Tag: News

• The Nissan Rogue compact SUV is Nissan's best-selling model in the US.
• I was impressed by its turbo 3-cylinder engine, comfortable cabin, and efficiency.
• I was disappointed by its transmission and interior material quality.

In 2022, Nissan boldly decided to replace the 2.5-liter, four-cylinder engine in its compact Rogue SUV with a turbocharged three-cylinder.

We've seen this engine configuration in small economy cars like the Mini Cooper but never in a 3,500-pound SUV.

The move was particularly daring considering that the compact Rogue SUV is far and away Nissan's most popular model in the US.

Fortunately for Nissan, consumers have responded positively to the new engine, with Rogue sales up 45.6% in 2023 over the prior year. In fact, the Rogue's US sales are equivalent to the combined sales of Nissan's entire sedan lineup.

The third-generation Rogue, which originally launched in 2021, received a refresh in 2024, featuring updated looks and new infotainment tech.

I recently spent a week driving an all-wheel-drive 2024 Nissan Rogue in SL trim.

I was impressed by the Rogue's comfortable cabin as well as the power and efficiency of its three-cylinder engine.

Unfortunately, the Rogue was let down by the inconsistent performance of the continuously variable transmission (CVT) and the poor quality of the plastics in its cabin.

My test car costs $40,120.

The base front-wheel-drive (FWD) Rogue S starts at $28,850, while the top-spec, all-wheel-drive (AWD) Rogue Platinum starts at $40,630.

My well-equipped SL AWD starts at $36,670, but freight fees and optional extras pushed the as-tested price past $40,000.

The Rogue's refreshed styling includes a new front grille.

Nissan replaced the blacked-out grille with prominent chrome bars running across the width of the front facia. Designers also updated the look of the air dam and the bumper below the grille.

The layout of the headlights and daytime running lights remains unchanged.

In a setup that's growing in popularity, the Rogue's turn signal and running lights sit in a cluster atop the main headlight assembly.

Also unchanged is the Rogue's rear styling.

The Rogue can be fitted with a tow hitch, but its towing capacity is limited to 1,500 lbs.

The Rogue SL comes standard with these stylish 19-inch alloy wheels.

Lower trim levels get 17 and 18-inch alloy wheels.

At 183 inches in length, the Rogue is 1.5 inches longer than the Toyota RAV4 and about two inches shorter than the Honda CR-V.

The Rogue offers identical ground clearance to the CR-V at 8.2 inches but falls an inch short of the Hyundai Tucson and up to four inches short of the RAV4, depending on trim level.

Under the hood is a 1.5 liter, turbocharged three-cylinder engine.

The Rogue's only powerplant option is Nissan's KR15DDT variable compression engine. This gutsy three-cylinder engine produces 201 horsepower and 225 lb-ft of torque, which are substantial improvements over the previous 2.5-liter four-cylinder's 181 horsepower and 181 lb-ft of torque.

All Rogues send their power to the wheels through a continuously variable transmission.

The three-cylinder engine is equipped with Nissan's unique variable compression technology, which can vary the compression ratio within the engine from 8:1 under hard acceleration up to 14:1 for more efficient operation while cruising along.

Nissan debuted the technology in its Infiniti QX50 luxury SUV back in 2019, but it has since been deployed in mass-market models like the Rogue and the Nissan Altima sedan.

The SUV delivered solid fuel economy figures of 28 mpg city, 34 mpg highway, and 31 mpg combined. I got just over 30 mpg in my 120-mile test loop, which consisted of city and highway driving in the searing Georgia heat.

The Rogue is terrific to drive.

The Rogue delivers a friendly and pleasant driving experience. The turbocharged engine sends strong power throughout the rev range. The three-cylinders remained remarkably quiet and smooth even under the strain of hard acceleration.

Unfortunately, the engine is somewhat let down by the inconsistent performance of the CVT.

In theory, using a CVT instead of a traditional automatic transmission trades all-out performance for smoothness and fuel efficiency. While it does help the Rogue deliver in terms of fuel economy, it has pre-programmed shift points designed to mimic that of a regular automatic transmission. This creates an almost rubbery feeling in the throttle under hard throttle application that feels like it slows down the acceleration rate.

I can't really blame Nissan for this. We, consumers, demanded the addition of these shift points because many found the consistent hum of an engine at a constant RPM to be disconcerting.

According to Motor Trend, the 2024 Nissan Rogue can do 0-60 mph in 8.4 seconds.

Inside, the Rogue offers its occupants a really nice place to be.

Interior ergonomics are excellent and everything feels well put together. My test car had more than 8,000 miles on the clock, and yet it felt as solid as new. There were no squeaks or rattles to report.

My only major complaint with the cabin is the quality of some of the plastic trim pieces. They just felt cheap, especially for a $40,000 vehicle. Give some of the plastic pieces on the center console and front dash a tap, and they sound hollow and a bit flimsy.

