• The tiny village of Sagaponack in the Hamptons is the most expensive zip code in New York, according to a new report from Property Shark. 
• It's also the second most expensive zip code in the US. 
• The median price of a home in Sagaponack is $5.5 million and one study found you'd need to make at least $853,738 to live there comfortably.
• Celebrities and businesspeople, including talk show host Jimmy Fallon and billionaire investor Ira Rennert, own homes in the secluded village.

The Hamptons, a series of beach towns dotting eastern Long Island, is well-known as a summer retreat for the wealthy and famous of New York.

Within these affluent communities, a tiny village of 491 people stands out. It's the priciest zip code in New York state and the second most expensive in the country, according to Property Shark.

Sagaponack, a village in the town of Southampton in the 11962, has been called home by CEOs, musicians, famous authors, and celebrities. 

In Sagaponack, the median sale price for a home $5.5 million, according to Property Shark. In order to live comfortably in the Hamptons village, you'll need to make at least $853,738 a year, according to a GoBankingRates study.

Here's a look inside the exclusive Hamptons community.

SEE ALSO: How much you need to earn to live in the most expensive zip code in every state

DON'T MISS: 10 cities where you can make 6 figures and still feel broke

Sagaponack sits in The Hamptons, a stretch of affluent seaside communities on New York's Long Island.

Source: Google Maps

It's about a 2.5 hour drive from New York City.

Source: Google Maps

The median listing price for a home in Sagaponack is $7.1 million.

Source: GoBankingRates

Ivanka Trump has lived her life in the public eye.

Born to then real-estate mogul Donald Trump and model Ivana Trump, his first wife, she is now the president's oldest (and favorite) daughter.

The 37-year-old has been a business executive, runway model, socialite, doting mother, and now key adviser in her father's White House.

Here's a look back at her life:

SEE ALSO: Ivanka Trump describes her life as the daughter of a US president, running the Trump empire, and building her own brand

DON'T MISS: The meteoric rise of Hope Hicks: How a 28-year-old with no political experience found herself in Trump's inner circle

Ivana Trump was born in Manhattan on October 30, 1981. "Ivanka" is actually a nickname for her real name, which is the same as her mother's.

Source: Business Insider, Ivanka Trump

She is the middle child of Donald's first wife, Ivana, who was born in Czechoslovakia.

Her mother and father divorced in 1992 after a very public breakup when he cheated with Marla Maples, who would become his second wife. Ivanka was 11 years old.

• Facebook has been dealing with more data scandals and internal controversies this year, which makes me feel less comfortable sharing photos to the social network.
• Instead, I've been increasingly sharing photos with friends and family using Apple's iCloud service.
• iCloud is private and secure, and is capable of accomplishing the same end result as sharing photos with friends over Facebook.

After a vacation, an outing with coworkers, or even just a really delicious dinner, you probably amass a handful of photos on your smartphone. You might even want to share those photos with friends and family.

Lots of people go to Facebook or Instagram, which is owned by Facebook, to share their photos. But after the Cambridge Analytica scandal earlier this year, the hack in October that affected 30 million users, and the recent reports of turmoil within the company, I personally feel less comfortable sharing my photos, which I consider very personal data, to those sites.

Instead of Facebook or Instagram, I've been increasingly sharing my photos with friends and family through iCloud, Apple's built-in cloud service that works across Apple devices, but also the web (in case you don't own an Apple device).

The case for iCloud

Sharing photo albums through iCloud is easy.

Take any Apple device you have that's connected to iCloud and your Apple ID, open your Photos app, select a handful of photos, and press the share button in the bottom-right corner — the little box with an arrow sticking out the top of it.

One of the first options you should see has an icon of Apple's Photos app, but it's called "Shared Albums." Click that to share those photos you selected.

At this point, you can make a new album for your photos, or select a previous album you already made. You can add comments at this point, or just click "Post." That's it! You made a shared photo album on iCloud.

Read more: We compared Google Drive with Apple's iCloud and Dropbox to find the best cloud storage solution — and the winner is clear

To let others see your photos or add their own, visit your Shared Album and you should see a toggle at the bottom with two options: "People" and "Photos."

Click the "People" toggle, and you should now see a slew of new options: You can invite people to the album (all you need is their email address or phone number) and choose a handful of other settings, like letting subscribers post their own photos and videos to your album (or not), or letting your album exist on a public website on iCloud.com.

That's all there is to it. All of these processes happen within your Photos app, which makes it hard to mess up.

Private and secure

One of the other reasons I prefer iCloud is because it's private and secure — I get to choose everyone who sees the photos, and I know Apple isn't using my photos in other ways, like scanning them for additional descriptive data to better target advertisements.

Apple clearly cares about user privacy and security: It has an entire webpage dedicated to both of those things, just so customers can understand what Apple is (and isn't) doing with their data. Apple makes it clear that it doesn't sell your photos or personal data to third-parties, and that all personal data, including login and transaction data, is fully encrypted.

So for convenience and security reasons, I prefer iCloud. But I also like it because, unlike Facebook, I don't feel like I'm vying for the Likes and attention of friends and family that may not necessarily care about seeing my pictures. With iCloud, I'm sharing photos with specific people because I know they'll enjoy my photos.

And iCloud is surprisingly robust, too. Even if your potential recipients don't have Apple devices, you can still see a shared photo album you're invited to access through iCloud.com. And all photos, as well as the albums themselves, can be commented on as well. It's very similar to Facebook overall, just without the massive built-in network.

If you're feeling leery about Facebook, I highly recommend giving iCloud Photo Sharing a try. It's simple, secure, and gives you more control over who can see your photos. It also comes down to trust, and Facebook has suffered one too many dings this year to make me feel totally comfortable posting there.

SEE ALSO: Apple charges a ton of money for built-in storage — here's how to get around it

Join the conversation about this story »

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Thanksgiving dinner is traditionally a high-carb affair.

Tables often feature some combination of mashed potatoes, thick gravy, sweet baked beans, yams, cornbread, and pie. Those dishes can feel like an abomination for people on a ketogenic diet, which limits one's carb intake to 20-50 grams per day. 

Keto dieters aim to stay in a state of ketosis, in which the body burns fat for fuel. The approach is backed by some evidence that suggests limiting carbs could boost your health. A rigorously controlled study published in the BMJ this month suggested that overweight people who stick to low-carb diets (getting 20% of their daily calories from carbs) may burn around 250 more calories per day than people who follow high-carb eating plans.

