up work on coronavirus economic aid legislation.
Reuters
Mitch McConnell said in May that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's $3 trillion stimulus proposal had "no chance of becoming law."
The Senate majority leader was initially reluctant to support a fourth stimulus bill, advocating waiting to see how well states reopened.
Shortly before provisions in the third stimulus bill lapsed in late July, the Senate proposed a $1 trillion package that would cut expanded unemployment benefits and waive coronavirus-related liability for employers, among other things — that position hasn't budged a month later.
McConnell has also expressed support for changing federal law to allow states to go bankrupt.
Much of the Republican Senate may not want any more aid at all, The Associated Press reported, prompting McConnell to stay on the sidelines.
The federal government made history in March when it enacted a $2.2 trillion stimulus package that included an unprecedented expansion of unemployment benefits and a $349 billion program for small-business lending.
The law was the third relief package during the coronavirus pandemic — but it might not have been enough.
In mid-May, House Democrats passed a fourth stimulus package to the tune of $3 trillion. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi had been an early voice saying that the massive third package needed a successor. She advocated another round of direct payments to Americans like the $1,200 checks sent to people under the March law.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said in a floor speech on May 12, the day the House bill was introduced, that it had "no chance of becoming law," Business Insider reported.
By the end of July, provisions in the third package had lapsed, and McConnell, Pelosi, and the White House could not agree on a replacement. President Donald Trump acted unilaterally in early August, signing executive actions on unemployment, among other things, that may be neither effective nor constitutional.
Talks remained "essentially nonexistent" through the end of the month, Politico reported, quoting Pelosi as saying that Republicans "aren't trying anything."
As much of the economy reopened in May and jobs reports showed signs of recovery, the Republican position was to wait and see whether another package would be necessary. But spikes in reported coronavirus cases in late June and the US daily-case record highs in July threatened that momentum.
McConnell is one of the main negotiators of the stimulus package, but his position has changed over time.
What McConnell has called for in a fourth stimulus package
McConnell at a news conference in June.
Associated Press
McConnell was initially reluctant about a phase-four package but acknowledged in early April that there would be a "next measure." He told The Associated Press he would prioritize healthcare spending and shy away from passing anything unrelated to the emergency, adding in a tweet that Democrats were pushing "unrelated pet priorities."
Another McConnell demand emerged during his appearance on Hugh Hewitt's radio show on April 22, when he said he would "certainly be in favor of allowing states to use the bankruptcy route."
This would be a major change to American law, as states can't file for bankruptcy. David Frum wrote in The Atlantic that this would be an attractive prospect for McConnell, given that the federal judiciary has become more right-leaning during his tenure. Governors from both parties, including Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo of New York and Republican Gov. Larry Hogan of Maryland, dismissed the idea.
The liability-waiver provision appears to be an acknowledgment that companies endanger their employees by resuming normal business activity and that the government should allow them to do so.
What Republicans proposed before the third stimulus package lapsed in July
Republican Sen. Ted Cruz, left, talking with Sens. Lindsey Graham, right, and John Cornyn in September 2018.
Jim Bourg via AP
Much of the $1 trillion Republican package was as expected when it was announced in late July. It would provide another round of $1,200 checks for most Americans, with another $500 per child for families with children. Sen. John Cornyn unveiled the provision with a liability waiver, called the Safe to Work Act.
The phase-four Heroes Act would extend the $600 weekly bonus to unemployment benefits through January, which Republicans have repeatedly pushed back against, calling it a "disincentive" for people to go back to work. Business Insider's Joseph Zeballos-Roig reported that this argument belies that wages haven't been climbing, that job postings are down versus before the pandemic, and that the May and June jobs reports beat expectations.
Senate Republicans have long echoed the White House's rhetoric about the expanded $600 unemployment benefit being a disincentive. As they introduced their package in late July, they proposed switching to a system that would give unemployed people 70% of their previous salary — which experts described as logistically difficult — and cutting the benefit to $200 a week.
The choice may not even be up to McConnell. The AP reported in mid-August that much of his caucus did not want to pass another stimulus bill, prompting him to say on the sidelines and let Pelosi negotiate with the White House.
Senate Republicans have been preparing a "skinny bill" over the August recess, which Democrats have rejected for falling short of what's needed. In late August, McConnell said at a Kentucky event that talks were "at a stalemate," Politico reported, but he also said he thinks "we need another" stimulus.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was an early voice calling for a fourth stimulus package.
