Author: openjargon

• Harry Jowsey and Jessica Vestal are one of the most popular couples in "Perfect Match" season two.
• Fans previously speculated that the pair dated in 2023.
• Here's what we know about their relationship on the show and whether they are still together.

Warning: Spoilers ahead for "Perfect Match" season two.

Netflix reality star Harry Jowsey and "Love Is Blind" fan-favorite cast member Jessica Vestal broke up in the "Perfect Match" season two finale.

In season two, stars from "Squid Game: The Challenge," "Love Is Blind" and other shows date each other to find their perfect match.

The series gives Netflix the opportunity to give fan-favorite reality contestants more screen time while promoting their lesser-known shows like as "The Trust: A Game of Greed" and "Dated & Related."

In season two, Harry, who has a reputation for being a player, arrives in the house and says he is ready to settle down in a serious relationship.

His costars are doubtful, but he perseveres, and in episode three, he couples up with Jessica, who starred in the latest season of "Love Is Blind."

The pair fight in episodes three and five when Jessica questions Harry's honesty after she hears negative comments from other contestants. But Jessica sticks by Harry.

Their relationship gets messy in episode eight, when the male contestants go on a trip away from their partners and meet a group of female contestants.

Harry is caught in a cheating scandal after Melinda Berry accuses him of kissing her off-camera. Harry denies the kisses, but Holly Scarfone says she saw it.

When all the contestants get back to the house, Melinda tells Jessica, and Jessica is unsure who to believe. In the season finale, Jessica decides not to rematch that night, meaning both contestants have to leave the competition.

According to a post-credit scene in the finale, the pair got back together a month after filming, but they have since broken up.

Both stars told Entertainment Tonight in June that they are single now.

Even before the season finale, there were clues they were no longer dating. Here's why.

Jessica and Harry were photographed together in Mexico last year

Before "Perfect Match" aired fans were already speculating whether Harry and Jessica were dating.

In March, TMZ and PageSix published pictures of Harry and Jessica kissing that they claim were taken in June 2023 in Tulum, Mexico.

However, these photographs may have been taken while the cast was filming "Perfect Match" season two since the series was filmed in Tulum.

Harry confirmed on the latest episode of his podcast, "Boyfriend Material with Harry Jowsey," that the series was filmed in the summer of 2023.

Jessica implied she was single in March.

In March of this year, Jessica seemed to push back on the idea that she was dating someone.

She posted a TikTok, captioning it: "Trust, y'all will know when someone has wifed me up. Let's focus on the ones who actually might be."

It isn't as definitive as "I'm not in a relationship," but certainly points to an ongoing relationship with Harry being unlikely.

In February, Jessica also spoke about another possible non-Harry romance.

She said on the "Viall Files" podcast that she was attracted to a costar from "Love Is Blind" season six.

"I had another strong connection there," Jessica said. "I can't say any names because I'm still trying to sort some things out."

Harry said he broke up with a secret girlfriend last year.

In the fall of 2023, Harry partnered up with professional dancer Rylee Arnold to compete in "Dancing With The Stars" season 32.

However, fans began speculating that the dancing partners were dating after seeing their chemistry and reading reports that they spent Thanksgiving together.

Harry shut down the rumors at the time, telling Business Insider in November: "I try and ignore it all because I just want to focus on the dancing. If I get distracted with dating stuff and all that stuff, then I'm probably not going to be a good dancer."

In April, Harry said on his podcast, "Boyfriend Material with Harry Jowsey," that he was actually in a secret relationship during the filming of "Dancing With the Stars."

"All those edits kind of brought me and my girlfriend at the time apart," Harry said, referring to TikTok videos that elevated the dating rumors about him and Rylee.

"I was madly in love with this girl," Harry said. "It was probably just infatuation, but I thought it was love. Obviously, it ended up ending, and it fizzled out because it's so difficult to see your boyfriend or girlfriend on 'Dancing with the Stars' being that close with someone else."

Harry credited the secret girlfriend for keeping him steady during his sudden rise in fame until they eventually broke up.

Jessica calls Harry a red flag in TikTok videos

Throughout "Perfect Match," Jessica's costars warned her of Harry's poor dating history. However, Jessica ignores them and continues to date him.

After the first episodes of "Perfect Match" aired on June 7, Jessica also began calling Harry a "red flag" on TikTok which seems to imply that they are no longer dating.

On Monday, she posted a video with the caption: "When the entire house is telling you that your match is the world's largest red flag but you gotta see it through."

On Sunday, she appeared in another video shared by her "Perfect Match" costar, Micah Lussier, about their partners on the show.

"When everyone warned you about your man, but you're a lover girl at heart, so you're gonna stick beside him against your better judgment," Micah captioned the post.

Harry meanwhile commented on his relationship with Jessica after the show aired on the latest episode of his podcast.

However, he had nothing but good things to say about her and even said she was "the love of my life."

"I thought that Jess was the most incredible most beautiful woman that I've ever seen in my life," he said.

Harry and Jessica are not following each other on Instagram

The biggest clue that they're not together is that Harry and Jessica don't follow each other on Instagram.