The study is the latest to question the conventional idea that "a calorie is a calorie." More research is still needed, but the finding suggests there might be something sluggish about the way our bodies run when using carbs as an energy source, and that could have serious consequences for our health and make long-term weight maintenance trickier. 

For keto eaters, a single serving of mashed potatoes or slice of apple pie could send their system out of ketosis by raising their blood sugar. But there are still ways to follow the rules and feast at Thanksgiving. Here are a few simple and delicious ways to stay keto this week without deprivation or cheating. 

SEE ALSO: A cancer researcher who's been on the keto diet for 6 years explains how he does it

First, a warning about the keto diet.

The keto diet may not be right for pregnant women, people with kidney or liver issues, or people with rare disorders that make it difficult to metabolize ketones (the chemicals your liver makes when it burns fat for fuel). 

If you're considering it, consult a doctor first.

Turkey is definitely keto-friendly.

Keto diets are designed to be high-fat, which means that you can even slather your turkey with as much butter as you like. 

Just don't put any bread in the stuffing.

Instead, try a cauliflower stuffing. There are also some keto-friendly "breads" out there, which are typically made with almond and/or coconut flours. 

• When my eyes start to cross, and I can’t think straight at work, I take a power nap of about 15 minutes.
• Research has shown that short naps can improve your ability to remember, reason, and learn.

What do you do when you can’t keep your eyes open in an afternoon meeting, or you just want to put your head on your desk?

If you’re like nearly two-thirds of American adults, you reach for a cup of coffee. But studies have shown there’s something even more effective for memory and motor function: taking a nap.

I don't like caffeinated drinks, so if I start to fade after lunch, the one thing I do to counteract the fatigue is take a 15-minute power nap. When I get up, my brain is fresh and ready to spring into action.

The power of sleep

Scientists don’t know why humans need to sleep, but there are several theories. The plasticity of the brain (which allows you to learn) seems to improve during sleep. Losing sleep certainly can limit your brain functioning, according to Time.

Your body also apparently repairs itself during sleep. Studies show that the immune system replenishes T cells during sleep, which might explain why lack of sleep can make you sick.

What researchers do know is that Americans don’t sleep enough. The Sleep Foundation recommends 7 to 9 hours of sleep for adults. Gallup found that, in 2013 (the last year it measured), Americans slept an average of only 6.8 hours a night, down from 7.9 hours in 1942. So, it’s no wonder we hit bottom by mid-afternoon — a sensation which a power nap can counteract.

How to nap

As Daniel Pink explains in his book, "When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing," a short nap acts like a Zamboni on your brain. As the day goes on, your brain glitches up. A short nap smooths the glitches, so you can function for the rest of the day.

I like to nap for 10 to 15 minutes at work (as I work from home). Any longer, and I feel sluggish and have a hard time getting up. I put in headphones and listen to a mellow podcast, to keep my mind from spinning on my next task. I set a timer and put on an eye mask.

When my time is up, I find I can get right back to work with renewed focus. One power nap is usually enough to get me through the rest of the afternoon. If I’m tired enough that I need two naps, I'm probably getting sick and shouldn’t be working.

The best way to take a power nap is subjective. The Mayo Clinic recommends anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes. Author Daniel Pink has a power nap hack: drink a cup of coffee, nap for 25 minutes (the amount of time it takes for the caffeine to hit), then get up doubly refreshed.

Where to nap

The more difficult issue for most people is where to nap at work. If you work from home or your own office, like I do, it's pretty easy.

If you work in a more open space that you share with coworkers, finding a place to nap can be much harder. You run the risk that, if your boss finds you curled up under your desk or snoozing in your car, she'll think you’re slacking.

The good news is that employers have begun to recognize the restorative potential of the power nap. Some even have nap rooms for their employees. And you now have multiple choices of odd little tents to deploy at work — if you can sleep through your coworker’s laughter.

SEE ALSO: 7 reasons why traveling by train is better than flying

Join the conversation about this story »

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These helpful hacks make traveling more enjoyable during holiday madness.

EDITOR'S NOTE: This video was originally published on November 25, 2015. Produced by Jenner Deal. Original reporting by Sophie-Claire Hoeller.

Join the conversation about this story »

Thanksgiving, for many, is the time of year to enjoy food, family traditions, and memories.

But the holiday season can also be a time when people worry about weight gain.

To get professional tips on how to enjoy Thanksgiving while keeping up with a healthy eating regimen, we turned to Lisa Sasson, a New York University nutrition professor who's researched successful dieting strategies.

Here's her advice for making the healthiest — but still delicious — choices on Thanksgiving Day.

This post was initially published in 2016 and has been updated. 

SEE ALSO: Here's what 200 calories of every Thanksgiving food looks like

DON'T MISS: The simplest advice for anyone who wants to eat healthy or lose weight

Come hungry, but not starving.

It may seem like a good idea to save your appetite for the main event, but Sasson warned against showing up ravenous for Thanksgiving dinner. When you're that hungry, your willpower tends to disappear, and you're likely to eat whatever's in sight.

Instead, Sasson suggested, eat a satisfying snack before starting your Thanksgiving festivities. Nuts, yogurt, a salad with avocado, or eggs are all good options to consider during the morning before the meal.

Keep your appetizers light.

Instead of filling up on heavy appetizers, go for lighter fare, such as fresh veggies, salads, chips and salsa, or a vegetable-based soup like butternut squash soup.

Make sure your plate is colorful and full of veggies.

A good rule for filling up your plate at any kind of buffet or large meal, Sasson said, is to go heavy on vegetables. If you can, choose an array of fresh, grilled, or roasted vegetables like beets, carrots, Brussels sprouts, or cauliflower.

Turkey is also a healthy part of the Thanksgiving meal, especially if you avoid the skin.

• FAO Schwarz, the iconic toy retailer that closed its Fifth Avenue flagship store in 2015, reopened its doors at 30 Rockefeller Plaza last week.
• The store is known for its upscale toy selection and has been around for over 150 years. 
• In addition to the giant toy selection, FAO Schwarz has a Build-A-Bear Workshop, candy store, and its famous walk-on piano. Here's what it's like to visit. 

