Tag: News

• Tech billionaires like Elon Musk and Marc Andreessen are backing Donald Trump's presidential bid.
• Mark Cuban says Silicon Valley's support Trump could be a bet on higher Bitcoin prices. 
• The tax cuts, tariffs and uncertainty that comes with a Trump win will push prices, Cuban said.

Mark Cuban says he has a "contrary opinion" on why Silicon Valley's tech titans have decided to back former President Donald Trump.

"It's a Bitcoin play," the "Shark Tank" star wrote in an X post on Wednesday.

Cuban explained that the outpouring of support wasn't so much because they saw Trump as a "far stronger proponent of crypto."

"That's nice. But doesn't really impact the price of crypto. It makes it easier to operate a crypto business because of the inevitable, and required, changes at the SEC," Cuban wrote.

"What will drive the price of BTC is lower tax rates and tariffs, which if history is any guide (and it's not always), will be inflationary," he continued.

Trump's campaign has consistently advocated for slashing taxes and imposing tariffs on China and Europe, both of which were his signature economic policies when he was last in office.

But that's not all, according to Cuban. The billionaire argued that the uncertainty often associated with Trump's mercurial approach toward foreign policy could help drive Bitcoin prices higher.

"Combine that with global uncertainty as to the geopolitical role of the USA, and the impact on the US Dollar as a reserve currency, and you can't align the stars any better for a BTC price acceleration," he said in his post.

Cuban said these factors meant that Bitcoin could become a global safe haven, with countries and people looking to purchase the cryptocurrency to protect their savings.

Trump has become a bigger draw for tech billionaires this year, a sharp contrast from his first presidential campaign in 2016, when venture capitalist Peter Thiel was one of the few backers Trump had in Silicon Valley.

The GOP nominee now has the support of Tesla CEO Elon Musk and venture capitalists David Sacks, Marc Andreessen, and Ben Horowitz.

When approached for comment, Cuban told Business Insider he didn't think higher Bitcoin prices were the only factor driving Silicon Valley's support for Trump.

"But it can be the most rewarding and simplest," he said. "It's a whole lot easier to check an app than it is to grow a company in an uncertain environment."

Cuban isn't the only person who thinks a second Trump administration could hurt the US dollar's position as the world's main reserve currency.

In February, the US chair of the Official Monetary and Financial Institutions Forum, Mark Sobel, said that Trump's tax cuts and tariffs would hurt dollar dominance even though Trump has pledged to maintain it.

"Policy and actions speak louder than slogans," Sobel wrote in his paper earlier this year.

To be sure, Trump's position on crypto has changed vastly ever since his first administration. In 2019, Trump said that he wasn't a fan of cryptocurrencies because their value is "highly volatile and based on thin air."

But the GOP nominee seems to have revised his opinion on crypto. In an interview with Bloomberg Businessweek published Tuesday, Trump said that the US needs to embrace crypto lest China seize and dominate it.

"Now, if I throw it aside, it's going to be picked up in another country, most likely China—they're pretty advanced in that sphere," Trump said. "I don't want to be responsible for allowing another country to take over this sphere."

On Monday, Bitcoin prices surged to a two-week high, topping $62,000, after Trump survived an assassination attempt on Saturday.

Representatives for Trump did not immediately respond to a request for comment from BI sent outside regular business hours.

• JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon is a huge believer in artificial intelligence's impact on the workforce.
• The CEO recently told LinkedIn that his company has around 2,000 people focused on AI.
• "My guess is that number is going to be 5,000 in a couple of years," he said.

JPMorgan's Jamie Dimon said that he'll likely add thousands of more jobs centered around artificial intelligence at his company in the next couple of years.

In an interview with LinkedIn's Editor in Chief Dan Roth, the JPMorgan CEO lauded AI as a valuable "productivity tool" that is already impacting the workforce, including at his bank.

"It's huge," Dimon said of AI. "And what we do is we've embedded it in all of our businesses."

The CEO told LinkedIn that JPMorgan has about 2,000 employees looking at data and analytics, machine learning research, and other areas critical for AI, and that number is likely to expand.

"My guess is that number is going to be 5,000 in a couple of years," he added.

In addition, Dimon said his company has 400 "AI projects" and will continue to grow each year. The CEO told shareholders in an April letter that the use cases are in marketing, fraud, and risk.

"My guess is 800 in a year — 1,200 after that," he said. "It is unbelievable for marketing, risk, fraud. Think of everything we do."

A JPMorgan spokesperson did not immediately return a request for comment from Business Insider.

Dimon previously exalted AI's arrival in the April shareholder letter, saying that the technology has the potential to "augment virtually every job."

He also said GenAI — think products similar to ChatGPT — will "reimagine entire business workflows."

The CEO told LinkedIn that AI will eliminate jobs while adding some new ones. However, he's unsure what the proportion of losses and additions will be.

"Will it eliminate jobs? Yeah, because we already see it answering questions," he said. "It'll add jobs, too. So, the net-net: I don't know. But we're not going to stick our head in the sand."

• Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffies both spoke with Biden about the consequences staying in the race.
• Schumer and Jeffries shared concerns over Biden's impact on down-ballot elections.
• Pressure mounts for Biden to bow out due to poor debate and public performance.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer had a "blunt one-on-one conversation" with President Joe Biden on Saturday, as reported by ABC News's chief Washington correspondent Jonathan Karl. The Washington Post and Axios quickly published similar reports.

The conversation topic? Biden's impact on other Democrats running in November.