Harry has shared videos and pictures of their time together on the show, but Business Insider has checked and he doesn't follow Jessica. In fact, Harry only follows some of his male costars from the show.

Jessica follows most of her male and female costars but not Harry.

This likely means they're no longer on good terms.

Correction: June 17, 2024 — An earlier version of this story misstated the number of episodes in the spoiler warning. There were nine episodes, not six.

• Vogue World 2024 took place in Paris, France, on Sunday.
• The elaborate fashion show looked back at the past 100 years of fashion through the lens of sports.
• Athletes joined models on the runway, and A-list singers performed. 

The 2024 Paris Olympics don't start for another month, but the iconic games had an unofficial, fashionable start over the weekend.

On Sunday, Vogue World took place at the Place Vendôme in Paris on a cobblestone courtyard in the French square. The annual event is an elevated fashion show with live performers, and it's typically styled to reflect the location and time it takes place, much like the Met Gala.

With Paris hosting the Olympics in July, Vogue's show looked at the past 100 years of fashion in the context of sports. As Vogue reported, it focused on decades, honoring the fashion of each era through a different sport, such as cycling in the 1920s or tennis in the 2000s.

To match the theme, the 2024 show featured nearly 200 athletes and showstopping appearances from models and celebrities.

Take a look at the most iconic moments from Vogue World 2024.

To open the show, Vogue celebrated the seamstresses and tailors by having them walk the runway. The craftsmen from fashion houses like Armani, Dior, and Chanel had front-row seats for the show.

Kendall Jenner and Gigi Hadid rode on horseback down the runway in matching Hermès outfits.

Anok Yai walked the unconventional runway in a red, white, and blue dress from Alaïa that nodded to the French flag. Pieter Mulier reimagined the original Alaïa dress from 1989.

Jeremy Pope danced down the runway with a group of performers behind him. He wore a Thom Browne tuxedo.

Sabrina Carpenter paid homage to 1940s swimwear in a red-and-white striped look from Jacquemus. Performers waved blue ribbons around her that looked like water.

As dancers in tennis gear performed behind her, Serena Williams strutted down the runway in an Ib Kamara for Off-White dress, honoring both tennis and the late Virgil Abloh.

Venus Williams also appeared on the Vogue World stage in a dress designed by Marine Serre out of recycled tennis bags.

The Noir Kei Ninomiya dress Katy Perry wore during the show was arguably the most daring look at the event. The black gown was covered entirely in floral-shaped cutouts.

The show included multiple performances from athletes and dancers, including professional rhythmic gymnasts who frolicked down the runway.

After singing at the 2023 event, FKA Twigs returned to the Vogue World stage in an Alexandre Vauthier dress for the 1920s section of the show.

NBA player Victor Wembanyama returned to his home country to walk the runway in a white suit.

NFL player Joe Burrow also took to the Vogue stage, making his runway debut in a black suit from Peter Do that he wore with no shirt.

French drag queen Keiona Revlon performed during the show in a Balenciaga suit.

Ciara not only made a surprise appearance in a custom Givenchy dress and cape, but she also stopped to perform with dancers as she made her way down the runway.

And Bad Bunny sang three songs toward the end of the show in a Pressiat suit.

• Stevan Ditter and Alara Taneri are one of the most consistent couples in "Perfect Match" season two.
• They've quickly become a fan favorite due to their loyalty to each other.
• Here's what we know about their relationship on the show and whether they are still together.

Warning: Spoilers ahead for "Perfect Match" season two.

Stevan Ditter and Alara Taneri may be the strongest couple in "Perfect Match" season two, but they broke up after the show ended.

The pair originally appeared in two separate Netflix series, "Too Hot To Handle" and "Dated & Related."

"Perfect Match" series draws together contestants from across Netflix's reality show slate and gives cast members a second chance at love (or boosting their fame). Stevan and Alara seemed to be more focused on the love part.

The couple met for the first time when they are paired on a date in episode three. At the time, Stevan was matched with another contestant, Xanthi Perdikomatis, but he immediately gelled with Alara and chose to match with her in the next coupling session.

After that, the pair became totally focused on each other, even when sent on dates with other contestants. They made it to the season two final together but were not chosen as the winning couple.

Unfortunately, their relationship did not last.

On Monday, Netflix shared a clip with the season two cast where Stevan and Alara said they broke up after going on holiday together.

Alara said Stevan ghosted her, while Stevan said it was too complicated to maintain their relationship.

"I honestly just didn't have time to carry on a relationship, let alone one that was overseas," Stevan said.

Here's what we know about their relationship.

Stevan doesn't follow Alara on Instagram.

The biggest clue that Stevan and Alara are no longer seeing each other is who they're following on Instagram.

Alara follows Stevan, but Stevan does not follow her back even though he does follow some of his other "Perfect Match" costars.

"Perfect Match" contestant Harry Jowsey said on the latest episode of his podcast released on June 11, "Boyfriend Material with Harry Jowsey," that Stevan is currently dating someone.

Harry mentioned the girlfriend while apologizing for lying that Stevan had sex with Holly Scarfone while filming "Perfect Match" season two.