FAO Schwarz, the world's most iconic toy store, is back in New York.

Founded in 1862, FAO Schwarz was known in New York City for its upscale and expensive toys. The Fifth Avenue flagship store first opened in 1986 as a tourist attraction, complete with a theme song, musical clock tower, and doormen dressed as palace guards. 

In 2009, FAO Schwarz was purchased by the now-defunct Toys R Us, which sold the entire FAO Schwarz brand to Threesixty Group, a product developer and distributor, in 2016. But in 2015, the iconic store announced that it would shut down due to rising rental costs.

The new store, which opened on November 16, was developed by Threesixty Group. The three-floor, 20,000-square-foot space at 30 Rockefeller Plaza is complete with larger-than-life stuffed animals and the walk-on piano keyboard seen in the 1988 movie "Big" with Tom Hanks. Threesixty did not disclose the terms of the new store's lease, but it was previously reported to be long-term.

In addition to its huge selection of Barbie dolls, plush toys, puzzles, and countless other toys, the space also offers shoppers in-store experiences like a Build-A-Bear Workshop station, a mini nail salon, and a Discovery science station. The first floor is also home to a massive candy shop.

We visited the store in its opening week. Here's what it was like. 

SEE ALSO: Here are the most over-the-top gifts on Neiman Marcus' guide for billionaires

FAO Schwarz re-opened on Friday at 30 Rockefeller Plaza, about five blocks south of its previous location.

When I visited the store on Monday, the line to get in stretched more than halfway down the block.

I had to wait almost 40 minutes to get into the store.

• The Ohio state legislature is considering two bills that would ban and criminalize abortion in the state.
• The Ohio House passed a bill to ban abortion after six weeks, which Gov. John Kasich says he will veto.
• The House's health committee is considering legislation that would punish abortion providers and patients with life in prison, and even the death penalty.
• A litigator with the ACLU's Reproductive Freedom Project told INSIDER the six-week ban is "Blanton unconstitutional," and will likely be struck down in court. 

On Thursday, the Ohio House of Representatives passed a bill to ban patients from obtaining abortions after six weeks. Republican Governor John Kasich vetoed a similar measure in 2016 — and reproductive rights advocates say it's a clear attempt to get the Supreme Court to rule on abortion restrictions.

Passed by a vote of 58-43 and now headed to the Ohio Senate, the legislation would charge doctors with felonies if they preformed abortions after a heartbeat could be detected, which typically occurs around five or six weeks of pregnancy. 

Gov. Kasich, who leaves office in January, told reporters over the weekend that he would veto the six-week ban again if it came to his desk before the end of his term. Reproductive rights advocates argue the legislation would criminalize abortion before many women even know they're pregnant. 

Brigitte Amiri, deputy director of the ACLU Reproductive Freedom Project called the bill — and others like it — "blatantly unconstitutional" in a phone interview with INSIDER. 

"A state can't ban abortion, which is what this has effectively done, and it would be struck down by the courts, certainly in the lower courts," Amiri said. "This is a direct attack on Roe v. Wade, this is an attempt by the other side to overrule the constitutional right to abortion." 

Meanwhile, the Ohio House's health committee is considering an even more severe abortion bill, HB 565, which would go a step further to designate fetuses as "unborn humans" statewide, allowing for women and doctors who receive and provide abortions to be punished with life in prison, and even the death penalty. 

That bill, however, has not gained much traction since lawmakers introduced it in March, and is unlikely to be voted on this year. 

Amiri explained the six-week ban is unlikely to hold up legally, since Roe v. Wade protects abortion to the point of viability, around 24 weeks of pregnancy. Similar six-week bans in North Dakota and Iowa were either struck down by federal courts or blocked by state courts for violating either Roe, or state-level abortion protections. 

After Justice Brett Kavanaugh was nominated in July, legal experts told INSIDER that while it's unlikely for a Supreme Court even with a 5-4 conservative majority to fully overturn Roe v. Wade, the Court could uphold less extreme restrictions on the procedure. 

Read more: 23 creative ways states are keeping women from getting abortions in the US — that could erode Roe v. Wade without repealing it

"We don't know what's going to happen until the Supreme Court takes one of these cases. There are 13 cases in the pipeline right now. Whether the Supreme Court is going to take up one of those cases and what they're going to say is unknown, but we're deeply concerned."

In a Thursday statement, Amiri warned that the Ohio legislature's recent actions are a "harbinger of things to come" when it comes to states restricting abortion access. 

"We're concerned this is the first of several states that will try to ban abortion, which is why people need to stay vigilant," Amiri added. "I was a little surprised that Ohio was so quick to do so, and it makes me deeply concerned that other states will be acting quickly when the legislatures come back in session in 2019 in other states."

Amiri said she has just one message for the Ohio state government if they pass the six-week ban: "we'll see you in court." 

SEE ALSO: This is what could happen if Roe v. Wade fell

SEE ALSO: Voters in Alabama and West Virginia passed ballot initiatives to significantly limit abortion access at the state level if Roe v. Wade is overturned

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• Ohio Rep. Marcia Fudge is currently weighing a challenge against Nancy Pelosi for speaker of the House.
• Fudge has been urged by the small group of Democratic colleagues looking to oust Pelosi from the top spot in the House.
• Fudge has been in Congress since 2008, prior to which she was the mayor of the Cleveland suburb Warrensville Heights.

WASHINGTON — Rep. Marcia Fudge, the Ohio Democrat currently mulling a challenge to Nancy Pelosi for the speaker's gavel when the new Congress forms in January, has long been a thorn in the side of the Democratic leadership.

While Fudge is waiting until after the Thanksgiving break to decide whether or not she will mount a bid against Pelosi, who has been Democratic leader for the better part of the past two decades, many of her colleagues wait anxiously as they split into factions of those who ardently back Pelosi, those who want to oust her in favor of new blood, and the small group of still-undecided members and incoming freshmen.

Fudge, 66, has represented Ohio's 11th congressional district since 2008. Prior to that, she was the mayor of Warrensville Heights, a suburb of Cleveland.

Regarding Pelosi, Fudge has often been critical, most recently calling her "elitist" in an interview with HuffPost.

She also railed against Pelosi for taking too much credit for Democrats retaking the House majority, which they had failed to capture for the last eight years.

"Everybody wants to give her such big credit for winning back the House, and she should be here because she won," Fudge said. "She didn’t win it by herself."