The biggest change in the Rogues' cabin is the addition of this new optional 12.3-inch touch-sensitive infotainment screen that replaces the old 9-inch unit.

Screen quality excellent and Nissan's updated infotainment system proved to be intuitive and with quick response times.

Lower trim levels still get the standard 8-inch unit.

The Rogue comes with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto along with Google Assist integration.

The screen is also home to the Rogue SL's surround view camera.

The system stitches together images from the Rogue's various cameras to create a 360-degree overhead view of the vehicle.

The Rogue SL comes with three-zone climate control.

The combination of physical dials and buttons proved to be a breeze to use.

Under the climate controls are a pair of USB-C plugs and a wireless charging pad.

The Rogue comes exclusively with USB-C plugs. No USB-As to be found.

The Rogue comes with a toggle-style gear shifter.

Bump the shifter forward to go into reverse, pull back once to go into drive, and pull back a second time to go into manual mode. Press the "P" button atop the shifter to go into park.

The Rogue's cabin provides a comfortable and relaxing place to be for long drives.

The driver's seat is exceptionally comfortable. Even though I would have liked a greater degree of adjustability, the seats are still one of the most comfortable I've experienced in this segment.

The quality of the Rogue SL's white leather upholstery was excellent, especially for a mass-market vehicle.

Lower-spec Rogues come standard with cloth and leatherette upholstery, while the top-tier Platinum gets quilted leather seats.

My test car also came with a power panoramic moonroof that filled the cabin with sunlight.

Unfortunately, the moonroof robs the cabin of about 2 inches of headroom.

The Rogue's second row 60/40 split bench seat offers room for 3.

The Rogue's second-row boasts an impressive 41.5 inches of leg room, on par with the Tucson and the CR-V, and beats the RAV4 by more than 3 inches.

Second row occupants get their own climate controls.

Next to the climate controls are a pair of USB-C plugs for the rear seat. Front seat occupants get wireless charging along with a set of two USB-C plugs of their own.

Open up the power liftgate and you'll find 31.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats.

Remove the cargo floor and space behind the second row expands to 36.5 cubic feet.

However, that still falls short of the Tucson we recently tested's 38.7 cubic feet.

Under the rear cargo floor is a spare tire and the subwoofer for the Rogue's stereo.

I appreciated the fact that the Rogue maintains a spare tire in an era where the OEMs opt for the cheaper and lighter tire inflation kit.

With the rear seats folded down, the Rogue boasts 74.1 cubic feet.

That's on par with the Hyundai Tucson.

The Rogue comes equipped with a host of advanced safety features.

The Rogue is equipped with a complete suite of active advanced safety features, including adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, and intelligent lane intervention.

My verdict: The Nissan Rogue is a solid compact SUV with a funky little engine.

In the harshly competitive arena of the compact SUV market, the Nissan Rogue is a standout.

It offers a quiet cabin, loads of tech, and a funky but very gutsy little engine.

It's not perfect, and a traditional automatic instead of a CVT would do wonders, it's still a highly competitive and highly capable little SUV.

• Desk workers' weekly meeting hours have decreased by 31% since 2021, says a survey by Reclaim.ai.
• We might have fewer meetings than a few years ago, but the time can still cut into productivity. 
• Despite the drop in appointments, workers only attend 83% of them, often because they're too busy.

We're spending less time in meetings than just a few years ago. Yet, like a dieter who's cut a few pounds but can't see it, our extra free time isn't always obvious.

According to Reclaim.ai, which makes an AI-powered calendar app, desk workers' time in meetings has dropped to 14.8 hours a week in 2024 from 21.5 hours a week in 2021. That's a 31% decrease, according to data from 1,300 workers it surveyed.

That reduction might surprise those of us who twitch when we hear a meeting reminder go off. Of course, many people are still beholden to too many calendar events, but it seems it could be worse.

The change can be partially explained by Covid. There was a jump in meetings, especially one-on-ones, during the depths of pandemic lockdowns because so many people were working from home, Henry Shapiro, Reclaim.ai cofounder and COO, told Business Insider.

"There was this big spike and almost overcorrection," he said. "Then people kind of settled out and said, like, 'Wait, what are we all doing here?'"

But while some of us have managed to shed meetings, we still attend an average of 17.1 a week. And they're taking longer, with the average meeting length at 51.9 minutes, up from 50.6 in 2021. Thanks, "just one more thing" crowd.

All of this time can be costly. The survey, which focused on tech companies, found that employees spend 37% of their work hours in meetings. Reclaim.ai said that, based on the average pay in the US, those get-togethers add up to about $29,000 per worker yearly.

The biggest culprit: team meetings. There are an average of 6.7 a week, though about eight in 10 workers canceled or rescheduled one of those in the past year because their calendars were bursting.