"He's also happily in a relationship, so I'm deeply sorry to his girlfriend for saying that," Harry said.

In June, Stevan told Entertainment Tonight he was in a relationship with someone outside the reality TV show universe.

Alara lives with another "Perfect Match" contestant in LA.

Initially, Stevan and Alara lived far from one another: she in London and he in Los Angeles.

On June 2, "Perfect Match" season two star Micah Lussier said in a TikTok video that she had moved to LA and was living temporarily with Alara.

It's unclear when Alara moved to LA or into the apartment with Micah. But it seems she is more focused on her friendships than dating.

• Netflix has released the finale of "Perfect Match" season two.
• Five couples make it to the final vote, and the winners are a surprising pair.
• Here's an update on the status of the current couples and other contestants.

Warning: Spoilers ahead for "Perfect Match" season two.

Christine Obanor and Nigel Jones may have won the second season of "Perfect Match," but it looks like none of the show's couples are still dating.

In the series, Netflix brings contestants together from across its reality slate, giving them a second chance to find a perfect partner.

It is a savvy way for Netflix to promote its reality shows while giving the stars another shot at fame.

Netflix has not confirmed when the series was filmed, but "Perfect Match" stars Harry Jowsey and Micah Lussier have said it was a year ago.

In the season finale, there are five couples: Elys Hutchinson and Bryton Constantin, Tolú Ekundare and Chris Hahn, Micah Lussier and Kaz Bishop, Christine Obanor and Nigel Jones, and Stevan Ditter and Alara Taneri.

Stevan and Alara were the fan-favorite couple, but the contestants voted for Christine and Nigel to win.

In a clip shared on Netflix's social media accounts, the cast revealed that they have all broken up since filming the show.

Here's an update on their love lives since the show ended.

Harry Jowsey and Jessica Vestal

In episode three, Harry Jowsey goes on a date with "Love is Blind" season 6 star Jessica Vestal and immediately falls for her. He couples up with her later that episode and they stick together until episode six, despite facing criticism from the other contestants.

But they break up in the season finale after Harry is caught in a cheating scandal. In episode eight, Melinda Berry accuses Harry of kissing her off-camera, leading to an argument between Melinda, Harry, and Jessica.

Jessica doesn't know what to believe, so she breaks up with him and leaves the competition. A post-credit scene in the finale showed that Harry and Jessica dated again a month after filming the series, but they broke up again.

In the new clip shared on Netflix's social media, Harry said he still has an "amazing" relationship with Jessica, but she said their relationship is "nonexistent."

"There's no bad blood," Jessica said. "We haven't kept in contact."

Both stars told Entertainment Tonight in June that they are single now.

In the fall of 2023, "Dancing With The Stars" fans began speculating that Harry was dating Rylee Arnold, his dancing partner for season 32.

In April, Harry said on his podcast, "Boyfriend Material with Harry Jowsey," that the rumors harmed an undisclosed relationship he had at the time.

"I was actually in a secret relationship at the start of 'Dancing With the Stars,' and all those edits brought me and my girlfriend at the time apart," Harry said, referring to TikTok videos that spread the dating rumors between him and Rylee.

Harry said he loved the ex-girlfriend, who he didn't name in the podcast episode. Harry added that after they broke up, he "spiraled so fucking hard" that he almost proposed to another woman before they went on a first date. He said this woman ghosted him.

As for Jessica, she said she wasn't in a relationship in a TikTok post shared in March.

She also shared a video earlier this month where she called Harry the "largest red flag."

Jessica Vestal and Izzy Zapata

"Love Is Blind" alum Izzy Zapata was among the first contestants to enter the house in season two but was forced to exit for the first time in episode two after Tolú matches with Dom Gabriel over him. Izzy returns in episode eight for the girls' day out and matches with Micah.

But in the season finale, Izzy goes on a date with Jessica.

Izzy wants more than friendship, but Jessica is still reeling from her relationship with Harry. They initially couple up in a friendship match but decide to leave the competition the next morning.

Izzy seems to have moved on.

In October 2023, Izzy revealed he was dating someone new during the reunion episode for "Love Is Blind" season five. Today reported in October that Izzy shared a picture of his new girlfriend, Shelby Webb, on Instagram but later deleted it. This was likely filmed after "Perfect Match" was filmed.

Tolú Ekundare and Chris Hahn

In episode five, Tolú pairs up with Chris after he reveals his crush on her.

Their relationship slowly progresses over the season, even after a few arguments over Chris' loyalty.

At the end of the season, they are still together and say in the finale that they want to continue their relationship despite living in different states.

Chris and Tolu said in the new social media clip that their relationship fell apart after filming.

Tolú told Entertainment Tonight in June that she's single.

Elys Hutchinson and Justin Assada

Elys, the winner of "Too Hot To Handle" season five, initially dates Harry on "Perfect Match." But he dumps her for Jessica in episode three.

After the rejection, she stays in the villa by pairing up with her friend, Chris, before finding romance with Justin Assada, a contestant from "Surviving Paradise."

Unfortunately, Justin and Elys do not make it to the end. In episode nine, Elys abruptly dumps Justin for "Squid Game: The Challenge" season one contestant Bryton.