Schumer's office offered this response to the reporting: "Unless ABC's source is Senator Chuck Schumer or President Joe Biden the reporting is idle speculation," Schumer's office said in a statement. "Leader Schumer conveyed the views of his caucus directly to President Biden on Saturday."

His office did not immediately respond to a follow-up question from Business Insider about whether the message from his caucus was to drop out of the race.

The Post and ABC also report that House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries had a similar conversation with Biden on Thursday of last week.

According to The Post, the two Democratic leaders voiced their members' concerns that his candidacy could negatively impact down-ballot races and cost them the House and Senate.

Only one senator has publicly called for Biden to drop out of the race. However, Sen. Michael Bennet said publicly that he does not believe that Biden can win.

On Wednesday, Rep. Adam Schiff, of California, who is running for senate, became the highest profile Democrat to call for the president to drop out of the race.

Rep. Nancy Pelosi, House Speaker Emerita, has been working behind the scenes, according to reports, to get Biden to drop out.

There has been increasing pressure for Biden, 81, to bow out and have Democrats select a nominee at the convention in August following his disastrous debate performance last month and then a series of public appearances and interviews that have not been able to reassure his base.

• Simen Platou and his wife, Jen, are raising two kids — ages 1 and 3 — in Bali, Indonesia.
• Platou grew up in Norway and moved to the island in 2011.
• He says he is drawing on his own upbringing and Asian parenting styles to raise his children.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Simen Platou, a 38-year-old Norwegian living in Bali. He runs a YouTube channel about family life on the island. This essay has been edited for length and clarity.

I met my wife, Jen, in Bali nine years ago.

She's half Indonesian and had just moved from Florida to Bali for a marketing internship. I'd been living in Bali since February 2011.

It was love at first sight, and after four years of dating, we decided to get married. Neither of us had any interest in leaving Bali. Our daughter Naia was born in 2021, and we welcomed our son Koji in November of the following year.

Now, I'm learning to embrace both Asian and Western parenting styles when raising my kids.

When I was growing up in Norway, my parents were strict but also chill. Norway has low crime rates, and since it was safe, I had a lot of independence as a child.

By age 4 or 5, I was leaving the house alone to walk around the neighborhood and meet up with my friends. We lived right next to a forest in Oslo and often played there in the afternoons.

The local kids in Bali do that, too, but it's harder to get around Bali on foot.

There aren't many proper sidewalks, and kids have to watch out for traffic. For now, my kids are too young to go out on their own anyway.

I've noticed that Asian families seem closer

Here, parents often sleep with their young kids for a long time. In Norway, it's common to do sleep training and let the kid cry it out.

We tried that with our children, but it didn't feel right. Now, even though we don't get much sleep, we still sleep together as a family.

We're also close to our extended family, including my wife's sister and mom, who live in Bali.

Even our nanny is part of our family. She's been around since my daughter was born. We try to bring our kids up with more of a community here than in the Western world.

My parents are also fully supportive of our choices. They still live in Norway, and they've visited Bali three times.

But we try not to baby our kids too much.

I want my kids to be independent, and I want them to believe in themselves. Even though my daughter is three, I let her use scissors if she does it properly.

I also want them to know that they're always loved. My wife and I tell our kids that we love them a lot. In Norway, parents show love but it's not as common for them to say it out loud.

We're trying to raise our kids in a multicultural home

I speak only Norwegian with our children. Jen speaks to them in English. Our kids speak Bahasa Indonesian to Jen's mom, as well as with the nanny and our neighbors.

It can be confusing sometimes for me to communicate, as I'm the only one who speaks Norwegian. Although my daughter understands everything, she replies to me in English.

It would be easier to tell her stuff in English, but if I'm consistent, I think she'll start responding in Norwegian one day.

Growing up in Bali is a bit of a bubble. The expat kids tend to attend international schools rather than local ones. Our children have Balinese friends, but they will never fully be a part of the local culture, with its strong customs and traditions.

I've been here for 13 years, but I'll always be seen as a foreigner. I have Balinese friends, but since I'm not part of everything that's going on in the neighborhood with their traditional ceremonies and cultural practices, I will always be somewhat on the outside.

All told, I think it's easier to raise kids here than in Norway

That's mostly because you can afford help, such as someone to clean the house or watch the kids. Our nanny helps us until 1 p.m. every day.

We can afford many things that we wouldn't do in Norway, like eating out more and ordering food delivery more.

Bali is a great place for kids to grow up. On the weekends, we go to the beach or a playground. We also have friends with kids, so we often go to someone's house and hang out. There are no dark, cold winter months.

It's a high quality of life.

• NASA and SpaceX unveiled more details about how they plan to deorbit the ISS in the early 2030s.
• SpaceX aims to use one of its existing Dragon spaceships to push the ISS toward its grave. 
• But not just any Dragon spacecraft will do. SpaceX has to supercharge it first. 

The International Space Station has been a haven for hundreds of astronauts over the last 23 years. But its days are numbered.

In June, NASA announced it would pay Elon Musk's company SpaceX up to $843 million to help decommission the ISS.

On Wednesday, NASA and SpaceX shared new details about their plan, which involves a superpowered, extra-large Dragon spaceship that can push the ISS out of orbit and into a fiery plummet to a remote ocean grave, probably in 2031.

SpaceX's Dragon spaceships currently shuttle NASA astronauts and cargo to and from the ISS. Compared to the ISS, though, which weighs about 925,000 pounds, astronauts and cargo are extremely light.