When Rep. Tim Ryan of Ohio unsuccessfully challenged Pelosi for minority leader shortly after the 2016 elections, Fudge nominated him on the House floor.

After Pelosi defeated Ryan, Fudge said, "We didn’t lose today." 

"We now have a leadership team that listens to us," she added. "Today, we made our caucus more representative of our members."

Potential challenge to Nancy Pelosi for speaker of the House

A Fudge challenge to Pelosi would satisfy a lot of Democrats looking for an alternative.

Many of the Midwestern Democrats in Congress have lamented their lack of representation at all levels of the House leadership, and Fudge's Ohio roots would certainly fill that void.

"I think the leadership team matters," Illinois Rep. Cheri Bustos told INSIDER. "I know the focus is everybody gets asked about the speaker's race, but the leadership team matters in all sorts of ways. And one of those is geographic diversity."

Bustos, who is a Pelosi backer and candidate to chair the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, is one of just two Midwesterners running for a spot on the leadership team.

Another Midwesterner, Rep. Tim Ryan, is one of the Democrats leading the charge to oust Pelosi. Ryan signed the letter released by a working group of 16 congresspeople and incoming freshmen opposed to Pelosi.

Fudge was previously a signatory on the letter, but did not appear when it became public on Monday. However, the removal of Fudge's name does not necessarily mean she is ruling out the challenge to Pelosi.

Pelosi welcomed any challengers during a Thursday press conference, noting that while she believes many Democrats have the chops to serve as speaker, she believes she is the best choice for the moment.

"I have overwhelming support in my caucus to be speaker of the House," Pelosi said. "And, certainly, we have many, many people in our caucus who could serve in this capacity. I happen to think at this point, I am the best person for that."

But while there is a sizable amount of ground to be gained for insurgents in the Democratic caucus, Pelosi also has to court more members if she wants to be able to secure the necessary 218 votes on the House floor to become speaker.

SEE ALSO: Jeff Flake threatens to block Trump's judicial nominees until Senate votes on bill to protect Mueller

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It's the day after Thanksgiving, and you're sitting at home eating cold pumpkin pie in your pajamas. Thanks to the internet, you can get a newly discounted flat screen TV on Black Friday without becoming a cautionary nightly news segment or waiting outside a Best Buy in freezing cold weather. 

Pick up luxuries you can only justify with a discount or check off all the things you'll need to buy anyway: holiday gifts, a replacement for the long-suffering mattress or living room couch, a new robovac, or an Instant Pot— at prices that are up to 80% cheaper than they will be next week. 

Below, you'll find a list of stores with the best 2018 Black Friday sales on the internet (like Amazon, Nordstrom, Casper, and more).

We'll be updating the stores and deals in real time, so check back in or bookmark this page if you don't want to miss out on any great Black Friday deals. 

Here are the top 10 Black Friday 2018 sales we're shopping:

• Amazon
• Nordstrom
• Walmart
• Best Buy
• Target
• Macy's
• Jet.com
• Wayfair
• Sephora
• Leesa mattresses
• Brooklinen bedding
• MVMT watches

Looking for more deals? We've rounded up the best Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals on the internet.

To potentially save more on Black Friday and Cyber Monday, you can visit Business Insider Coupons to find up-to-date promo codes for a range of online stores.

Click to go to: Tech | Mattresses | Women's Fashion | Men's Fashion | Beauty and Skincare | Home and Kitchen | Education | Food and Meal Delivery | Jewelry | Big Box Retailers | Miscellaneous

Amazon:

• Save big on Amazon devices and tech from top brands like Bose, Sony, Sonos, and more. Shop amazon.com.

Best Buy:

• November 22-24, save up to $300 on 4K Ultra HD TVs, save $300 on the Samsung Galaxy Note9, S9, or S9+, save $50 on the Google Home, save $30 on select Xbox One and PS4 games, and much more at Best Buy.

Dell:

• Save up to 50% off computers, laptops, and accessories at Dell with doorbuster deals starting November 22 at 10 a.m. ET. Shop dell.com.

Google

• Save up to 40% off Google Home, Pixelbook, Chromecast and more November 22-24 on Best Buy. Shop bestbuy.com and walmart.com.

Incase:

• Up to 50% off sitewide from November 22-26. Shop incase.com.

Incipio:

• Take 40% off sitewide from November 22-26. Shop incipio.com.

JBL:

• Save up to 50% off from November 18-21, and save 50% off speakers, headphones, and more devices from November 21-26. Shop jbl.com.

iRobot:

• Save $30 on a Braava jet and $200 on a Roomba 960 from November 15-December 2. Shop irobot.com.

Microsoft:

• November 18-26 save up to $310 on select Surface devices, November 18-26 save up to $100 on select Xbox One consoles, and November 22-30 get deals on games including Forza Horizon 4 for up to 35% off, State of Decay 2 for 35% off and Sea of Thieves for 50% off. Shop microsoft.com.

Razer:

• Get big savings on tech like headphones, keyboards, and more (including some Walmart-exclusive low prices) from November 22-26. Shop walmart.com.

Samsung:

• Right now, you can save up to 40% on select 4K Ultra HD TVs and home appliances. Starting November 15, Samsung will begin to roll out more early Black Friday deals with smartphones, smartwatches, TVs, Blu-ray players, soundbars, and more up to $400 off. Shop samsung.com.

Sony:

• Save big on digital paper devices, headphones, cameras and more tech. Shop jet.com, amazon.com, and bestbuy.com.

Verizon:

• Get $100 off best-selling Android phones and discounts on plans. Shop verizonwireless.com.

V-MODA:

• Save 43% on V-MODA headphones at Amazon on November 19. Shop amazon.com. Shop all V-MODA products at amazon.com.

Allswell:

• Get 15% off all mattresses and 30% off all bedding through November 28 with the code "THANKS15" at checkout. Shop allswellhome.com.

Amazon:

• Save up to 20% on mattresses, furniture, and area rugs, and even more home deals. Shop amazon.com.

Avocado:

• Now through December 3, save $175 on any Avocado Green Mattress or Avocado Vegan Mattress using the code "MERRY175" at checkout. Verified military, educators, law enforcement, firefighters, emergency medical technicians, doctors and nurses are all eligible to receive an additional discount of $50. Save $175 on reclaimed wood bed frames using the code "BED175" at checkout. With the code "PILLOW25" get 25% off all Avocado Green Pillows. Shop avocadogreenmattress.com.