Justin immediately leaves the house and doesn't show up at the final reunion to vote for a winner.

There is no information online about Justin's current relationship status.

Elys Hutchinson and Bryton Constantin

Elys and Bryton are among the first contestants to enter the "Perfect Match" house, but they don't start talking until episode eight, when Bryton returns for the girls' party.

In the episode, Bryton chats to Elys and Micah and seeds conflict in their relationships so he can worm his way back into the "Perfect Match" house. He succeeds, and Elys asks to couple up with him in episode nine.

At the end of the season finale, Bryton and Elys are still together, and they say they are their perfect match. But they are no longer together.

In the new social media clip, Bryton said the relationship got "rocky" after the show because he "started to see a personality that I didn't get to see on screen." Elys said Bryton ghosted her.

Bryton appears to be dating Jade Gentile, a WWE wrestler whose ring name is Jazmyn Nyx. Since January, the pair have posted pictures of their dates on their Instagrams.

Elys appears to be dating "Too Hot To Handle" season three star Nathan Soan Mngomezulu.

Since October 2023, Elys and Nathan have posted videos on TikTok about their relationship.

Stevan Ditter and Alara Taneri

In episode three, Stevan is sent on a date with Alara. They immediately click and match up together in the next episode, becoming the strongest couple in the series.

In the season finale, they have a brief fight after Stevan acts too keen to participate in a kissing game. But they make up and end the series together.

Unfortunately, the popular couple broke up after the series.

Alara said in the social media clip that Stevan ghosted her after they went on vacation. Stevan blamed the relationship ending on geographical distance.

"I honestly just didn't have time to carry on a relationship, let alone one that was overseas," Stevan said. "I was going to bed. She would wake up. It is what it is."

Stevan told Entertainment Tonight in June that he is in a relationship.

Meanwhile, TikTok posts show Alara is living with Micah in LA.

Micah Lussier and Kaz Bishop

"Love Is Blind" alum Micah first pairs up with Kaz during a partner swap in episode two with Stevan and Xanthi Perdikomatis.

The couple starts strong, but cracks appear in episodes six to nine. Kaz keeps flirting with other contestants, making Micah doubt their relationship and causing fights.

In episode nine, Kaz gets angry after another contestant tells him Micah thinks they're the weakest couple. Kaz flirts with three other contestants and then kisses Holly Scarfone in front of Micah during a drinking game.

After this, Micah and Kaz have an argument and decide to break up. Kaz pairs up with Christine from "Too Hot To Handle" season five, and Micah pairs up with Izzy.

But in the season finale, Kaz has second thoughts about the relationship and rekindles the relationship with Micah.

They are still together at the end, but they have broken up since then.

In the social media clip, Kaz said his relationship with Micah was "nonexistent," while Micah said it was a short-lived "roller coaster," just like in the show.

In September 2023, Micah also posted a video on TikTok of a man she seemed to be dating.

Micah has posted other TikToks about going on dates, suggesting she is single.

Kaz told Entertainment Tonight in June that he's in a relationship with someone outside Netflix's reality show universe.

Christine Obanor and Nigel Jones

Christine joins the series in episode eight as one of the bombshells at the boy's day out. She immediately tries to win over Kaz, and she temporarily succeeds when Kaz picks her up in episode nine.

When Christine is sent on a date with Nigel, another "Too Hot To Handle" contestant, Kaz has second thoughts and speaks to his ex. This angers Christine, and the pair fight when she returns to the house.

Christine then matches with Nigel, who she has simple chemistry with. Though they are the newest couple, they are voted the winners of "Perfect Match" in the season two finale.

The finale shows that the pair on the vacation Netflix sends the winners on. But they are no longer together.

In the social media clip, Christine said she blocked him, and he only cared about how he looked on camera.

Nigel said: "She basically broke my trust with her, and it was so hard to get back with her. We tried to work on it, but I forgive but I can never forget. So we just called him off."

Melinda Berry

Melinda Berry, who previously appeared in "Too Hot To Handle" and hosted "Dated & Related," joins "Perfect Match" in episode six.

Melinda is not successful at convincing Chris to couple up with her and is sent out of the "Perfect Match" house on the same night she arrives. Melinda returns in episode eight, where she seems to flirt with Harry, but they never date for real.

Since then, Melinda seems to have started a new relationship with Christian Birkenberger of "Big Brother" season 23. Melinda appeared to befriend Christian after she appeared in the music video for his song "For You" in 2022.

Christian has said that Melinda is his girlfriend in multiple videos on TikTok in recent months.

Holly Scarfone

"Too Hot To Handle" alum Holly is unable to find a match on "Perfect Match" despite flirting with Kaz.

However, she seems to have found a new relationship after the show.

In December 2023, Holly spoke briefly about her current relationship on Dom Gabriel's podcast "Dom Meets World."

Though she didn't name the man, it doesn't appear to be Kaz.

"I met him out in London like a year ago and he was trying to get to me for so long. It wasn't until recently that I gave him a shot," Holly said. "I just came to a point, I was like, 'You know what? I'm going to give him a shot. I'm going to try something new.'"