That's why SpaceX is looking into supercharging one of its Dragons for the job.

How SpaceX plans to scrap the ISS

SpaceX plans to outfit an existing Cargo Dragon with a new high-powered trunk and supercharge it with 46 Draco engines, which is 30 more engines than a regular Dragon.

The resulting "deorbit vehicle" will be about twice as long as a regular Dragon ship, with six times as much propellant to produce four times the power.

SpaceX posted on X an illustration of what its upgraded Dragon may look like:

SpaceX's director of Dragon mission management, Sarah Walker, said the most complex part of the mission will be the final burn that pushes the ISS on course toward its final descent.

"This burn must be powerful enough to fly the entire space station, all the while resisting the torques and forces caused by increasing atmospheric drag on the space station to ensure that it ultimately terminates in the intended location," Walker said in a briefing on Wednesday.

The ISS's final destination will be in a remote part of the ocean, such as the South Pacific, but NASA has not chosen a precise location yet. When the football field-sized spacecraft comes screaming down, NASA wants no risk of it hitting anywhere but the open ocean.

A new chapter in space exploration

Walker said the opportunity to help end this significant chapter in space exploration is an honor.

"It's a wonderful full circle experience, I think, for me and for SpaceX," Walker said in a briefing on Wednesday.

In 2012, Dragon became the first commercial vehicle to dock with the ISS and, if all goes according to plan, it'll be the last vehicle to ever dock with the station.

"I can't stress enough how honored we are to be a part of that step," Walker said.

NASA considered doing the job with three Russian Progress spacecraft, but even that wasn't enough for the size of the space station, according to Dana Weigel, manager of NASA's ISS program.

NASA and its Russian counterpart, Roscosmos, plan to continue using the ISS until 2030, when both agencies intend to go their separate ways and transition to new space stations. NASA hopes to be one of many customers on private space stations in the future.

• President Joe Biden tested positive for COVID-19, the White House said.
• Biden was set to speak at the UnidosUS conference in Las Vegas on Wednesday night.
• He's experiencing mild symptoms, according to a statement from Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.

President Joe Biden tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday, according to the White House.

"Earlier today following his first event in Las Vegas, President Biden tested positive for COVID-19. He is vaccinated and boosted and he is experiencing mild symptoms. He will be returning to Delaware where he will self-isolate and will continue to carry out all of his duties fully during that time," Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement provided to Business Insider. "The White House will provide regular updates on the President's status as he continues to carry out the full duties of the office while in isolation."

Biden, 81, was set to speak at a conference for UnidosUS in Las Vegas on Wednesday night.

This is a breaking story. Please check back for updates.

• Josh Hall filed for divorce from Christina Hall of HGTV fame on Tuesday. 
• She was previously married to Tarek El Moussa and Ant Anstead.
• Josh cited "irreconcilable differences" in his filing. 

Christina Hall is getting divorced.

On Tuesday, Josh Hall, with whom Christina has been romantically involved since early 2021, filed for divorce in Orange County, citing irreconcilable differences. They have been married for less than three years. 

Josh was Christina's third husband. She was previously married to Tarek El Moussa, her longtime "Flip or Flop" costar, and Ant Anstead, another HGTV personality. Her maiden name was Haack, though her last name was still Hall at the time of writing. 

Business Insider broke down Christina's romantic history, from marrying Tarek El Moussa pre-fame to her split with Josh.

2009: Christina Hall and Tarek El Moussa got married.

Christina and El Moussa met in the early 2000s when they were working together at a real-estate office in California.

They started dating and became a real-estate team in 2008, and they got married a year later. 

2010: Christina gave birth to their first child.

El Moussa and Christina welcomed their daughter, Taylor Reese, after a quick birth.

2013: "Flip or Flop" started airing on HGTV.

El Moussa and Christina initially pitched "Flip or Flop" in 2011, when El Moussa had a friend film their audition tape for HGTV.

The network signed the couple for a show in 2012, and episodes started airing in 2013. 

2015: Christina gave birth to their son.

Christina and El Moussa struggled to conceive their second child, so she underwent IVF treatment, as People reported.

After suffering a miscarriage, Christina got pregnant again and gave birth to a son in 2015, Brayden James El Moussa.

December 2016: El Moussa and Christina announced they were separating.

In May 2016, police went to the couple's home because of "a call of a possibly suicidal male with a gun," TMZ reported at the time. El Moussa was seen running from his home with a firearm, which he dropped after police told him from a helicopter to release it, TMZ reported.

Seven months later, El Moussa and Christina announced their separation, acknowledging the incident in a statement to Us Weekly.

"Like many couples, we have had challenges in our marriage," the statement said. "We had an unfortunate misunderstanding about six months ago and the police were called to our house in an abundance of caution."

"There was no violence and no charges were filed. We chose to get counseling to sort out our relationship. Together, we have decided to separate while we reevaluate the future of our marriage," the statement went on to say.

El Moussa reflected on the incident in his 2024 book, "Flip Your Life," writing that he took his gun with him on a hike because of wildlife in the area after an argument with Christina, though that was not clear to Christina when she saw him hop their fence with the weapon in tow. 

"That was the very last time we were together as a family: with Christina walking down the driveway, crying, and me sitting there in handcuffs, asking myself, 'What in the world is going on?'" he wrote of the incident, adding that he was taking testosterone at the time. He quit the next day and ended up living in a halfway house shortly after.