The House of Representatives passed the $3 trillion Heroes Act in mid-May, extending, among other things, the $600 weekly unemployment bonus through January and sending another round of checks to Americans.
Pelosi has also said she wants to roll back the limit on the state and local tax deduction that was part of the 2017 tax law.
The AP reported that Pelosi believes she has leverage in negotiations with the White House on a fourth deal, although she has offered to come down to around $2.2 trillion.
During a late August version of her weekly press conference, Pelosi said "we're not budging."
The federal government made history in March when it enacted a $2.2 trillion stimulus package that included an unprecedented expansion of unemployment benefits and a $349 billion program for small-business lending.
The law was the third relief package during the coronavirus pandemic — but it might not have been enough.
In mid-May, House Democrats passed a fourth stimulus package to the tune of $3 trillion. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was an early voice saying that even the massive third stimulus package wasn't big enough. She advocated another round of direct payments to Americans like the $1,200 checks sent to people under the March law.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said in a floor speech on May 12, the day the House bill was introduced, that it had "no chance of becoming law," Business Insider reported.
The two parties were unable to come to an agreement before the phase-three bill lapsed at the end of July, leaving millions of unemployed without expanded unemployment benefits, among other things.
What's in the House's stimulus bill
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
The House's phase-four Heroes Act would extend the $600 weekly bonus to unemployment benefits through January. Republicans have repeatedly pushed back on that, saying it would disincentivize people from going back to work. As of early August, McConnell and President Donald Trump had voiced some support for extending the bonus.
The House bill would provide nearly $1 trillion in additional aid to states and cities to help them pay essential workers like first responders and healthcare workers during the pandemic.
Other measures include $75 billion for coronavirus testing and contact tracing, $175 billion in aid for renters and homeowners, and billions for more $1,200 direct payments for people (up to $6,000 per household).
Pelosi told The New York Times in March that she would prefer that a phase-four package include some kind of rollback of the limit on the state and local tax deduction. Part of the 2017 tax law, the policy change especially hurt high earners in states like New York and California, which Pelosi represents.
The Times estimated that rolling it back would increase tax rebates for about 13 million households, nearly all of them earning at least $100,000. This provision apparently made it into the Heroes Act, HuffPost's Tara Golshan reported.
How Pelosi is negotiating with the White House
White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows in the Oval Office on April 30, 2020.
Pelosi told a group of reporters in mid-July that Republican senators "know there's going to be a bill," adding that a $1.3 trillion Republican proposal was "not enough," CNBC reported.
A few weeks later, after the third stimulus lapsed and the $600 unemployment benefit expired, Pelosi told CNN that Democrats wouldn't budge on the $600 weekly bonus as long as the jobless rate is high, but a smaller bonus could be tied to a declining jobless rate.
As talks broke down about a new deal in August, Trump acted unilaterally over a weekend early in the month, issuing four executive actions on unemployment and other matters. Only one was an executive order, under which the president is forced to cite a legal power behind a directive, because the constitution reserves such taxation and spending authorities to congress. Pelosi told CNN the same weekend that the orders were an "unconstitutional slop."
The AP reported in mid-August that Pelosi believes she has the leverage in negotiations with the White House and does not want to repeat her experience as a speaker when she provided mostly Democratic votes for a Republican president trying to avert economic disaster — the bulk of votes in favor of the 2008 bank bailout came from Pelosi's party.
Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer agreed to drop their package to around $2.5 trillion if the White House would come up from its $1 trillion proposal, the AP reported, saying that was rejected. The White House has negotiated through both Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, both the AP and Washington Post reported, resulting in a lack of consistency in the talks with Pelosi.
Pelosi and Meadows had a phone call later in the month, which yielded no apparent breakthrough in the talks. "We're not budging," Pelosi told reporters.
"We have said again and again that we are willing to come down, meet them in the middle — that would be $2.2 trillion," Politico reported on remarks she made after her press conference. "When they're ready to do that, we'll be ready to discuss and negotiate. I did not get that impression on that call."
President Trump's executive actions after stimulus talks lapsed address a payroll-tax deferral, extending the eviction moratorium, enhancing unemployment benefits, and relieving student-loan debt.
Each of these is an issue in congress' ongoing negotiations for another stimulus, which have repeatedly broken down since late July.
The four actions taken by Trump — only one of which was an executive order — may not be constitutional because they would bypass congress' taxation and spending powers.