Though Kaz is from London, it seems like they met for the first time on the show, which wouldn't fit Holly's description.

• Some student-loan borrowers have until June 30 to benefit from Biden's one-time account adjustments.
• Those who do not have qualifying federal loans need to consolidate by the deadline.
• The Education Department plans to complete the adjustments in September. 

Some student-loan borrowers are approaching the deadline to take advantage of a measure that could bring them closer to debt relief.

In May, President Joe Biden's Education Department announced that it was extending the deadline for borrowers on income-driven repayment plans and the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program to benefit from the one-time account adjustments.

The adjustments, expected to be fully implemented in September, are intended to evaluate borrowers' accounts and ensure their payments are up to date. They would bring them closer to the loan forgiveness promised through their repayment programs or push them over the threshold and automatically grant them debt relief.

To qualify for the adjustments, though, borrowers are only eligible if they have federal direct loans or federally held loans in the Federal Family Education Loan program. Borrowers who do not have qualifying loans have to consolidate into one of those programs by June 30 because the consolidation process could take at least 60 days.

Borrowers can apply for consolidation here, and according to Federal Student Aid, it typically takes less than 30 minutes to complete.

"The Department is working swiftly to ensure borrowers get credit for every month they've rightfully earned toward forgiveness," Under Secretary of Education James Kvaal previously said in a statement. "FFEL borrowers should consolidate as soon as possible in order to receive this benefit that has already provided forgiveness to nearly 1 million borrowers."

Most recently, the Education Department canceled $7.7 billion in student debt for 160,500 borrowers, some of which were a result of the one-time account adjustments. As of that May announcement, one of every 10 federal borrowers has now been approved for debt relief.

Beyond the adjustments, the Education Department is also enacting relief for borrowers on the new SAVE income-driven repayment plan — borrowers with original balances of $12,000 or less are getting relief with as few as 10 years of qualifying payments.

The department is also working on enacting its broader student-loan forgiveness plan, which is intended to benefit over 30 million borrowers. The plan concluded its public comment period, and the department is now working on finalizing the rules with a goal of implementation this fall.

While there are ongoing legal challenges to block the SAVE plan — and legal threats brewing to block the broader debt relief plan — the Education Department has maintained that its efforts are in accordance with the law and the Supreme Court decision to strike down Biden's first plan for relief last summer.

• Amazon has many little-known nooks and crannies, including an overstock outlet.
• Amazon Outlet offers limited-time deals in categories, like clothes, electronics, and toys.
• I often see limited-time discounts of more than 50% off retail prices.

As someone with two small children and an aversion to driving, I've had an Amazon delivery save the day more than once. But my favorite part of Amazon is its outlet, which has saved me hundreds of dollars.

Amazon Outlet offers bargains on overstock and clearance items, from power tools to pet supplies. On an average day, prices are often up to 50% off retail, and lightning deals can feature even bigger discounts.

With Prime Day set to occur next month, now's the time to get ahead and learn what you should look for to get the best discounts possible.

Here's how I use Amazon Outlet to get the most bang for my buck.

I maximize my savings with limited-time deals

One of my biggest tips is to monitor the limited-time, limited-quantity offers in Amazon Outlet — they change often. Although they're available throughout the year, they proliferate during Prime Day and other special shopping events.

To locate the best limited-time deals, I scroll to the Shop by Category section of Amazon Outlet's homepage, click Overstock Deals, and filter the results by department to make the list manageable.

Then, I use the list's sorting tool to place the items with the steepest discounts at the top.

By applying this method to the health and household department, I quickly found two items I've been seeking: throw-pillow covers (two for $8.99, originally $17.99) and 6-inch ceramic plant pots with hand-painted designs (two for $12.49, originally $24.99).

While shopping, I also came across a coupon that reduced a discounted bench cushion's price even further from $36.99 to $16.64.

The outlet has a little bit of everything, including big-name brands

In addition to helping me furnish an empty house on a small budget, Amazon Outlet has become my go-to place for buying gifts.

I've often seen deals on OXO and Rachael Ray kitchen gadgets, as well as toys from popular brands such as Hot Wheels and Squishmallows.

In the toys section, I recently spotted a Little Tikes ride-on garbage truck marked down from $49.99 to $26.53, a three-pack of Melissa & Doug Created by Me craft kits discounted from $29.99 to $15.49, and Mattel's "Jurassic World" plush dinosaurs slashed from $21.99 to $6.35.

Grown-up interests are also well represented in the product selection. I've found deals on things from Coleman tents and Fjallraven backpacks to Smashbox cosmetics and Fabletics leggings.

I've also been tempted to buy footwear from Amazon Outlet after seeing discounted boots from Frye and Dr. Martens.

Ultimately, the thrill of the bargain hunt is what brings me back to Amazon Outlet. Brimming with surprises and dollar-stretching possibilities, the New Arrivals section is my first stop, and the Last-Chance Savings area is often my final one.