Speaking to BI about his life in January, El Moussa said that hitting rock bottom helped him see what his true priorities are.

"I didn't even realize how obsessed I was with my kids until I hit rock bottom, until I was on my own, until I started rebuilding my life," he told BI.

"I wasn't present. I wasn't putting in the work," he went on to say. "I wasn't putting in the time that I put into flipping houses. I needed to put that time into being a dad."

October 2017: Christina started dating Ant Anstead.

Before her divorce from El Moussa was finalized, a mutual friend introduced Christina and "Wheelers and Dealers" star Ant Anstead, as House Beautiful reported. Like Christina, Anstead had two children from a previous marriage.

They initially kept their relationship private, and they only revealed they started dating in October on their first anniversary.

January 1, 2018: Christina and Anstead went public with their relationship.

Christina announced she and Anstead were dating with a casual photo of the duo biking on her Instagram that has since been deleted, as People reported.

She congratulated him on his new season of "Wheelers and Dealers" in the post.

January 22, 2018: El Moussa and Christina's divorce was finalized.

A representative for the former couple confirmed to Page Six that the divorce was finalized.

The exes decided to keep filming "Flip or Flop" together.

December 22, 2018: Christina and Anstead got married.

Anstead and Christina didn't announce their engagement before their wedding, though Anstead did say they were "celebrating something special" in the caption of a photo of Christina that he posted on December 17, according to People.

They got married at their house in Newport Beach, California. 

"We pulled off the perfect surprise wedding," Christina told People at the time.

March 22, 2019: Christina and Anstead announced they were expecting a baby.

Christina and Anstead announced they were expecting in an Instagram that has since been deleted.

Her ex, El Moussa, later accidentally announced the baby's gender during an appearance on TMZ Live.

A representative for Christina and Anstead then confirmed the news to People in a statement. "While Christina and Ant wished they could have shared the news themselves, they are very excited to welcome a baby boy in the fall," they said.

September 2019: Christina gave birth to her third child.

In another now-deleted Instagram, Christina announced that she and Anstead had welcomed their son, Hudson London, according to People.

"Ant and I are so excited to welcome Hudson London Anstead into the world. Our hearts are SO full of love and joy," she captioned the post at the time. 

Christina also documented Taylor and Brayden meeting their brother for the first time in her docuseries, "Christina on the Coast."

September 2020: Christina and Anstead announced they were separating.

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Just a year after they had Hudson, Christina announced she and Anstead were separating in an Instagram that has since been deleted.

"Ant and I have made the difficult decision to separate. We are grateful for each other and as always, our children will remain our priority," she said in the statement, according to People. "We appreciate your support and ask for privacy for us and our family as we navigate the future."

Anstead also posted about the separation on his Instagram, seeming to indicate Christina decided to end the marriage. 

"Anyone who really knows me knows that I don't like to share private matters publicly. I have remained silent while holding on to hope," he captioned a selfie of the pair. "I never gave up on us. I pray Christina's decision brings her happiness."

Early 2021: She started dating Josh Hall.

Sometime in early 2021, Christina started dating Austin-based real-estate agent Josh Hall. According to US Weekly, the pair initially met at a real-estate conference a few years before they became involved.

The couple kept the relationship quiet, and it's unclear exactly when they started dating. But in March 2022, Christina confirmed they had been dating since at least March 2021 with a throwback photo of the pair on Instagram that has since been deleted.

June 2021: Christina and Anstead's divorce was finalized.

A representative for Christina confirmed the marriage was officially over to USA Today.

July 6, 2021: Christina and Josh were spotted in public together for the first time.

Page Six published photos of the couple at LAX on their way to Mexico.

Christina posted a now-deleted photo of herself and Josh on Instagram later the same day confirming the relationship and critiquing the media's focus on her love life. 

"I met Josh when I wasn't in a state of fear or fight-or-flight," she wrote. "When we met this past spring, the synchronicities hit us so hard and fast they were impossible to ignore. I felt immediately crazy protective over him and wanted to keep him for myself and get to know each other before the tornado (media attention) hit."

"We decided whats in the past, is in the past. We aren't looking at all the nonsense online," she added. "So yes 'another relationship' and guess what. I'm 38 – I'll do what I want."

September 2021: Christina announced she and Josh were engaged.

Christina announced the engagement with a series of Instagram photos that have since been deleted from a trip the couple took to Mexico.

April 2022: The Halls revealed they tied the knot.

E! News initially reported that the couple got married in a "private ceremony" on April 5, 2022. Business Insider was able to separately confirm that the Halls were married.

Christina also changed her Instagram name from "Christina Haack" to "Christina Hall." 

E! News reported that Christina's real-estate license had been changed to "Christina Hall" as well. 

April 28, 2022: Anstead filed for full custody of Hudson.

On April 28, 2022, Anstead filed an emergency request for full custody of Hudson. 

In his court filing that Business Insider was able to review, Anstead said he was Hudson's "primary parent," and that Christina only spent an average of "9 full days each month" with their son.

Anstead also said in the court documents that Christina had put Hudson in "dangerous" situations, including a sunburn so severe it made him cry.

On another occasion, Anstead said Christina returned Hudson to him without telling him her family had COVID. "At the time my partner was filming her new project and her covid diagnosis placed the whole production on pause," he said in the filing, referring to his current girlfriend, Renée Zellweger.

The filing continued that Christina used her time with Hudson to post him on social media, sometimes for sponsored content. Anstead requested that a judge block Christina from posting Hudson in any "commercial endeavor" until they reached a new custody agreement.