Shapiro said the rise of remote work during the pandemic — and its relative endurance even now with hybrid setups — meant many of us saw meetings as an essential way to connect with others. Some workers believed they had to revive ties with colleagues after years of working apart, Shapiro said.

"Those relationships used to get built inside of the office in all these sort of serendipitous ways. And now, the only real function for them to do that is through some kind of recurring touchpoint," he said.

Shapiro said meetings have their place, especially because not all workers are together every day. Yet they need to be a good use of time, he added. "There is such a thing as bad meetings. There is such a thing as good meetings," Shapiro said.

The business of managing your calendar itself can drain productivity, he said. The survey, which was conducted from February through April, found that workers spend about three hours a week booking and rescheduling meetings.

Many workers are so overcommitted that they attend only 83% of what they're supposed to. We're canceling, declining, or skipping 3.5 meetings a week, the survey found. The main reason — cited by more than eight in 10 respondents — was a conflict with, you guessed it, another meeting. A slightly smaller percentage said they opted to ditch the meeting to focus on something more important.

Having fewer meetings could help add flexibility to our workdays. That's a priority for many of us. In a survey involving nearly 1,100 Gen Zers in March and April by the career platform iHire, 81.3% of respondents reported that choice over "when, where, and how" they would do a job was either "extremely" or "very" important.

That was nearly in line with the 82.2% of young US workers who stated that having a would-be employer extend a "fair and competitive" salary was extremely or very important.

And, yet, tiresome as they can be, meetings are often essential, Ron Hetrick, senior labor economist at the research firm Lightcast, previously told BI.

"People rip on meetings," he said. "But there's a value in meetings." Hetrick said workers — particularly those early in their careers — use meetings to mature and learn what happens when people might disagree. "I'm seeing how problems get worked out," he said.

Shapiro works remotely most of the time but is in the office on Wednesdays. On those days, he schedules only a few meetings, like a handful of one-on-ones, where he might grab coffee and go for a walk with a colleague.

"The way I've described it to the team is Wednesdays are some of my least productive days," Shapiro said. "And yet they're also like my best days in a lot of ways."

An earlier version of this story appeared on April 24, 2024.

• Near the border of northeastern Ukraine, some of Russia's lethal Su-34 fighter jets sit in the open.
• The bombers have been used to pound Ukraine with regular barrages of glide bombs.
• But Ukraine must seek US approval to strike the exposed jets.

Near the border with northeastern Ukraine, some of Russia's deadly Su-34 fighter bombers lie exposed on the tarmac of a military airfield as they await orders to carry out their next attack.

Voronezh Malshevo airbase is a launching point for jets operated by the Russian Air Force's 47th Guards Bomber Aviation Regiment.

The 47th has regularly taken part in attacks on the Kharkiv region while also frequently carrying out strikes on Ukrainian forces and civilians using highly destructive glide bombs.

Satellite images of Voronezh Malshevo airbase show what appears to be a group of Su-34s, along with other planes and helicopters, lined up on the runway — seemingly there for the taking.

At just 100 miles from the Ukrainian border, the base is easily within range of Ukraine's US-manufactured Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS), a 300 km (186 miles) surface-to-surface artillery weapon system.

However, the United States prohibits Ukraine from striking recognized Russian territory with the ATACMS. Kyiv is only permitted to strike targets within sovereign territory, including occupied territory. Ukraine this month struck Sevastopol in occupied Crimea with ATACMS missiles, killing at least four people and injuring over 150 others. Moscow blamed the United States for the attack and vowed to retaliate.

It will likely be a major frustration for Kyiv, which has embarked on a dedicated campaign to hamper the Russian Air Force and take out the Su-34s.

Ukraine has often been forced to rely on equipment like drones to carry out these strikes, which can be thwarted using electronic systems.

Earlier this month, Ukrainian forces launched at least 70 drones at a military airbase in Russia's Rostov region, almost 200 miles from the Ukrainian border.

In that attack, a satellite image of an airfield close to Morozovsk also showed what appeared to be multiple Su-34 fighter bombers once again lined up in the open.

A Russian Telegram channel claimed one source in the Russian General Staff said: "Most of the drones were shot down, a few failed. We have six dead, including two military pilots. And more than ten wounded."

The extent of the damage to aircraft caused by the attack was not yet known.

Russia has ramped up its use of powerful glide bombs as its war in Ukraine has progressed.

The cheap munitions are produced by attaching wings and satellite navigation systems to old Soviet-era bombs.

Russian jets like the Su-34 are then able to release them from safer distances, making it hard for Ukraine to counter such attacks.

New video footage shared on Russian Telegram channels last week appeared to capture the first combat use of Russia's huge 6,600-pound glide bomb.

The colossal FAB-3000 bomb was dropped by a Su-34 jet, Forbes reported.