Trump's memorandum on unemployment would effectively cut the program in place since March from a $600 weekly bonus to $400, while making states foot more of the bill.
The federal government made history in March when it passed into law a $2.2 trillion stimulus package that included an unprecedented expansion of unemployment benefits and a $349 billion program for small-business lending.
The package, which also included $1,200 checks sent to many Americans, was a success in keeping the economy afloat, Business Insider's Joseph Zeballos-Roig and Carmen Reinicke reported. There's just one problem: It expired in late July without a replacement in place, and as coronavirus cases began to spike again in late June, another looked necessary.
President Donald Trump reacted to the lapse in talks with executive actions, four of them, to be exact. Only one of the four actions was an executive order, meaning something the president can order to be done, and that had to do with a moratorium on evictions, as the previous moratorium lapsed with the last stimulus.
The other three actions were memoranda, which unlike executive orders do not require the president to assert what authority he is using. This may be related to Trump lacking the taxation and spending authority enjoyed by Congress for each of the measures he wants to see happen. Some critics, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, have already said his actions aren't constitutional.
In the memoranda, Trump wants to replace the last stimulus' expansion of unemployment, consisting of a $600 federal bonus on top of state benefits, with a $400 weekly boost, not all of which would come from the federal government (states would have to foot the bill for 25% of it). This memorandum also contemplates replacing the expanded unemployment with a "lost wages assistance" program.
Since Congress began debating stimulus measures amid the pandemic, Trump has been pushing to cut the payroll tax. While he has been short on specifics as to why he would cut it, the tax funds Social Security and Medicare, two major Democratic achievements from the 20th century that expanded the safety net for millions of Americans.
When Trump ran for president in 2016, he vowed not to touch Social Security or Medicare but has repeatedly taken aim at them, first in his White House budgets, and now with these executive actions.
Pelosi has also been calling for another stimulus package since March, but she wants to keep the payroll tax in place and go further than Trump's executive actions on unemployment and other matters. She's remained an advocate for another round of direct payments to Americans, similar to the $1,200 checks sent out as part of the "phase-three" package.
Around the time Pelosi started calling for a new stimulus, in March, Trump advocated for a stimulus that was focused on infrastructure, tweeting in support of a $2 trillion package. By June, however, reports indicated neither McConnell nor Trump wanted the next stimulus bill to exceed $1 trillion.
About four weeks later, Trump suggested he would support federal aid for beleaguered state and city governments only in exchange for a relaxation of "sanctuary-city" policies. Trump has long sought to punish sanctuary cities and states that have policies to limit or refuse cooperation with the federal government's immigration enforcement.
The White House has negotiated through both Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, both the AP and Washington Post reported, resulting in a lack of consistency in the talks with Pelosi.
Pelosi and Meadows had a phone call in late August which yielded no apparent breakthrough in the talks. "We're not budging," Pelosi told reporters.
"We have said again and again that we are willing to come down, meet them in the middle — that would be $2.2 trillion," Politico reported on remarks she made after her press conference. "When they're ready to do that, we'll be ready to discuss and negotiate. I did not get that impression on that call."
Trump has largely come out against extending the $600 unemployment bonus
On May 20, after the Heroes Act passed in the House, Trump joined the Republican chorus of voices opposing an extension of the $600 bonus unemployment benefit, with large implications for the future of the American safety net. Trump and several senators and representatives have repeatedly rejected the idea as a disincentive for work since the third stimulus passed in March.
White House officials have advocated for various substitutes for the $600 bonus. In the last week of May, Larry Kudlow, the director of the National Economic Council, proposed "back to work" cash bonuses for unemployed Americans. And in early June, The Wall Street Journal reported administration officials were weighing cutting the bonus from $600 to $250 or $300 per week in a new bill, or setting it as a share of salaries.
Trump appeared to back off cutting the unemployment bonus in early August after congress was unable to pass a new stimulus before the prior one lapsed.
"We want to get funds to people so they can live, but we don't want to disincentivize people," he told Fox News.
"Project Power" and "The Sleepover" are some of Netflix's most popular movies this week.
Netflix introduced daily top lists of the most popular titles on the streaming service in February.
Streaming search engine Reelgood keeps track of the lists and provides Business Insider with a rundown of the week's most popular movies on Netflix every Friday.
The Netflix original superhero movie "Project Power" continues to be a hit with audiences.