• Support for same-sex marriage is continuing to fall among Republicans, new Gallup polling shows.
• Overall support for same-sex marriage has seemingly plateaued around 70%.
• The polling comes amid a years-long conservative backlash against LGBTQ+ rights

Support for same-sex marriage among Republicans is continuing to slide.

According to new polling from Gallup, just 46% of Republicans say that marriages between same-sex couples should be recognized as legally valid.

That's down from 49% last year. Support for same-sex marriage peaked at 55% among Republicans in 2021 and 2022.

Just 40% of Republicans said that same-sex marriage is morally acceptable. That's a minor change from last year, but represents a steep drop from 2022, when 56% of Republicans answered in the affirmative.

Overall support for the legality of same-sex marriage in America has hovered around 70%, largely plateauing after years of steady increase.

In many ways, 2022 was a high watermark for GOP support of same-sex marriage.

That year, 12 Republican senators and 39 House Republicans voted for the Respect for Marriage Act, a bill to protect same-sex marriage amid concerns about the practice's standing after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. Justice Clarence Thomas had written in a concurring opinion that he believed the precedent should be revisited.

Since then, Republicans have waged an ongoing culture war against portions of the LGBTQ movement, focusing in particular on access to gender-affirming care for transgender people.

At times, that movement has spilled over into broader attacks on Pride Month and gay people in general.

"I think people are conflating same-sex rights with transgender rights, and they are very different issues," Sen. Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming, one of the Republicans who voted for the same-sex marriage bill, told Business Insider last year.

Mike Johnson, who has a history of opposition to LGBTQ+ rights — was elected speaker by House Republicans last fall. One of the three speaker candidates who failed to win before him — Rep. Tom Emmer of Minnesota — lost in part due to his support for same-sex marriage.

Yet Johnson hasn't taken aim at same-sex marriage in his new position, and over the weekend, he campaigned for a gay Republican candidate in a New York swing seat.

• Ukrainian sea drones are laying mines to damage Russian ships in the Black Sea, the WSJ reported.
• Four ships, including missile corvette Samum and patrol ship Pavel Derzhavin, have been hit.
• Laying mines by naval drone is part of Ukraine's unconventional warfare program.

Ukrainian uncrewed surface vessels are laying undersea mines that have already damaged several Russian warships in the Black Sea, The Wall Street Journal reported.

Brig Gen Ivan Lukashevych, of Ukraine's SBU security service, described to the Journal the development of a specialized Sea Baby drone capable of laying Western-supplied bottom mines — small, 400-pound mines that sit under the sea bed.

According to Lukashevych, once in place the mines can detect a ship's sounds and electromagnetic signals and explode when one is nearby.

The paper reported that the mines have damaged four Russian warships to date, including the missile corvette Samum and the patrol ship Pavel Derzhavin.

While successful attacks on Russian ships using sea drones packed with explosives have been well documented, the use of drones to lay mines has not received the same attention.

But after Russia boosted its defenses at the Crimean port of Sevastopol, making explosive naval drone attacks much more difficult, mines came into play, the Journal reported.

After carefully mapping routes used by both civilian and military vessels last summer, Lukashevych's team sent drones out to lay mines, according to the outlet.

The Samum triggered one of the mines in September, the paper reported. At the time, intelligence sources briefed Reuters and Ukrainan media that it had been struck by a Sea Baby drone.

A month later, the Pavel Derzhavin was damaged by an explosion, attributed to a Sea Baby by unnamed SBU sources.

Two days later, the vessel headed out of Sevastopol for repairs — only to be struck again, this time by one of Lukashevych's mines, the Journal reported.

The tugboat that was sent to rescue it also hit a mine, according to the outlet.

Lukashevych also told the Journal that Ukraine's naval drone operators are now being trained to work in small squads of 10-20 drones, which collectively could replicate the role of a warship.

Despite having no conventional navy, Ukraine continues to punch above its weight in the Black Sea.

Ukraine claims to have damaged or destroyed at least a third of Russia's Black Sea Fleet since the start of the full-scale invasion, a feat that has seen Russia relocate much of its naval operations from its headquarters at Sevastopol to Novorossiysk.

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Welcome back! If you're like me, you might not eat the healthiest on weekends. But a dietitian highlighted some healthy snacks you can substitute for ultra-processed foods.

In today's big story, we're looking at how AI could completely upend venture capitalism amid a wider shakeup for the industry.

What's on deck:

• Markets: Bobby Jain's highly anticipated hedge fund is finally ready for primetime.
• Tech: OpenAI's GPT Store developers are finding creative ways to get paid for their work.
• Business: Jeff Bezos' plan for The Washington Post is imploding.

But first, how the tables have turned.

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The big story

AI comes for VCs

Like turkeys setting the table for Thanksgiving dinner, VCs are backing tech that might lead to their demise.

The generative AI boom was a welcome change for a venture industry looking for a new trend to back (and hopefully profit from).

But the transformative technology could greatly impact the people bankrolling it. The result could be a reduction of roles and changes to how the job is done, writes Business Insider's Ben Bergman.

Some of the adjustments aren't novel to the VC industry. Back-office roles everywhere are ripe for automation from AI, and venture capital is no different.