"The fact that Russian forces have figured out how to launch FAB-3000s is a significant development and will increase the destructive potential of Russia's ongoing glide bomb attacks against Ukrainian forces and infrastructure," the Institute for the Study of War wrote in an update on the conflict.

• I'm a mom of four kids and my family hadn't been on a real vacation for years until last year. 
• For a five day vacation, we spent $6,000, and so this year we are staying local. 
• I'm finding ways to keep the kids entertained, from picking themes to getting season passes. 

Last summer, my family of six went on vacation to a Florida beach. We hadn't been on a "real vacation" since before the pandemic. Despite having free flights by using credit card rewards, between the rental car, food (most of which we prepared and ate at the rental), and condo costs, as well as limiting our vacation to five days instead of a week, we dropped close to $6000.

Summer has barely started, and my social media feed is flooded with friends and family members' vacation pics. Unlike them, we will not be going on vacation this year.

Instead, we've figured out how to vacation from or close to home. Here are my tips for the families, like mine, who can't travel this summer.

Take advantage of local, outdoor fun

Along with your kids, research local nature centers, hiking or biking trails, and cool parks (splash pad, anyone?) in neighboring towns.

Getting out in nature is almost always free, exposes everyone to fresh air and sunshine, and allows for new adventures. Don't have bikes? Rent them. Need binoculars? Borrow them. I know, for example, that our local library offers loanable fishing poles to patrons.

Plan a staycation

What's the closest major city to your family? Find a hotel (with a pool, of course), research restaurants and entertainment spots and you've got a low-budget staycation.

One year, we staycationed in St. Louis. We rented a large, historical home (it had a ballroom!) for less than $250 a night. It had a kitchen, so we had breakfast and lunch "at home" every day, and enjoyed dinner out at St. Louis-famous restaurants at night. We took our kids to the ever-popular City Museum. To this day, our kids still say this was their favorite vacation.

Pick a theme

What's something your family enjoys? Mine loves ice cream. A theme can set the mood for the summer, such as finding and trying ice cream shops. Decide how often your crew would like to embark on your themed-adventure and get some dates and places on the calendar.

Other theme ideas include sports, music, animals, movies, or art. Then plan your activities accordingly, out and about or at home.

Put ideas in a bowl and draw a surprise

Have each family member come up with closer-to-home activities. With parent approval, place ideas in a bowl. Once a week, draw an activity and do it. Ideas include seeing a movie, going to brunch, visiting a bookstore, enjoying a walking trail, packing a picnic, volunteering, visiting a family member. This can also be tasks like gathering and donating clothing, toys, and books.

Head to a family or friend's house

You know that one family member who is always telling you to come and stay anytime? Now is the time. Take them up on their offer to house your crew, just don't overstay your welcome. See their local sights and enjoy local restaurants. Clean up after yourselves, offer to buy dinner one night, and take the host a gift that's special to your geographical location: wine from a local winery, for example.

Get season passes

Season passes to a nearby theme park or kid-friendly museum or activity center can save you substantial money. For example, a theme park that is within an hour of our home offers season passes that would be paid for if our family of six visits the park just once during the entire summer (between admission tickets and parking).

Frame your summer fun planning as a positive, not as what you could be doing if you had more money and time. You "get" to do these things, an incredible opportunity. Set the tone for a family-fun summer, enjoying the process while saving money.

• Viral hits by Charli XCX, Sabrina Carpenter, and Tinashe point to a bigger trend in pop music.
• So far, this summer has been dominated by "smooth brain" songs — fun, silly, powered by good vibes.
• This may be a reaction to the recent onslaught of bad news, sparking a greater need for escapism.

This time last year, I woke up every morning and played "The Record" by boygenius from top to bottom.

After that album ended with "Letter to an Old Poet," a song about mourning a toxic relationship and pleading with the moon for a scrap of happiness, I'd usually chase with tracks by Mitski, Noah Kahan, or Ethel Cain, who tend to write somberly about loneliness, depression, and occasionally murder.

Now, in a delightful twist, I wake up every morning and listen to Charli XCX's "Brat" — or, as she puts it, "365 party girl, bumpin' that."

Charli's sixth studio album is a buffet of neon-lit, hyper-pop bangers that careen wildly from giddy boasts about wearing designer clothes and being iconic to stark confessions about body image and feminine envy.

In contrast to Mitski's or Kahan's works, Charli's confessions aren't meant to make you pause and weep. Hers are plainspoken, unpolished, and impulsive, thrown into the ether with abandon and then eclipsed by heavy beats.

Charli's stream-of-consciousness style mirrors a night at the club; ugly emotions bubble up, but when the DJ plays your favorite song, they dissolve just as quickly.

"Brat," along with viral hits like Sabrina Carpenter's "Espresso" and Tinashe's "Nasty," have ushered in a season of pleasure and levity — what my friends and I have been calling a "smooth brain summer."