Bear:

• Until November 24, save $125 on orders over $500 with promo code “HOL125” or save $225 on orders over $1,200 with promo code “HOL225” at checkout. Plus, get two free Cloud Pillows. Shop bearmattress.com

Casper

• Take 10% off your order, with purchase of a mattress, with code “COZY10” at checkout now through November 26. Shop casper.com.

Dreamcloud:

• Save $200 when you purchase a mattress. Shop dreamcloudsleep.com.

Eight Sleep:

• Take $100 off smart mattresses and get a free Amazon Echo Dot (while supplies last) with purchase from November 22-26. Shop eightsleep.com.

Helix:

• Save $100 when you spend $600+, $150 when you spend $1,200+, and $200 when you spend $1,750+ with codes “HOLIDAY100”, “HOLIDAY150”, and “HOLIDAY200”, respectively. These deals run November 14-27. Shop helixsleep.com.

Leesa:

• Save $150 on a Leesa or $225 on a Sapira, plus get a free pillow ($75 value) for this Black Friday offer. BI readers can save an extra $10 with code “BUSINESSINSIDER”. Shop leesa.com.

Mattress Firm:

• Get early access to Black Friday deals like $99 foam mattresses, $9 pillows, and more on November 21 through Black Friday. Shop mattressfirm.com.

Sleep Number:

• Save 50% on a new, limited-edition smart bed, plus save 25% on Winter Soft sheets from November 23-24. Shop sleepnumber.com.

ADAY

• Get an instant $20 back on every item you purchase from November 19-25. Shop thisisADAY.com.

Adidas:

• Save up to 50% on shoes, apparel, gear, and more from November 20-27. Shop adidas.com.

Alpha Industries:

• Now through November 25, save 30% and get free shipping. Shop alphaindustries.com.

Andrew Marc:

• Save up to 30% off current collection, plus 25% off sitewide with code “AMFRIDAY” from November 12-24, shop new markdowns plus an additional 30% off sitewide from November 25-28. Shop andrewmarc.com.

AUrate:

• Take 25% off with the code “BLACK25” at checkout November 22-25. Use the code “CYBER25” to get 25% off on November 26. Shop auratenewyork.com.

AYR:

• Find 50 final sale styles for 50% off, with new styles added throughout the same, from November 23-25. Shop ayr.com.

Backcountry:

• Save 30% on select gear and apparel from November 18 to 21. Shop backcountry.com.
• Save 25% on one full-priced ArcTeryx item with code “TAKE25ARC” from November 19-26. Shop backcountry.com.

Ban.do: 

• Save 30% sitewide (excluding Iconery) from November 22-27, with code “THIRTYOFF”. Shop bando.com.

Bombas: 

• Save 20% off the entire site from November 19-26. Shop bombas.com.

Caraa:

• From November 23-26, receive 25% off the site plus free U.S. shipping by using the code “THANKFUL” at checkout. Shop caraa.com.

Club Monaco: 

• Take 25% off $150+, 30% off $250+, and 35% off $400+ from November 21-24, with code “CMBLACKFRIDAY18”. Shop clubmonaco.com.

Coach:

• Now through November 27 at 3 a.m. ET, take 30% off select styles with promo code “THANKS18”. Shop coach.com.

Cole Haan:

• Save 50% on select styles and 30% on everything else from November 18-24. Shop colehaan.com. 

Cuyana:

• On Black Friday, November 23, Cuyana will donate a percentage of sales to the victims of the fires in California. Shop cuyana.com.

Dagne Dover:

• Take 20% off sitewide from November 20 to 28. Shop dagnedover.com.

EyeBuyDirect:

• November 19-30, buy one pair of frames and get the second free with promo code “GOBOGO” at checkout. Shop eyebuydirect.com.

Filippo Loreti:

• Save 20% on one watch, 25% on two watches, or 30% on three watches. Shop filippoloreti.com.

Fossil:

• Save 30% sitewide. Shop fossil.com.

Frank and Oak:

• November 21-25, save 30% off select styles with promo code “BLACKFRIDAY30”.Plus, current subscription members can save up to 30% on the Style Plan from November 19 through December 16, with special bonus gifts included in each box. Shop frankandoak.com.

Frilly:

• Save 40% off sitewide starting November 21. Sign up with your email to shop the sale earlier. Shop frilly.com.

GREATS:

• Save 25% off sitewide with code “HOLIDAZE” from November 21-26. Shopgreats.com.

Happy Socks:

• Save 40% on select products from November 19-26. Shop happysocks.com.

HATCH:

• Take 20% off select collections that are tagged with the code “GRATEFUL20” November 21 through the morning of November 27. Shop hatchcollection.com.

JCPenney

• Take up to 50% off sitewide. Get $25 off a purchase of $25 or more in store or online when you purchase $100 in gift cards or e-gift cards. In-store shoppers may be awarded coupons up to $500 off. Shop jcpenney.com.

Levi’s:

• Save 40% on all items from November 21-26. You’ll also find special daily offers during this time period. Shop levi.com.

Linjer:

• Save up to 50% on in-stock watches sitewide. Shop linjer.co.

L.L.Bean:

• November 21-27, save 20% on apparel and outerwear. Shop llbean.com.

Madewell:

• Take 25% off with the code "DEALWITHIT" at checkout. Shop madewell.com.

M. Gemi

• Save 25% on any pair of shoes from November 19-26. Shop mgemi.com.

Mackage:

• Save up to 40% on select styles from November 22-25. Shop mackage.com.

Macy’s

• Save up to 70% off clothes, home goods, jewelry, and more. Plus take an extra 10-20% off or get $10 back on purchases of $25 or more in select departments with the promo code “SCORE” at checkout. Shop macys.com.  

Maison Miru:

• Get the Surprise Ear Bar Trio (includes two pairs of studs and one ear cuff, guaranteed to be a $100+ value, regularly retails for $69) for just $49 from November 20-26. No code necessary. Shop maisonmiru.com.

Mejuri:

• Save 10% off one item, 15% off two, and 20% off three or more items from November 23-26. Shop mejuri.com.