But things get really interesting when it comes to actual investing. Finding and assessing new startups — often key responsibilities of junior employees — is the type of work large-language models could do more efficiently at a large scale.

VCs won't get entirely automated away by AI — after all, how could they still justify all those fees if they only relied on AI? But a human-AI hybrid approach seems like the future, according to some insiders Ben spoke to.

However, balancing between man and machine for investment decisions isn't easy. Just ask hedge funds.

Long before the generative AI boom, funds dreamed of combining the best of machine-based quantitative strategies and human-led fundamental approaches. The concept — known as "quantamental" — struggled to find success as the two cultures often clashed.

Now consider venture investing, where ultimately, a singular decision needs to be made: invest or don't. When push comes to shove, does man or machine reign supreme?

The VC industry might be doomed with or without AI.

Scott Stanford, a cofounder and partner at early-stage VC firm ACME Capital, told BI's Blake Dodge that half of today's VC firms will shutter in the next decade.

Stanford's theory is pretty simple: There are too many VCs and not enough exit opportunities. And this isn't a knee-jerk reaction to how chilly the IPO market has been the past few years.

VCs' explosive growth over the past few decades created an "overcrowded, overcapitalized, and overvalued market," Stanford and ACME's cofounder Hany Nada told investors in a recent letter shared with BI.

The writing is already on the wall. Look no further than the rise of "zombie" VCs, or investors running out of money.

But if anyone can fix things, maybe it's… VCs? After all, venture investors tout themselves as disruptors who pride themselves on finding and helping to grow solutions for big problems.

Now, VCs might have their toughest task yet: Saving themselves.

News Brief

Your Monday headline catchup

A quick recap of the top news from over the weekend:

• Ukraine needs to stop fighting the war Russia wants.
• Prosecutors recommend DOJ file criminal charges against Boeing: report.
• Elon Musk starts new beef with Lucasfilm chief Kathleen Kennedy.
• Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang shouts out OpenAI cofounder Ilya Sutskever for sparking 'the big bang of deep learning'.

3 things in markets

1. A top Jain Global executive explains how the firm will stand out on the eve of its massive launch. Bobby Jain's hedge fund launch has been the talk of Wall Street. Jonathan Barton, Jain Global's chief operating officer, spoke to BI about how the fund is built to quickly grow once it starts trading on July 1.
2. The end of a US-Saudi deal could dent dollar dominance. Saudi Arabia chose not to renew the landmark "petrodollar" deal that ensured the use of US dollars in the oil trade. That's bad news for the dollar's supremacy. The move is part of the kingdom's grand plan to diversify trade and expand beyond US and European partners.
3. There is a light at the end of the interest-rate tunnel. A July rate cut, while still a longshot, could be on the table, according to one economist. Jobless claims and housing data show an economic slowdown, which could lead the Fed to finally offer some relief next month.

3 things in tech

1. Chinese EV makers are slowly taking over the world. Despite efforts from the US and Europe to shut them out, Chinese EV firms are expanding rapidly in developing markets like Brazil and Southeast Asia. This poses a major problem for legacy automakers like Ford, who risk being left behind.
2. OpenAI's GPT Store developers are finding new ways to get paid. OpenAI has yet to widely roll out plans to pay developers making applications for its GPT Store — so some are getting creative. They're turning to ads, affiliate links, and "freemium" models to get paid.
3. Apple accused of breaching EU rules. The European Commission has accused Apple of stifling competition with its App Store. Regulators said the company breached new tech rules by preventing app developers from steering customers to alternatives.

3 things in business

1. Jeff Bezos' plan to revamp The Washington Post is imploding. Incoming newsroom editor Robert Winnett pulled out of the job Friday morning after a slew of revelations about his past as a writer in London. Meanwhile, Will Lewis, the Washington Post's publisher, has also come under fire. That's bad news for Bezos, who needed the two men to breathe new life into the newsroom.
2. The American dream of home ownership is becoming an American fantasy. A recent Harvard study found monthly payments for a median-priced home after taxes and insurance have hit about $3,100. That's the highest level it's been in more than three decades. That payment requires a household income of at least $120,000 a year, which only 6% of renters have.
3. The silver lining of sports betting scandals. The series of high-profile gambling scandals that recently rocked the sports world thrust the long-overlooked issue into the spotlight. Leagues are now focusing on educating athletes who may be betting-prone, and the industry's gotten a lot better at catching bad actors.

In other news

• Elon Musk confirms 3rd child with his Neuralink executive Shivon Zilis.
• Kevin Costner is leaving 'Yellowstone' before the final season is over. Here's a complete timeline of the behind-the-scenes drama.
• Perplexity CEO explains why you need to understand your 'dopamine system' if you want to start your own company.
• Jensen Huang's Nvidia sure hopes the AI bubble doesn't burst anytime soon.
• The reclusive billionaire who's spent $75 million on Trump and $25 million on RFK Jr.
• This exclusive CEO training program doesn't care about your 4.0 GPA.
• Companies that give money to Democrats are beating Republican donors in the stock market.

What's happening today

• Paris Fashion Week begins.