Anstead requested a "regular" custody schedule that would give Christina visitation rights on "alternating weekends, Friday at 4 p.m. until Sunday at 6 p.m. commencing May 6, 2022, in California only, and except for vacations," according to the filing.

"This will allow Christina's time to be stepped-up over the next several months to match the schedule she has with her other children," the filing said.

Anstead declined to comment on the matter when contacted by Business Insider.

April 28, 2022: Christina rebuked Anstead's claims in a statement to Business Insider.

"What Ant is doing deeply saddens me," Christina said. "If this was really about Hudson, as he says, this should have been handled privately with a private judge or mediation, as myself and my attorney have suggested."

"I have had my share of ups and downs, but I am a good mom and I love my children with all my heart and I will always protect them," she went on to say.

A judge denied Anstead's ex parte custody application on April 28 both because he did not give Christina enough notice and he did not provide sufficient evidence that Hudson was in danger, according to People.

Christina also filed a response to Anstead's motion on April 29, which BI reviewed. She said she was "shocked" by the filing and said Anstead was "misleading" the court regarding their custody arrangement.

"Mr. Anstead has now taken the position that he is the defacto primary parent of our son, which is not accurate," she said in the filing. "Anstead does not count any day wherein we exchange our son as a custodial day for me. He also counts days where I made an accommodation or gave a right of first refusal to him as his day."

"That is why there is a huge discrepancy in his mind from our accurate schedule. His attempt to mislead the court is transparent when presented with the true facts," Christina also said. "I do not count my accommodations as decreasing my custodial time, but as me being a supportive coparent."

Representatives for Christina and Anstead did not respond to a request for comment from BI on the filing.

May 9, 2022: Christina and Tarek's wife, Heather Rae El Moussa, were photographed arguing at Brayden's soccer game.

After his split from Christina, Tarek El Moussa remarried Heather Rae El Moussa in October 2021, and she quickly became a huge part of both his life and his children's lives. 

But she did not seem to immediately get along with Christina, as the Daily Mail published photos of Tarek appearing to pull Heather away from Christina during an argument at Brayden's soccer game on May 9, 2022. The same article also featured photos of Josh and Tarek arguing and being separated by a coach.

Christina and Heather shared a joint statement with BI on the matter at the time.

"A personal matter was discussed and has since been resolved," the statement said. "We are focused on co-parenting as a team moving forward."

The altercation took place after Heather appeared to confirm that Tarek had called Heather a "hotter, richer version" of Christina during a fight, in addition to calling his ex a "washed-up loser," as People reported in July 2021.

May 10, 2022: Christina and Heather seemed to make amends after Brayden went to the ER.

The same day the Daily Mail published photos of Christina and Heather's argument, Brayden underwent an emergency appendectomy. 

Christina shared on her Instagram story that Brayden's surgery went well, adding that the experience was a "wake up call" for her. She tagged Josh, Tarek, and Heather in the post. 

"Stressful 24 hours but a good reminder how important team work / co-parenting is," she wrote on her story. "We are all under pressure but when it really matters we were all there for Brayden doing our part."

"Sometimes a scary situation can be a good wake up call," she went on to say. "In the end all the other stuff is just 'noise,' what matters is the kids."

Heather echoed the sentiment in a selfie with Brayden and Tarek she shared on Instagram, which she tagged Josh and Christina in. 

"We all pulled together as a family during this stressful time," Heather wrote on the photo. "The kids will always be the main priority to all of us."

September 4, 2022: Christina revealed that she and Josh had a second wedding in Maui, Hawaii.

In an Instagram post that has since been deleted, Christina revealed she and Josh got married in September 2022 in front of their loved ones, including her children. 

"Shared vows in front of family and our close friends," she captioned the post. "Everything in life has led me to where I am right now, which is exactly where I want to be."

"My dream man on the dreamiest island," she added. "Maui holds a special place in my heart. What an amazing night filled with love."

November 18, 2022: Christina and Anstead resolved their custody issues.

After a monthslong custody battle, during which both accused the other of "exploiting" Hudson throughout their legal fight, Christina and Anstead were finally able to resolve their issues and retain joint custody in November 2022. 

Representatives for Christina and Anstead declined to comment on the matter when contacted by Business Insider on the matter. 

May 15, 2024: HGTV announced that the El Moussas and Halls would star in a new show together.

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On May 15, HGTV shared a promo video for a new show called "The Flip Off," starring the El Moussas and the Halls. 

According to HGTV's caption, the show will pit the two couples against each other in "a battle to see who can find, buy, renovate, and flip a house for the biggest financial gain."

"Be on the lookout for the spicy new series that'll have you saying, 'What the flip?!'" the caption went on to say. 

The show is scheduled for 2025, according to the post.

July 16, 2024: Josh filed for divorce from Christina.

According to legal documents reviewed by Business Insider, Josh filed for divorce in Orange County, California, on Tuesday. The documents state that he is seeking spousal support from Christina.  

The documents also state the date of their marriage as October 6, 2021, five months earlier than the April 5, 2022, date originally believed to be the day they got married. 

Christina did not respond to a request for comment from BI, but a source close to Christina told People that she would also be filing for divorce. She also deleted several photos with Josh from her Instagram as of Wednesday, including photos from their engagement and wedding.

It's unclear how the separation will impact Christina's HGTV shows, as Josh has appeared on "Christina in the Country" and is set to star in "The Flip Off."