But a new Netflix original, "The Sleepover," and the 2019 comedy "Drunk Parents," starring Alec Baldwin and Salma Hayek, have also gained popularity this week.
Netflix introduced daily top 10 lists of its most viewed movies and TV shows in February (it counts a view if an account watches at least two minutes of a title).
Every week, the streaming search engine Reelgood compiles for Business Insider a list of which movies have been most prominent on Netflix's daily lists that week. On Reelgood, users can browse Netflix's entire movie library and sort by IMDb or Rotten Tomatoes ratings.
Below are Netflix's 9 most popular movies of the week in the US:
9. "Kill the Irishman" (2011)
Anchor Bay
Description: "This true crime tale charts the rise and fall of mobster Danny Greene, who faced down the Mafia to gain control of organized crime in 1970s Cleveland."
Rotten Tomatoes critic score: 61%
What critics said: "The problem is that writer-director Jonathan Hensleigh doesn't do much beyond filling in the template; he's telling the specific, true-life tale of mob decline in 1970s Cleveland, but every character and setpiece feels like it fell off a truck." — AV Club
8. "Seventh Son" (2015)
Universal
Description: "In the 18th century, apprentice exorcist Tom Ward is the lynchpin in a battle between good and evil when imprisoned witch Mother Malkin escapes."
Rotten Tomatoes critic score: 12%
What critics said: "It's lively and daft, and you find yourself wondering: all this expertise, and the best anybody could think to do with it was this?" — Guardian
7. "Despicable Me" (2010)
Dreamworks
Description: "Villainous Gru hatches a plan to steal the moon from the sky. But he has a tough time staying on task after three orphans land in his care."
Rotten Tomatoes critic score: 81%
What critics said: "It is a good sturdy family film, and Steve Carrell gives an engaging performance as a supervillain." — io9
6. "The Lost Husband" (2020)
Quiver Distribution
Description: "Looking to start anew, a widow retreats with her children to her aunt's goat farm, where the ranch's manager helps her navigate country life and loss."
Rotten Tomatoes critic score: 60%
What critics said: "Wight delivers a sedated Hallmark-y effort that just hints at heightened emotions - the very kind of rush underserved romance viewers come to this fare seeking - only to repeatedly interrupt and abandon them in puzzling ways." — Variety
5. "1BR" (2019)
Malevolent Films
Description: "Seeking her independence, a young woman moves to Los Angeles and settles into a cozy apartment complex with a disturbing sense of community."
Rotten Tomatoes critic score: 87%
What critics said: "Drawing on a fascination with cults and utopian communities, the director and co-writer, David Marmor, has created a mildly entertaining survival story whose depiction of psychological indoctrination far outstrips its generic dips into torture." — New York Times
4. "Mr. Peabody and Sherman" (2014)
Dreamworks
Description: "Resurrected from the 1960s animated series 'Rocky and Bullwinkle,' canine genius Mr. Peabody and young Sherman take a dizzying ride through time."
Rotten Tomatoes critic score: 81%
What critics said: "Back in his day, Mr. Peabody was a dog whose over-civility had bite. Now he's a genius you want to cuddle with." — Entertainment Weekly
3. "The Sleepover" (2020, Netflix original)
Netflix
Description: "What do you do if your parents are kidnapped by a crew of international thieves? You begin a wild overnight adventure — complete with spy gear."
Rotten Tomatoes critic score: 70%
What critics said: "[Ken] Marino steps up to turn a largely thankless role into the movie's most interesting subject." — Polygon
2. "Drunk Parents" (2019)
Vertical Entertainment
Description: "Two desperate parents go to extreme lengths to hide their dire financial straits from their daughter and friends."
Rotten Tomatoes critic score: 0%
What critics said: "Even with a cast this stacked, nothing about Drunk Parents works." — Decider
1. "Project Power" (2020, Netflix original)
Netflix
Description: "An ex-soldier, a teen and a cop collide in New Orleans as they hunt for the source behind a dangerous new pill that grants users temporary superpowers."
Rotten Tomatoes critic score: 60%
What critics said: "'Project Power' is the kind of action/sci-fi bone-cruncher where the cast is better than the material, the characters are more interesting than the premise, and the dialogue chugs along in the middle." — Boston Globe
Walmart store associates get three paid hours for voting if the timing of their shifts don't otherwise allow for it.
Brendan McDermid/Reuters
As Election Day draws closer, more companies are making public commitments to giving their employees time off to vote.