The key tenants are simple: Don't overthink, don't overanalyze, and don't kill the vibe.

'Smooth brain summer' may be a reaction to the news cycle

This trend might feel incongruous with the amount of suffering in the world these days, particularly in recent months. But maybe, instead, it's a direct correlation — a demand born of burnout, bad news fatigue, and the fatalistic urge to party on a ledge. It's not October yet; after all, if the apocalypse is coming, our window for pure whimsy is closing.

The primary lure of pop music has always been escapism. The late producer Sophie — a friend and frequent collaborator of Charli, who has a song dedicated to her on "Brat" — once said her goal with pop music was to make "the loudest, brightest thing."

"That, to me, is an interesting challenge, musically and artistically," Sophie told Rolling Stone. "And I think it's a very valid challenge — just as valid as who can be the most raw emotionally."

Indeed, we've lived in a pop world dominated by Taylor Swift and refashioned in her likeness for several years. Swift's brand of confessional, verbose songwriting has influenced a new generation of musicians that came of age in her wake, from established cult favorites like Phoebe Bridgers to fresher faces like Olivia Rodrigo and Gracie Abrams — all of whom prioritize raw, unflinching honesty in their lyrics.

Nowadays, it's customary for an artist to promote their forthcoming album as their "most personal work yet," as if that's an indisputable virtue or a magic spell for mainstream success. The strategy is getting old if it isn't already.

Of course, that's not to say artists like Rodrigo and Abrams are no longer successful. Rodrigo is in the midst of a sold-out world tour to support her No. 1 sophomore album, "Guts," while Abrams is aiming for a high debut on the Billboard charts with her own sophomore album, "The Secret of Us," bolstered by a duet with Swift herself.

Some music should be complete gibberish

It is to say that ripped-from-the-diary songwriting isn't the only way to make great music, climb the charts, or capture the zeitgeist. Not everyone can write a Swiftian hit; indeed, most people shouldn't try. Some music should just be fun, even if the lyrics are gibberish.

As we've been reminded this year, some music is actually more fun if the lyrics are gibberish. Take Carpenter, for example, who posits in "Espresso" that her charms are so addictive, so distracting, they keep her lover awake like a shot of caffeine.

"That's that me espresso" is a grammatically incorrect sentence, and therein lies the beauty. A simple concept becomes a catchphrase, infinitely quotable and compulsively shareable; it makes the chorus feel like an inside joke between everyone who sings along.

Charli and Tinashe have their own versions of this cheeky gimmick. In the chorus of "360," the opening track on "Brat," Charli sings, "I'm everywhere, I'm so Julia." The line is an obscure reference to Julia Fox, which most people would never catch, even if they've seen her in the music video.

The language of "I'm so Julia" borders on nonsensical. Still, that's the phrase that'll stick in your weird lizard brain — the part fueled by vibes, not logic. Across social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram, people can be found enjoying a new way to compliment their friends and idols: "You're soooo Julia."

For Tinashe, whose catalog overflows with clever, expertly crafted songs that should've been hits, one ridiculous query has finally earned her breakthrough: "Is somebody gonna match my freak?"

It became a dance trend, then a meme, and now, the song is a true mainstream success. "Nasty" recently reached No. 69 on the Billboard Hot 100, Tinashe's first-ever solo entry, over a decade after signing her first label contract.

These peculiar bops form the perfect foundation for a "smooth brain summer" soundtrack — though please note that doesn't mean they're devoid of value or meaning. Rather, their value and meaning are splayed out in plain sight, ready and eager for consumption. Very little soul-searching or analysis is required to enjoy.

An appetite (and a need) still exists for complex metaphors, history lessons, and personal revelations in pop music — but now is not the time. We're too busy guzzling that me espresso.

• Biden will meet with his family at Camp David to discuss the future of his campaign, reports say.
• The trip was planned long in advance but the purpose has shifted after Biden's rough debate.
• A chorus of influential supporters have called on Biden to step aside in the last 48 hours.

Today, President Joe Biden will meet his family at Camp David to discuss the future of his election campaign, according to multiple reports.

It will likely be one of the most agonizing decisions of his long political life.

The pre-planned trip — a chance for the entire family, children and grandchildren included, to take a family photo — is a timely opportunity for a private meeting among the people who are perhaps most influential in Biden's life. His family played a key role in his decision to run in 2020.

The discussion follows Biden's disastrous debate performance against former president Donald Trump on Thursday night. During the debate, Biden struggled with a raspy voice and rambling answers that renewed concerns about his age.

In the 48 hours since the debate, a chorus of donors and other supporters have called on Biden to step aside. The New York Times editorial board did the same. Outside a fundraising event on Saturday, voters who support Biden held signs asking him to exit the race. The weekend was dominated by debates about who could take Biden's place.

In just 90 minutes, Biden's debate performance seems to have sparked the most serious challenge to his presidency yet. Biden's campaign, however, has largely pushed back. And Biden himself has made no indication that he would step down.