Mott & Bow:

• Save 25% sitewide, 30% on orders of $200 or more, and 35% on orders of $300 or more with promo code “SHOPEARLY.” Shop mottandbow.com.

MVMT:

• Until November 29, save up to 25% sitewide and get free shipping. Shop mvmtwatches.com.

Naadam:

• November 23, midnight through 3 p.m., save 25% on select full price styles with no promo code. From 3 p.m. until November 26, save 20% on any two styles using promo code “FRIYAY20.” Shop naadam.com.

Need Supply Co.:

• 20% discount sitewide from November 23-25 with the code “BACKINBLACK”. Shop needsupply.com.

Nike:

• Save an extra 20% on sale styles with the promo code “THANKS” at checkout. Shop nike.com.

Nisolo:

• From November 22-24, save up to 60% off select shoe and bag styles. Shop nisolo.com.

Nordstrom:

• Save up to 60% on select items from November 21-26. Shop nordstrom.com.
• Nordy Club Rewards card members can get extra points November 23-24. Shop nordstrom.com.

Primary:

• Save 25% sitewide, plus get free shipping from November 21-26. Shop primary.com.

PUMA:

• Save up to 50% on select styles using the promo code “PUMANOV” at checkout. Shop puma.com.

RAEN:

• Save 40% on all eyewear, excluding sale items, from November 21-25. Shop raen.com.

Ramy Brook:

• Save up to 70% off, plus get an extra 25% off for Black Friday with code “BLACKFRI25” from November 22- 25, plus get an extra 15% off tops and dresses on November 23 with code “BONUS15”. Shop ramybrook.com.

Rebag:

• Take 15% off sitewide with code “BFRIDAY” from November 21 through Cyber Monday. Shop rebag.com.

Rent the Runway:

• Save 40% sitewide, including all subscriptions and reserve. Shop renttherunway.com.

Rhone:

• Save 25% off sitewide, plus take 35% off orders of $350 or more from November 21-25. Shop rhone.com.

Richer Poorer:

• Save 35% sitewide from November 23-27. Shop richer-poorer.com.

Scotch & Soda:

• Take an additional 25% off sale items November 23-25. Shop scotch-soda.com.

SCOTTeVEST:

• Save 30% on your entire purchase with code “CYBER18” now through November 26. Shop scottevest.com.

Senreve:

• Get a free limited-edition bracelet pouch with purchases of $500 or more, starting Black Friday. Shop senreve.com.

Shopbop:

• Take 15% off orders of $200+, 20% off orders of $500+, and 25% off orders of $800+ with code “MORE18”. Shop shopbop.com.

Soia & Kyo

• Save up to 40% on select styles from November 22-25. Shop soiakyo.com.

Soludos:

• Save 25% sitewide. Shop soludos.com.

STATE Bags:

• Save 35% off sitewide. A portion of Black Friday proceeds will also be donated to the Osborne Foundation. Shop statebags.com.

Theory:

• Spend and save at Theory. Get 20% off when you spend $200, 25% off $400, and 30% off $600. Shop theory.com.

Timberland:

• November 22-23, save 30% sitewide with no promo code needed. Shop timberland.com.

Timex:

• November 23-26, save 30% on everything. Shop timex.com.

Tommy John:

• Get 20% off sitewide when you spend $100 or more from November 22-26. On Black Friday and Cyber Monday, you’ll find limited-edition styles. Shop tommyjohn.com.

Uniqlo:

• Shop deals on down, flannel, HEATTECH products and more, plus free shipping on all orders. Shop uniqlo.com.

Zappos:

• Get big savings on footwear and apparel starting November 22. Shop zappos.com.

Zenni Optical:

• Get 20% off everything, plus 30% off Blokz lenses with code “BLACKFRIDAY” now through November 25. Shop zennioptical.com.

The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase.

• Black Friday 2018 is almost here, and Target has shared an early peek at its deals lineup.
• Fortunately, you don't have to brave the cold and the crowds to get a great deal on Black Friday — most of them are available online, too.
• We've rounded up some of the best Black Friday deals — take a look below, and don't miss our complete Black Friday shopping coverage.

Earlier this week, Target shared a sneak preview of its Black Friday deals, a glimpse of what this holiday season's deals will look like. Like Amazon, Target has a wide variety of products, ranging from household goods, to tech, to toys.

We've rounded up the best ones, and now that Black Friday is almost here and many of the sales are live, it's time to get some of the best savings.

While there are a few "doorbuster" deals that you can only get in-store — if you're lucky and manage to snatch them before someone else does — you can get most of the deals by shopping online. Plus, you won't have to deal with early morning crowds and lines.

Check out the best Black Friday deals from Target below — some are live, but some won't see their prices drop until Friday — and don't miss out on 100+ other noteworthy Black Friday sales we're shopping, including tons of men's fashion sales, women's fashion sales, some incredible Black Friday deals from Cole Haan, or dozens of Black Friday deals from our favorite startups, like the Casper and Leesa mattresses and Brooklinen bedding.

Here are just a few of the best tech deals at Target for Black Friday:

• Fitbit Versa Smartwatch, $149 (originally $199.95)[You save $50.95]
• Samsung 55" TV, $329.99 (originally $449.99)[You save $120]
• Apple Watch Series 3, starts at $199.99 (originally $279.99)[You save $80]
• Ring Video Doorbell, $99.99 (originally $149.99)[You save $50]
• Beats Solo3 Wireless Headphones, $179.99 (originally $299.99)[You save $120]
• Samsung Galaxy Tab A 10.1" Android Tablet, $159.99 (originally $279.99)[You save $120]
• Roku Streaming Stick, $29.99 (originally $49.99)[You save $20]
• Fitbit Alta HR, $79.95 (originally $129.95)[You save $50]

Looking for more deals? We've rounded up the best Black Friday deals on the internet.

SEE ALSO: 40+ Black Friday deals on men's clothing, shoes, watches, and accessories

SEE ALSO: 50+ of the best Black Friday sales on women's clothing, shoes, bags, and jewelry

Fitbit Versa smartwatch

Fitbit Versa smartwatch, $149 (originally $199.95)[You save $50.95]

Instant Pot Duo 6qt 7-in-1 Pressure Cooker

Instant Pot Duo 6-qt., $69.95 + Free $10 Target gift card (originally $99.95)[You save $30]

Samsung 50" Smart UHD TV

Samsung 55" TV, $329.99 (originally $449.99)[You save $120]

• It's difficult for young children to conceptualize the feeling of life as an adult.
• Children tend to only identify outwardly obvious differences between childhood and adulthood, such as physical size.
• On deeper reflection, my own son realized how many things his mother and I do that he and his sister never worry about and identified having responsibilities as a facet of growing up.