HGTV did not immediately respond to a request for comment from BI.

• I recently flew in domestic economy on American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines.
• Each has pros and cons, but are all competitive. I'll continue to book based on price and convenience.
• Differences in comfort and service among the airlines may influence other travelers' choices.

The US has three "Big 3" mainline carriers: American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines.

Frequent flyers commonly have a favorite, whether for the fares, on-time rate, route options, or the airline's loyalty program.

I have historically favored Delta because it's what my family always flew growing up. But these days, I usually book based on price and convenience rather than loyalty. (If you're looking for the best airline for free upgrades or point redemptions, this isn't the article for you).

As someone whose job often involves flying on airlines and comparing them, I recently pit the Big 3 against each other by flying each on the same ticket type, on similar routes, and all within a reasonable timeframe.

What I found won't change how I approach booking flights because the experiences on each airline were similar enough overall, but I can imagine the small comfort and service differences could sway other travelers.

My three domestic tickets were for basic economy on flights of about four hours, giving me the most apples-to-apples comparison.

In mid-May, I flew on a Delta A220 from New York's LaGuardia Airport to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport and returned on an American Boeing 737-800.

My United Boeing 737 Max 8 flight was from LaGuardia to Denver International Airport in early July.

I book basic economy because I like to save money where I can, and the unbundled fares are perfect for my style of travel.

I'm a low-maintenance budget traveler who usually only has a carry-on. I mostly don't like checking luggage because I'm impatient and don't want to wait for it at bag claim.

There's also the risk that my bag won't reach my final destination, but I mostly trust the airlines — and I have an AirTag for backup.

However, if you're worried, Department of Transportation data says American and United had the worst mishandled luggage rates in 2023, with 0.76 and 0.73 bags mishandled per 100 bags enplaned, respectively. Delta was the best-performing of the three, with a rate of 0.47.

In all cases, the ticket can be upgraded to regular coach for things like an assigned seat and no change fees. I'd recommend paying up if you want a little more control over your reservation.

Out of the three discount options, American and Delta often offer more bang for your buck than United's more restrictive basic fares.

The point of basic economy is to lure in price-sensitive travelers (like me) with a fare that only requires you to pay for what you need. It's basically the low-cost model but with the perks of mainline cabins, like inflight entertainment, free snacks, and reclining seats.

Unlike American and Delta, United made its offer as barebones as possible by not allowing carry-on bags at all.

Except for most international routes, anything more than a personal item on United has to be checked. Delta and American allow a carry-on and a personal item for free.

Meanwhile, the seat rule is the same across the board — you pay extra to reserve one. Otherwise, you'll get a random seat at check-in — and I ended up with a middle seat on every flight.

United's policy required me to spend an extra $40 to check my carry-on, which isn't ideal and could be a dealbreaker if a competitor is cheaper.

For example, a one-way basic economy flight from LaGuardia to Chicago in mid-October is $56 on American, Delta, and United, according to Google Flights. Other dates show similarly close fares.

After the added fee and hassle of checking a bag on United, I'd book one of the other two by probably flipping a coin since I simply don't care about status.

While the no carry-on bothered me, it's not a problem for everyone. United earns points for its more tech-savvy cabin.

The United plane I flew on was retrofitted with the airline's enhanced "United Next" cabin that it unveiled in 2021.

It offers the regular bells and whistles you'll find on most American and Delta narrowbodies, but you can also connect Bluetooth headphones to the seatback screens.

It was a much better option than using regular earbuds, especially if you're stuck with the scratchy airline-provided ones.

You'll get a similar cabin layout on Delta, but without Bluetooth, unless you're in first class on an A321neo.

Delta's Bluetooth is not available in coach. United is the only US airline to offer it cabin-wide, fitting Bluetooth on some 100 planes.

The airline expects to roll it out on 800 aircraft by 2032.

American has installed seatback tablet holders instead of screens. It makes me an oddball, but I actually prefer it that way.

I am addicted to competitive reality television shows like Big Brother and Survivor, and they're my go-to on flights. The tablet holder was perfect for my taste, but I doubt I'm the popular opinion.

If you rely on seatback content, Delta and United may be your better bets.

However, according to American's website, some of its single-aisle planes, including some A319s and the transcontinental A321T, have screens.

In my experience, besides the screen difference, the Big 3 largely offer the same level of comfort and service in their narrowbody cabins.

Most of the airlines' updated Airbus and Boeing narrowbodies have headrests, tray tables, seatback pockets, power ports, free snacks and drinks, and decent legroom and seat padding.

According to their websites, all three offer the standard 30-31 inches of pitch in regular coach, which is always plenty of space for my 5'3" self. Taller travelers may consider upgrading to an extra legroom seat, though.

I also had no customer service issues, with all of the airlines' airport agents and flight attendants being equally helpful and friendly. Granted, that's not always been the case in my years of flying, but bad apples exist at every airline, so I don't put much thought into that.

Delta has the best internet, but all of the Big 3 participate in a T-Mobile plan that gives free WiFi to eligible customers.

As a remote worker, I fly mainline airlines partly for the WiFi because I can access it fully free with my T-Mobile phone number. In my experience, the connection is mostly consistent across the board, and I could stream with no problem.

If you don't have T-Mobile, Delta is the best for internet as it continues to add unlimited free WiFi for loyalty members on its planes (you just need to make a free account).

American offers very limited free internet, while United offers complimentary messaging.