The president publicly responded to his debate struggles on Friday.

"Folks, I might not walk as easily or talk as smoothly as I used to. I might not debate as well as I used to. But what I do know is how to tell the truth," he said at a rally in North Carolina.

In response to the reports that Biden would discuss his campaign with his family, Andrew Bates, the White House senior deputy press secretary, said on X that the Camp David trip was pre-planned and dismissed the reports.

• Technomic data analyzed by Nation's Restaurant News ranks the top 15 US chain restaurants.
• Olive Garden, Texas Roadhouse, and Applebee's lead in casual-dining chain restaurants.
• Waffle House has the most restaurants on this ranking with 1,985 locations.

While fast-food and fast-casual chains dominate the industry, many casual-dining and family-style chain restaurants are also thriving.

This year, there have been challenges — Red Lobster's recent bankruptcy filing sent shockwaves through the industry — and opportunities for chain restaurants, which are now competing with fast-food chains for value-driven customers.

From Olive Garden to Denny's, you've likely visited at least one of these chains in the past year. But which chains are faring better than others?

The research firm Technomic recently identified the top 500 biggest chain restaurants in the US. The report, which Technomic said is based on "decades of historical data," analyzes trends in the food service industry and includes each chain's annual sales and unit counts for 2023, which were also reported by Nation's Restaurant News.

We looked at the top 15 chains listed as casual dining, midscale, or family-style for this list. Fast-casual or quick-service restaurants like Chipotle and McDonald's are not included. We also listed the year the company was founded, its 2023 sales, and restaurant count, per Technomic's report.

Here are the biggest chain restaurants in the US.

15. Waffle House

Year founded: 1955

Sales (2023): $1.4 billion

Restaurant count (2023): 1,985

14. Red Robin

Year founded: 1969

Sales: $1.6 billion

Restaurant count: 506

13. Golden Corral

Year founded: 1973

Sales: $1.6 billion

Restaurant count: 357

12. Red Lobster

Year founded: 1968

Sales: $2.2 billion

Restaurant count: 649

11. The Cheesecake Factory

Year founded: 1978

Sales: $2.6 billion

Restaurant count: 216

10. Cracker Barrel

Year founded: 1969

Sales: $2.7 billion

Restaurant count: 662

9. Denny's

Year founded: 1953

Sales: $2.7 billion

Restaurant count: 1,407

8. Longhorn Steakhouse

Year founded: 1981

Sales: $2.8 billion

Restaurant count: 580

7. Outback Steakhouse

Year founded: 1988

Sales: $2.8 billion

Restaurant count: 688

6. IHOP

Year founded: 1958

Sales: $3.4 billion

Restaurant count: 1,696

5. Buffalo Wild Wings

Year founded: 1982

Sales: $4 billion

Restaurant count: 1,264

4. Chili's Grill & Bar

Year founded: 1975

Sales: $4 billion

Restaurant count: 1,230

3. Applebee's

Year founded: 1980

Sales: $4.4 billion

Restaurant count: 1,536

2. Texas Roadhouse

Year founded: 1993

Sales: $4.8 billion

Restaurant count: 638

1. Olive Garden

Year founded: 1982

Sales: $5.1 billion

Restaurant count: 908

• Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte has been selected as NATO's next Secretary-General.
• Rutte will replace Jens Stoltenberg, who has led NATO since 2014.
• Nicknamed the "Trump whisperer," Rutte could have an important role should Trump return to the White House.

NATO has selected outgoing Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte as its next Secretary-General.

Rutte, a fierce critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, will take over from Jens Stoltenberg on October 1, ending the latter's decadelong run at the helm of the alliance.

The 57-year-old, who is the Netherlands' longest-serving prime minister, will take over the reins at a crucial and turbulent time for the alliance, with the US election looming in November and the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza still raging on.

The intray for Rutte is "daunting," Philippe Dickinson, the deputy director of the Transatlantic Security Initiative at the Atlantic Council's Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security, said.

He will have to contend with "reinforcing defense and deterrence across the Alliance in the face of a hostile and bellicose Russia, helping Ukraine to defeat Russia and welcoming Kyiv into the Alliance, and establishing NATO's role in dealing with the rising challenge posed by China," Dickinson continued, "all while evolving the Alliance to keep up with fast-paced technological change and without neglecting NATO's counterterrorism and crisis management responsibilities."

And that's not to mention the upcoming US election, which comes just a month after Rutte will take office.

However, the Dutch politician is familiar with Trump, and he has even garnered the nickname the "Trump whisperer" after successfully placating the former president after he had warned during a NATO meeting in 2018 that the US would go its "own way" if other countries did not start spending more on their militaries, per Politico.

After a fractious few moments, Rutte reportedly "rescued" the situation by telling Trump that other countries' spending had gone up and that Trump was, in fact, to thank.