From the moment my son wakes up each day, every minute until bedtime is a running conversation between him, my wife, and myself, with our infant daughter doing her best to get a "word" in edgewise, that word usually coming out as "dada" or "cat," or whatever "yaya" means. (We think it's "mom.")

On the daily drive to school, I often take advantage of a brief pause in his flow of words to ask him a question I hope will be meaningful.

Sometimes I'll ask who he hopes to play with at recess, hoping to foster a connection with yet another classmate. Other times I'll ask what he is most enjoying learning about that week, planting the seed to enjoy studies as much as playground time.

And sometimes, I'll get a bit more existential, as I'm simply fascinated to see what's going on in his rapidly developing brain.

Read more:I asked my 5-year-old what it means to be happy, and his answer was surprisingly profound

To that end, this morning I glanced at Ben in the rearview mirror and said: "Hey, what does it mean to be an adult?"

Uncharacteristically, Ben's answer was not immediately forthcoming. He paused for a long moment, before initially answering with another out of character response: "I don't know."

"There's no right or wrong answer," I said, a moment later adding the truly profound prompt: "Think about it."

"I guess it means to be old ... to be big ... and to be tall," he said after another pause. And while I took umbrage at the old part, he's not wrong.

But knowing Ben as I do — this is a kid who can describe how to use simple machines to move water uphill and who taught me how to edit the background of an image on his Macbook, among other precocities — I figured he probably had more to say on the topic, I just had to lead him without putting words in his mouth.

"What does it mean beyond physical characteristics? Like beyond like size and being old, do you think?"

"Well," he said, "I mean you can drive a car, you cook and stuff, and you have to take care of things like take care of me and Scarlett." (That's our daughter, his sister.)

"What do you call those things? Like driving and cooking and cleaning?" I asked. "What do you call the stuff mommy and I have to do as adults."

"Responsibilities?"

"Right! So do adults have more responsibilities?"

"Um ... yeah," he answered.

"So do you think it's different to be an adult than a kid?"

He shook his head and said, "No." I asked the same question, about whether or not life was different as an adult or child, in a few ways, and he consistently felt that it wasn't.

As academically smart as my son is, his brain is simply not yet developed enough to fully conceive of one person's experience of life as being dramatically different than his own. Sure, I might be older, taller, and drive a car, but my experience of life must be just like his, right?

Well, no. It's not. But that's for me to know, not him. Because he's five years old, and I'm a full grown adult. Whatever that means...

SEE ALSO: We ask our kid the same question at the dinner table every day — and it helps both his thinking and our parenting

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: The author of 'Boy Erased' reveals what gay conversion therapy is really like — and how he survived it

SEE ALSO: We visited Five Below, the discount-store chain that's growing across America. Here's what it's like to shop there.

We visited the Old Navy in the Chelsea neighborhood of New York City.

In the entryway was a 75% off sign.

Denim was the first thing in the store. Everything was 30% off.

• Gap is struggling to keep up with its sister stores Old Navy, Banana Republic, and Athleta.
• Gap Inc.'s sales were flat in the third quarter, but the Gap brand reported that comparable sales were down 7%.
• We visited a Gap store to see why it's struggling. 

Gap is struggling to keep up with its sister stores. 

Gap Inc., the parent company of Gap, Banana Republic, Old Navy, and Athleta, saw flat sales this quarter. Prior to this quarter, the company saw seven consecutive quarters of positive comparable sales growth.

The Gap brand itself is struggling — comparable sales were down 7% in the third quarter. 

Gap discounts nearly everything in the store, threatening margins and, ultimately, making shoppers less likely to pay full-price. It also offers a lot of the same styles and quality clothing as its sister store Old Navy, but the prices are much higher at Gap. 

"We are clearly not satisfied with the performance of Gap brand. We know this iconic brand is important to customers, and we are committed to taking the bold and necessary steps to ensure that it delivers value to shareholders," Gap Inc. CEO Art Peck said in the company's earnings release on Tuesday.

This is what we found when we visited a Gap store in New York City:

SEE ALSO: We shopped at TJ Maxx and Kohl's to see which store was better, and the winner was clear for one key reason.

We went to the Gap store in the Financial District. There was a 40% off sign in the window, and a 70% off sign outside the door.

Women's clothing was on the first floor.

Generally speaking, it was pretty expensive.

The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase.

Leesa

Shop Leesa's Black Friday sale here

For a limited time, Business Insider and Leesa partnered to give you you $160 off the Leesa Mattress or $235 off the Sapira Mattress, plus a free Leesa pillow — a $75 offer. These discounts are deeper than the public Black Friday deals Leesa is offering, beating each by $10.

Read more about Leesa from the Insider Picks team:

• Leesa mattress review
• Sapira mattress review
• Leesa adjustable bed frame review
• Leesa pillow review

Casper

Shop Casper's Black Friday sale here

Take 10% off your mattress order with the code "COZY10" now through November 26.

Read more about Casper from the Insider Picks team:

• Casper mattress review
• Casper Wave mattress review
• Casper sheets review
• Casper pillow review
• Casper dog bed review
• Casper adjustable bed frame review

Bear

Shop Bear's Black Friday sale here

Now through November 24, save $125 on orders over $500 with promo code “HOL125” or save $225 on orders over $1,200 with promo code “HOL225” at checkout. Plus, get two free Cloud Pillows.

Read more about Bear from the Insider Picks team:

• Bear mattress review
• Bear Hybrid mattress review

• President Donald Trump defended his daughter Ivanka's use of private email to conduct government business to reporters on Tuesday.
• "Ivanka did some emails, they weren't classified like Hillary Clinton, they weren't deleted like Hillary Clinton..she wasn't doing anything to hide her emails," he said. 
• Congressional Democrats on the Oversight and Government Reform Committee, however, plan to investigate private email use of Ivanka and other White House officials. 

President Donald Trump confirmed a Monday report that his daughter Ivanka, an unpaid White House advisor, used a private email address to conduct government business, but defended his daughter by saying her emails "weren’t deleted like Hillary Clinton's.”