More than 700 companies have joined the "Time to Vote" movement, which aims to increase voter turnout by giving workers flexibility to cast their ballots.
Here are the retailers and consumer companies that have signed the pledge and shared details about their plans.
The US has one of the lowest voter turnout rates among developed countries. According to the Pew Research Center, 56% of those who were eligible to vote cast their ballots in the 2016 presidential election.
Though there may be a number of reasons for citizens not voting, a growing number of companies are joining a movement that's aiming to ensure that work schedules and demands are not among them come November 3.
Through the "Time to Vote" campaign, a nonpartisan movement begun by Patagonia, Levi Strauss, and PayPal, more companies are making public commitments to giving their employees time to vote.
More than 700 companies have joined the movement so far.
Here are the retailers and consumer companies that have added their name to the list and shared specific plans about how they're empowering their employees to vote:
Patagonia has said it will close its stores, offices, and distribution centers for Election Day, as it did in 2016 and 2018.
Levi Strauss is offering five hours of paid time off for all employees to vote on Election Day. It's also offering five hours of paid time off each month for workers to volunteer for voter engagement efforts.
(Photo by Gary Hershorn/Corbis via Getty Images)
Source: Time to Vote
J. Crew announced it would also join in supporting "Time to Vote," closing all J. Crew and Madewell stores, offices, and distribution and customer service centers for the whole of Election Day.
A J. Crew store on 5th Avenue remains closed on May 4, 2020 in New York City. As most of the world remains in a shutdown caused by the coronavirus, J. Crew filed for bankruptcy, one of the first major retail casualties of the pandemic.
Walmart store associates get three paid hours for voting if the timing of their shifts don't otherwise allow for it. They have to provide a day's notice to their supervisor, a company spokesperson told CNBC.
Apple is giving retail and hourly employees up to four hours off with pay, Bloomberg reported in July.
A computer is on display inside the Apple new flagship store at Sanlitun on July 17, 2020 in Beijing, China.
Best Buy said it would shorten its operating hours on Election Day. This includes stores, corporate offices, field offices, and in-home installation services. It said it would also make arrangements for distribution center and customer service employees.
FILE PHOTO: People wait for purchases outside of a Best Buy store due to the outbreak of coronavirus in Arlington, Virginia
Nike's Election Day policies vary across the country, depending on the state's voting laws. Offerings could include paid time off, a meeting-free day, or resources about mail-in ballots.
FILE PHOTO: Nike (NKE)'s logo is seen in Los Angeles
Hourly workers at Sweetgreen will get up to three hours of paid time off for Election Day or for voting early. The salad chain is also sharing resources to educate employees about the voting process, and it created a custom registration site.
Dixie D. Vereen/For The Washington Post via Getty Images
All US employees of The North Face and its parent company, VF Corporation, will get up to three hours of paid time off to vote. For corporate employees, Election Day is being designated an "Explore Day," which North Face uses to give workers time to live out the brand's values. Retail employees are also being offered staggered half-days off.
A view of The North Face store on London's Carnaby Street.
John Keeble/Getty Image
Source: The North Face
Gap Inc. will be giving all workers at its portfolio of brands — Gap, Old Navy, Banana Republic, Athleta, Intermix, and Janie and Jack — up to three hours of paid time off if their schedules do not allow for voting. At headquarters, workers will be encouraged to have a meeting-free Election Day.
REUTERS/Carlo Allegri
Everlane is giving all of its employees paid time off for Election Day. It's also partnering with the ACLU to provide its workforce with resources about mail-in voting.
Ben & Jerry's is making Election Day an official day off for workers at headquarters and at its two manufacturing facilities in Vermont.
Shutterstock
Source: Ben & Jerry's
The Coca-Cola Company has made Election Day a paid holiday for all US employees. The company has also curated resources around voting deadlines and guidelines and created nonpartisan volunteer opportunities for workers in the lead-up to Election Day.
Kirill Kukhmar\TASS via Getty Images)
Source: Time to Vote
Women's clothing brand Reformation is giving four hours of paid time off to employees who can't vote during their non-work hours.
Reformation
Source: Reformation
Though not officially part of the Time to Vote coalition, Starbucks said on August 27 that it would give all employees "the tools and the time necessary to register" and vote, as part of its new Fuel Our Democracy initiative. Starbucks also created a portal with resources for employees to learn more about the process and the issues at hand.