Rutte's experience and personality could now be key to "Trump-proofing" NATO, Rachel Rizzo, a nonresident senior fellow with the Atlantic Council's Europe Center, added.

"He's seen as cool, calm, and collected. He knows how to handle big egos, he's worked with Trump before (even praising him at times), and he understands the need for European allies to increase their share of the burden of European security," she said.

Michael O'Hanlon, a senior fellow and director of research in Foreign Policy at the Brookings Institution, told Business Insider that Rutte is "a consensus builder" and "a person with a track record of improving his country's defense burdensharing efforts."

Rutte is also a major supporter of Ukraine, and he has been a key driver of European military support for the country since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Rutte was influenced by the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 in 2014, which killed 196 Dutch nationals. The Netherlands says Russia played a key role in the incident.

"He won't stop at Ukraine if we don't stop him now. This war is bigger than Ukraine itself. It's about upholding the international rule of law," Rutte said of Putin in 2022.

• Business Insider asked stylists and designers which sandal trends are in and out this summer. 
• The experts said fisherman sandals are one of the biggest styles of the season.  
• On the other hand, flip-flops and water sandals aren't doing anything for your look. 

Sandals aren't just what you toss on to take out the trash anymore. Popular brand Birkenstock alone reported an annual revenue of $1.5 billion in 2023.

But before you run out to find this season's latest trends, Business Insider asked stylists and designers to share which sandals are in and out this summer.

Here's what the experts said.

Neutral earth tones pair well with a range of outfits.

Neutrals and nudes will always be in style, according to Melony Huber, designer, founder, and design director of the ethical lifestyle collection La Peony.

"You can wear them over and over again with a variety of looks, so you will get your use out of these shoes," she told BI.

According to Abby Young, lead stylist and CEO of Abby Young Styling, brown leather, tan suede, and beige raffia are all acceptable options.

Asymmetrical sandals are making their way onto the scene.

Asymmetric sandals often have straps or embellishments that wrap around the foot unevenly, creating an eye-catching look.

"These sandals are fun, unique, and something everyone must try," Huber told BI. "They are a great addition to everyone's summer closet."

The asymmetric lines also add visual interest, which can be very flattering.

Fisherman sandals are trending.

According to Michelle Barrett, stylist and founder of Capsule Closet Stylist, fisherman sandals are one of the season's biggest trends.

Think flat and chunky leather styles in black, brown, and off-white.

Fisherman sandals are easy to pair with shorts, dresses, and other everyday looks, Young said.

Metal accents are going to be everywhere.

According to Barrett and Huber, we'll see metal embellishments everywhere this summer.

"It upgrades the overall look of your sandals and is an eye-catching fashion choice, perfect for elevating your outfit instantly," Huber told BI.

Barrett recommended opting for simple touches of gold or silver rather than stone and sequin embellishments from years past.

Strappy sandals are making a comeback.

With the recent resurgence of '90s fashion, thin straps are making a comeback.

According to Huber, lightweight, strappy sandals are great for hot summer days.

"Perfect for a range of outfits, these go great with everything from summer dresses to flowy pants," she told BI.

On the other hand, flip-flops are dead.

According to Alina Lundin, CEO, founder, and designer of Miharo, flip-flops are often seen as too casual and lack the support needed for extended wear.

As a replacement style, consider slides or stylish mules.

"These offer more support and a chic, polished look," the designer told BI.

Styles from the 2010 era should stay there.

From cork wedges and espadrilles to gladiator sandals, Young said it's too soon to bring back any 2010s trends.

The stylist recommended more interesting styles this season, such as toe-ring, fisherman, or cross-strap sandals.

Water sandals aren’t doing anything for your look.

Water or sports sandals may be functional, but they won't do anything for your look, according to Young.

"If your vacation plans involve both outdoor and indoor activities, such as going out to dinner, consider keeping an extra pair of leather sandals to change into later," the stylist told BI.

Swap any thin heels for platforms.

Although stylish, high-heeled sandals can be impractical and uncomfortable for summer activities, according to Lundin.

The designer recommended swapping these out for platform sandals, which provide comfort and support while still being fashionable.

• Putin and Kim held a major summit early last week and agreed to a mutual defense pact. 
• The agreement is as bad for China as it is for the US, a top Korea watcher said. 
• Russia and North Korea's closeness leaves China with few options on how to respond.

A deepening partnership between Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is causing ripple effects worldwide, from the Indo-Pacific region to Ukraine.

And while the growing partnership may increase tensions and create problems for the US and its allies, it's not exactly great for China either, a top Korea watcher said.

Last week, Putin visited North Korea for the first time in 24 years. During a glitzy and high-profile trip to Pyongyang, the two signed an agreement declaring they'd aid each other should the other be attacked.