The Insider Today team: Dan DeFrancesco, deputy editor and anchor, in New York. Jordan Parker Erb, editor, in New York. Hallam Bullock, senior editor, in London. Annie Smith, associate producer, in London. Grace Lett, associate editor, in Chicago. Amanda Yen, fellow, in New York.

• A California millennial began secretly working multiple remote jobs to save for retirement.
• He earned over $100,000 in 2023 and said he might be able to retire by age 50. 
• He shared why he decided to not look for a new job when his second role came to an end this year. 

Adrian, a California-based data analyst in his 30s, began secretly working multiple remote jobs in July 2023. For a while, it was well worth it.

Last year, he earned about $110,000 across his two jobs, according to documents viewed by Business Insider. Thanks to this overemployment, he believes he'll be in a financial position to retire in the next five to 10 years and move somewhere abroad with a lower cost of living than the US.

But by the time Adrian's contract for his second job came to an end in March, a big part of him was relieved, he said. He has little desire to be overemployed again.

"I did make a lot more money than I've ever made before, I think it was a smart idea, and it was kind of fun to tell friends about — but life is better now," said Adrian. His identity is known to BI, but he asked to use a pseudonym because of his fear of professional repercussions.

Adrian is among the Americans who have worked multiple jobs — often in secret — to boost their incomes. BI has interviewed roughly 20 of these job jugglers, many of whom work in the IT and tech industries and use the extra money to pay off student debt, save for retirement, and afford vacations and weight-loss drugs. While some companies may be OK with their workers having a second job, doing so without approval could have negative repercussions.

Recently, however, intense competition for remote roles, return-to-office mandates, and burnout have made the overemployment lifestyle unsustainable.

Adrian shared how and why he first became overemployed, his top advice for making it work, and why he's happy to be back to only one job.

Retirement fears led to overemployment

While some Americans are struggling to save for retirement, Adrian is among those who have taken unique earnings and savings measures to retire early.

Last year, when a recruiter messaged him on LinkedIn about a remote, full-time, contract role, he decided to hear them out.

As he went through the interview process, Adrian realized he might be able to balance both roles. He asked for the highest end of the new job's pay range: $70 an hour.

"If I was going to take something on the side I wanted to be sure it would be worth it," he said.

A few years ago, Adrian would never have made a career decision that was so focused on maximizing his income.

He always believed, "If you love your job, you'll never work a day in your life." He never worried much about his financial future or how much money he was making. It's this philosophy that led him to pursue an "amazingly enjoyable" job — one in an entirely different industry than his current role — that he said paid less than $40,000 a year.

"I didn't really care about making money because I never really thought about retirement," he said. "I just kind of assumed that you work until you're old, then you retire, and it somehow just works out."

But a few years ago, Adrian said he experienced a personal "transformation" that led him to begin prioritizing his financial health and future.

"I would never actually be able to retire by working my old job," he said. "But I never really thought about that, and I did love the life I was living."

He started by looking for a different career path. He went to graduate school, and after a roughly yearlong job search that nearly exhausted his savings, he landed the job he still has now.

Next, he started saving whatever money he could. He and his wife took up house and pet-sitting for a year, which he said allowed him to avoid paying rent as they bounced from home to home every month or so. He also began maxing out his 401(k) and Roth IRA, investing in low-cost index funds, and trying to live in low-cost-of-living areas while keeping his "high-cost-of-living area salaries."

When the opportunity to work multiple jobs came last year, it was just another way he could improve his finances.

What to look for in a second job — and why he's happy to no longer be overemployed

Adrian said that his second employer knew he had a primary job but "didn't care," in part because they were happy with the quality of his work. He never told his primary employer that he took on a second gig, but he doesn't think they would have cared either because he was a "top performer."

Adrian said that before taking on a second job, one should be "very comfortable" with one's main role.

"You need to be comfortable enough with your first job that you feel like you actually have extra time to accomplish other work," he said. He added that it's helpful if both jobs are flexible, independent, and don't have many meetings.

It's also important to make sure you're prepared to have your personal life impacted by your extra workload, he said. This is perhaps the biggest part of job juggling he wasn't fully prepared for — and why he hasn't looked to replace his second job ever since his contract came to an end in March.

While his workload varied, Adrian said he often worked more than 40 hours a week across the two jobs, including on some evenings and weekends. It was manageable, but it began to take a toll.

"Too stressful, too much time away from my partner, can't get outside or go to yoga — not worth it," he said of his overemployment. "I made a bunch of money this past year, but my goals for 2024 are not to maximize my income."

Instead, Adrian said he wants to prioritize his health, social ties, his partner, and "having fun." While he's still much more focused on his finances than he used to be, he said working a second job eventually proved to be a bridge too far.

Even without the extra income coming in, Adrian said he's still in the position to potentially retire before age 50. While he wouldn't rule out pursuing a second job again someday, he said the workload would have to be quite low. For now, he's happy to just have one job again.

"The reduction in stress and time commitments is well worth it," he said.

Are you working multiple remote jobs at the same time and willing to provide details about your pay and schedule? Are you a manager who has experience with overemployed employees? If so, reach out to this reporter at jzinkula@businessinsider.com.