United's domestic WiFi costs $8 for MileagePlus members and $10 otherwise. Messaging is free and works on apps like iMessage and WhatsApp.

Meanwhile, American does offer ad-powered free internet, but my flight was limited to just 20 minutes.

American's strategy is likely to show people what the WiFi is like and entice them to buy a flight pass, but the up-to-$20 price for internet on my flight may be a little steep for some travelers.

Of course, there are some outliers, as all three still fly older jets that haven't been retrofitted with updated cabins.

I specifically flew the updated cabins on American, Delta, and United's single-aisle Airbus and Boeing aircraft. However, all three still have some dated narrowbodies that don't offer all of the latest perks.

According to their respective websites, Delta's Boeing 717s lack seatback screens, as do many of United's 737-900s and 757-300s and select cabins on its Airbus planes (minus the A321neo). And you won't find power on all of American's Airbus narrowbodies.

While this will likely change as airlines continue to retrofit their fleets, I suggest you always check the airline's website outlining its fleet to see what you can expect before booking. The plane type will be displayed at booking and on your reservation.

Still, you'll more likely than not be on a retrofit plane with enough comforts to survive a four or so-hour flight.

I got a headrest and a comfortable enough seat on all three airlines' planes despite getting stuck in the middle seat on each.

Plus, every flight was perfectly on time. In fact, all three scored an on-time rate of at least 80% in 2023 — Delta at about 84% and the other two both just over 80%. United got roughly the same rate as in 2022, with Delta and American both improving year over year.

According to global travel data provider OAG, that's considered good punctuality in the airline industry. But remember, delays and cancellations can happen to any airline at any time, so sometimes it is just luck.

And if you're on Delta's A220 plane, you may want to visit the lavatory.

The aft lavatory on Delta's A220 fleet has a full-sized window. I'd consider it the best window seat onboard, and we aviation enthusiasts have dubbed it a "loo with a view."

You won't find the unique window on other US A220 carriers like low-cost airlines Breeze or JetBlue — though the latter has better legroom than any of the Big 3.

Overall, my recent flights gave me more confidence in American and United after previous mediocre experiences.

Delta consistently has the best on-time performance of the Big 3 year over year. It's, personally, rarely done me wrong. However, the other two have been hit-or-miss over the years, but customer-focused improvements are evidently working.

American has proven it isn't the inconsistent airline I used to avoid, while United's new domestic product is easily competitive but still lacks some freebies like the WiFi and carry-on offered by its rivals.

My main hesitation would be the route. I'll almost always pay more or go out of my way for a nonstop.

I live closest to New York-JFK and LaGuardia, so booking American and Delta for convenience, even if it costs more, makes sense since United has much fewer flight options at both NYC airports.

I'd also prefer not to travel all the way to United's Newark, New Jersey, hub for a flight. Again, it's case-by-case, but United's fare would need to be stupidly cheap.

And remember, we're talking domestic flights here. International is an entire other ballgame.

For those still stuck between one or more of the three for a particular economy flight, here's my best advice on how to choose.

Firstly, if you care most about punctuality, the data says book Delta. Plus, the airline is consistently awarded for its premium-focused service and comfort, so it's just a safe bet — but you may see higher fares because of it.

United's upgraded cabin is just as nice as Delta's, and I'd argue it's actually better with the Bluetooth option. But you'll want to pay up for at least regular economy to get a carry-on for domestic flights.

While I've had my issues with American in the past, the airline has fully grown on me. It is often among the cheaper options, but most of its narrowbodies don't have a seatback screen.

You'll still get entertainment on American but on a handheld device. If you're like me, who watches content on a personal device, I'd say that's a win-win.

• The Education and Justice Department released new data on the bankruptcy process for student-loan borrowers.
• It found that 588 new cases were filed from October 2023 to March, a 36% increase from the prior 6-month period.
• The new guidance, announced in 2022, streamlined the process to help borrowers qualify for relief.

The Biden administration's new process to help student-loan borrowers get rid of their debt in court is working.

On Wednesday, the Justice Department released an update on bankruptcy for borrowers following new guidance it released in 2022. According to the department, 588 new cases were filed from October 2023 to March 2024, marking a 36% increase from the prior 6-month period. Most of those borrowers have also seen success in court — per the department, 98% of them received full or partial debt relief from November 2022 through March 2024.

Prior to the guidance, borrowers had to prove an "undue hardship" standard, in which they had to show that they could not maintain a minimal standard of living, that their circumstances weren't likely to improve, and that they had made a good-faith effort to repay their debt.

However, that standard was very challenging for borrowers to meet, so the Education and Justice Departments streamlined the process by establishing clearer guidelines for borrowers to prove undue hardship. Those included examining whether borrowers have made a good faith effort to repay their debt and determining their future ability to make payments.

The guidance also allowed borrowers to complete a self-attestation form, which allowed departments to process their discharge requests faster and avoid investigations.

"Our clear, fair, and practical standards are helping struggling borrowers find relief that was previously out of reach," Under Secretary of Education James Kvaal said in a statement.

"This data should puncture the myth that struggling borrowers cannot discharge their student loan debt through bankruptcy," he continued. "We will continue to work with our partners at the Department of Justice to make it simpler and easier for borrowers to get much-needed relief in the way it was intended."

Along with an increase in borrowers filing for discharges, the departments also found that 96% of borrowers voluntarily completed self-attestation forms, and some bankruptcy courts have taken on procedures to use the new process.

The Justice Department did not immediately respond to Business Insider's request for the total number of borrowers who have received discharges through this process.