The mutual defense agreement followed earlier arms deals between the two, which have seen Russia receive North Korean weapons to address its ammunition shortages in Ukraine in exchange for Pyongyang likely receiving food, petroleum products, and potentially more dangerous and advanced capabilities and technologies for nuclear-powered submarines, intercontinental ballistic missiles, or other priority programs.

The pact was a notable turning point, marking Russia and North Korea's closest relations since the Cold War and leaving the door open for future cooperation. None of this is good for the US — the partnership fuels Putin's war, gives North Korea opportunities to bypass global sanctions, and stirs up increased tension on the Korean peninsula, among other challenges.

It also brings US adversaries closer together into what experts have called an "axis of upheaval," prompting a direct challenge to the US-led world order.

No good options

But US President Joe Biden isn't the only one dealing with the problems of this new partnership. The closeness of Russia and North Korea leaves Chinese leader Xi Jinping in a rather odd spot as well.

"This relationship is as bad for China as it is for the United States," Victor Cha, the senior vice president for Asia and the Korea chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said.

Beijing has long enjoyed a strong influence over North Korea, and it has gone to great lengths to maintain relations with Pyongyang despite navigating North Korea's internationally condemned nuclear weapons tests and UN Security Council sanctions.

At times when it seems like other countries could compete for North Korea's interest — such as summits between Kim and Donald Trump or between Kim and Putin — China has sought to reposition itself carefully, so as to maintain its role as North Korea's closest ally.

But this year's a whole new ballgame. In early 2024, Cha and others predicted that because of Putin and Kim's previous summit in September 2023 and arms deal to provide Russia ammunition, North Korea would find itself "sitting pretty" as both Russia and China courted it and the US remained ignored on the sidelines.

Now, with China left out of a budding relationship between Putin and Kim, it doesn't really have any good options on the table.

"They could join with the United States in condemning this, which they will never do, even though this relationship is not in their interest at all," Cha said.

"They could publicly criticize North Korea, and they'll never do that. Or they could stop industrial support for Russia to try and stop the Russians from working with the North Koreans, and they'll never do that either," he added.

A major problem facing both China and the US is the risk of further tensions on the Korean peninsula, a place neither wants to see conflict.

Dangerous dominoes

With Russia forging closer ties with North Korea in a way that could potentially lead to advances in North Korean military capabilities or improved weapons production, South Korea finds itself facing an increasingly emboldened and capable enemy neighbor. And Seoul's already threatened a response to that.

After Putin and Kim's summit, Seoul said it would consider dropping its policy against directly sending lethal aid to Ukraine. The dominoes are thus in place to fall.

South Korea has been supplying Ukraine with much-needed ammunition via the US, bypassing restrictions, but the threat escalates things.

Putin warned South Korea against direct support for Ukraine, suggesting that if it does decide to go all in, Russia could flood North Korea with more military support, fueling tensions on the peninsula. "Those who supply these weapons believe that they are not at war with us," he told reporters, adding that, "including in Pyongyang, that we then reserve the right to supply weapons to other regions of the world."

Cha explained that Russia holds a bit of leverage in this situation, capable of responding by helping North Korea improve its stockpiles, produce better munitions, and even potentially provide high-end technology for nuclear-powered submarines or better military satellites.

Were Russia to take such a retaliatory step, it could prompt Seoul to think more seriously about a nuclear weapons program, something that's long been in discussion but has typically been deterred by stronger US commitments to defend South Korea.

Last year, South Korea agreed not to pursue the development of its own nuclear weapons, which the North has developed over a series of illegal tests, in exchange for the deployment of US nuclear-powered submarines in the area.

Growing unease

With the Putin-Kim alliance, China is also likely to face greater pressure from US-led alliances. Cha explained that the security pact between Russia and North Korea "ensures the US-Japan-South Korea military alliances will grow even tighter," which makes the Indo-Pacific region even more of a hotbed for joint military exercises, demonstrations, and an increased US presence.

China has long been against such alliances and criticized US operations in internationally open waters. In recent years, as the US has strengthened ties with Japan and South Korea in direct response to growing concerns about Chinese aggression, it has stirred frustration in Beijing.

Now, that's seemingly only going to grow as the US and its allies watch North Korea and Russia more closely. But China has, for now, kept its thoughts on this matter to itself.

"The cooperation between Russia and the DPRK is a matter between two sovereign states," Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Li Jian said last week, referring to North Korea by its official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

"We do not have information on the relevant matter," he said.

There may be more playing out behind the scenes, as US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell suggested at a think tank event earlier this week.

"I think it is fair to say that China is somewhat anxious about what's going on between Russia and North Korea," he said at an event hosted by the Council on Foreign Relations. "They have indicated so in some of our interactions, and we can see some tension associated with those things."

"China is probably worried that North Korea will be somehow encouraged to take provocative steps that could lead to a crisis in Northeast Asia," Campbell said.