While this process shows improvement, it has been slow-moving. The advocacy group Student Defense found that fewer than 45 borrowers had received full or partial discharges just under a year after the new guidance.

Some Democratic lawmakers have also scrutinized the process. Last summer, Sen. Elizabeth Warren requested information on how the guidance was being implemented, writing that the bankruptcy standard "has been narrowly interpreted by courts, and has proven to be so difficult to meet that most borrowers do not even attempt to discharge their student loans through the bankruptcy process."

Still, Biden's administration is using the new data to show the process is working and expects more borrowers to participate.

"The results are clear: this guidance has helped make the promise of a fresh start in bankruptcy a meaningful option for individuals weighed down by student loan debt," Acting Associate Attorney General Benjamin Mizer said in a statement.

Have you gotten your student loans discharged through bankruptcy? Are you struggling with the process? Share your story with this reporter at asheffey@businessinsider.com.

• Ukraine has been operating a small number of US-made M1A1 Abrams tanks.
• These tanks are heavily armored, but they are still vulnerable to Russian threats, including drones.
• An Abrams commander said that the tanks would benefit from more dynamic protection on the exterior. 

US-made Abrams tanks in operation with the Ukrainian military are facing an unfamiliar battlefield compared to their previous wars, as Russia uses small drones rigged with explosives to threaten armored vehicles below.

The highly advanced M1A1 Abrams tanks have been equipped with electronic warfare capabilities to help keep these drones away. However, a Ukrainian tank commander says these heavily armored machines still need more exterior protection to help them defend against incoming munitions that come through.

In service of this mission, some of Ukraine's Abrams have been spotted with added cage armor and explosive reactive armor tiling to help better shield the tanks.

"It can save a life," the commander, who goes by the call sign Zakon, said through a translator during a recent interview with Business Insider from an undisclosed location near the front lines in eastern Ukraine.

Last fall, the US sent Ukraine 31 older Abrams variants, which are in service with the country's battle-hardened 47th Mechanized Brigade. Kyiv has since lost several of these main battle tanks — some estimates suggest as many as 10 — but the remainder are very much in operation and were actually just in combat.

Facing new and old threats

Zakon commands a single Abrams tank and oversees a crew that consists of a driver, a loader, and a gunner. He praised his $10 million Abrams as a major upgrade over the Soviet-era tanks, like the T-72 or T-64, that Ukraine had at the start of the war. However, he noted they are still vulnerable to many Russian threats, especially the small exploding drones.

First-person view (FPV) drones, often small quadcopter-style remotely piloted systems, have dominated the battlefield in Ukraine. Both sides have used these systems, which are cheap and abundant, to deliver precision strikes on troops, equipment, positions, and armored vehicles.

Zakon said that Russian FPV drones are a huge threat to the Abrams. They have targeted his tank on several occasions, including in swarms, where multiple drones attack at the same time.

One such attack occurred last month. The crew, he said, relied on the tank's newly made anti-drone protective screen and its electronic warfare capabilities — which jams the signal connecting the operator to the drone — to narrowly avoid catastrophe.

In another incident, the tank driver managed to stop the Abrams just in time before an exploding FPV drone struck directly in front of it. Zakon said the tank's electronic warfare capabilities and the explosive reactive armor it was equipped with at the time helped curb the attack, preventing it from worsening.

The threat doesn't end with drones, though. Zakon said that the Abrams are "easy targets" for weapons that are rather prolific on the battlefield, like anti-tank missiles and rocket launchers.

Zakon said the Abrams are durable and "can withstand a hit." But he stressed that Ukraine still needs more protection, specifically dynamic systems like the Abrams Reactive Armor Tile, ARAT-1, or the Soviet Kontakt-1 options. This technology helps defend the tank from explosives.

The crew "will be motivated to perform better when they know that there is this kind of protection," Zakon said. "It's really, really important."

A need for more tanks

Beyond the threats, availability has been another challenge. Despite the tremendous hype surrounding the delivery of the Abrams, the small number of tanks that Ukraine actually received has made them more precious and less expendable than the other US-made armor Kyiv got, like the Bradley fighting vehicle.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said last week that he didn't think such a limited number of tanks could make a difference on the battlefield. Speaking on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Washington, DC, he warned Kyiv could face this same problem with F-16 fighter jets finally on their way. There may simply not be enough.

The Abrams was designed with the Soviet armor threat in mind in a time before exploding drones were ever even an idea and were specifically built to kill other tanks and execute massive armored assaults, which is how the US military traditionally used the machines in conflicts like those in the Middle East. In the Gulf War, for instance, it earned a fearsome reputation.

But the Abrams aren't used in Ukraine for armored breakthroughs. Rather, Kyiv relies on them more to support and strengthen its positions, including the movement of infantry troops, vehicles, and equipment. The Bradley has proven particularly useful for this mission.

Zakon said that one of the best things about the Abrams tank is its speed — according to the available information, it can travel up to 45 miles an hour — and how easy it is for the roughly 60-ton combat vehicle to move into and out of battle.

In combat, the tanks have been "worked to their maximum" and inflicted damage on Russian forces. However, he said Ukraine still needs more vehicles and personnel to operate them to help with assaults on Russian positions.

He also emphasized that more protection would help keep his fellow soldiers safe.

"These are really well-trained people," Zakon said of Ukraine's tank crews. "That's why we need to do everything possible to ensure that we have this kind of dynamic protection so that we can save lives."