The Washington Post reported Monday that Ivanka regularly used a private email account using a domain shared with her husband Jared Kushner for official government business, sending "hundreds" of mainly logistical and scheduling emails to other officials from the private email address.

Ivanka and Kushner's private email use was first reported in fall of 2017, which prompted the watchdog group American Oversight to file a public records lawsuit for Ivanka's communications. 

“She was the worst offender in the White House,” a former senior government official familiar with the review of Ivanka's emails told The Post about her email usage, which could violate the Presidential Records Act. 

See also: Ivanka Trump 'was the worst offender in the White House': Ivanka reportedly discussed government affairs using her personal email address

A spokesperson for Ivanka's attorney Abbe Lowell told The Post that Ivanka did not mean to potentially violate federal records rules by using a private email, and has since turned over those emails to be part of the public record.

"Ms. Trump did not create a private server in her house or office, no classified information was ever included, the account was never transferred at Trump Organization, and no emails were ever deleted,” the spokesperson said. 

Trump echoed those comments to reporters on Tuesday afternoon. "Ivanka did some emails, they weren't classified like Hillary Clinton, they weren't deleted like Hillary Clinton...she wasn't doing anything to hide her emails," the president said. 

Throughout his 2016 presidential campaign, Trump frequently attacked Clinton for her use of a private email account and private server in the basement of her home in Chappaqua, New York — often leading chants of "lock her up" at campaign rallies. To this day, Trump occasionally tweets outrage at the FBI for ultimately finding she had not broken any laws. 

Read more: From rich kid to first daughter: The life of Ivanka Trump

“The parallels between Ms. Trump’s conduct and that of Secretary Clinton are inescapable,” Austin Evers, the executive director of American Oversight, wrote in a letter to members of Congress. 

“In both her use of personal email and post-discovery preservation efforts, Ms. Trump appears to have done exactly what Secretary Clinton did — conduct over which President Trump and many members of Congress regularly lambasted Secretary Clinton and which, they asserted, demonstrated her unfitness for office.”

Despite Trump's defenses, Democrats on the House Committee for Oversight & Government Reform plan to further investigate Ivanka and other White House officials' private email usage. 

"We launched a bipartisan investigation last year into White House officials’ use of private email accounts for official business, but the White House never gave us the information we requested,” Elijah Cummings, a Maryland Democrat and the likely next chairman of the Oversight Committee said in a Tuesday statement. 

“We need those documents to ensure that Ivanka Trump, Jared Kushner, and other officials are complying with federal records laws and there is a complete record of the activities of this Administration," he added. 

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Trump once won a lawsuit against the NFL — but the result was an embarrassment

The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase.

• Look no further for some shopping inspiration for Black Friday 2018 than last year's list of best-selling products.
• From Instant Pots to Echo Dots to 23andMe DNA test kits, these were the 20 top sellers among Business Insider readers in last year.
• Some of these items are currently on sale for Black Friday 2018.

Black Friday is the biggest shopping event of the year, a way to make a major dent in your holiday gift shopping and perhaps treat yourself to something you've been eyeing as well. With another Black Friday quickly approaching, we wanted to show you what Business Insider readers were buying at this time last year.

Our readers' purchases last year told us a few things, namely that they're using tech in all sorts of ways to streamline their lives. Unsurprisingly, smart home device purchases, particularly from the Amazon Echo family, are on the rise — after all, when you experience the seamless interactions among all your devices, it's difficult to go back.

It's also evident that our readers care about getting their money's worth without having to spend big. The discounts offered on Black Friday are perfect for bargain hunters and deal diggers.

Based on the popularity of these items from last year's Black Friday, you can make a pretty good guess that they'll be discounted this year as well. Bookmark any that you like so you'll be ready to purchase come Black Friday 2018.

While this data tells us a lot about the types of products and services you're interested in, we still love it when you drop us a line at insiderpicks@businessinsider and tell us things you'd like to hear more about or are perhaps having trouble finding on your own.

These are the 20 products Business Insider readers bought the most on Black Friday 2017.

Looking for more deals? We've rounded up the best Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals on the internet.

DON'T MISS: Business Insider's guide to the best Black Friday sales of 2018

SEE ALSO: All of Insider Picks' holiday gift guides, in one place

1. 23andMe and Ancestry.com DNA tests

23andMe DNA Test, $69, available at Amazon ($49 when you buy 2+ kits)

AncestryDNA Test, $59 (originally $99), available at Ancestry.com [You save $40]

If the increasing popularity of DNA test kits tells us anything, it's that we're all pretty interested in learning more about our roots. So interested, in fact, that we now even have the option to test the DNA of our pets. Our ever-growing fascination with where we come from explains why these DNA testing kits were the top sellers among Business Insider readers last Black Friday.

2. Amazon Echo Dot

Echo Dot (2nd Generation), $39.99, available at Amazon

Echo Dot (3rd Generation), $49.99, available at Amazon

The Echo Dot is small but packs a punch with all its capabilities. Use it to call, shop, play music, set a timer, and control other parts of your home by connecting it to other smart home devices. With nearly 80,000 people giving this convenient device a 5-star rating, it's no wonder it was a top-selling product last year.

3. TP-Link smart plug

• A host of top Democratic donors wrote a letter on Tuesday expressing their support for House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi's bid to become the next House speaker.
• Pelosi's allies point to her significant legislative accomplishments, recent electoral victories, fundraising prowess, and a lack of any strong alternative leader as reasons to support her. 
• They called the anti-Pelosi movement "naive and self-destructive" in interviews with INSIDER, and warned that if Pelosi is replaced, donations to the party could drop dramatically. 

A host of top Democratic donors are making their support of House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi known as her bid for House speaker is under fire from a group of younger, largely centrist Democrats.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) donors, who include top Wall Street financiers and longtime political heavyweights, wrote a letter to Democratic leaders on Tuesday warning that without Pelosi at the helm, donations to the party could drop dramatically.

"The competence and effectiveness of the Leader is a critical component in motivating us to reach in our pockets. On that basis it is hard to imagine a replacement for Nancy engendering the same level of confidence at this critical time," they wrote in a letter obtained by Politico Playbook.

The donors argue both that Pelosi is eminently qualified for the job, pointing to her legislative achievements and specifically citing her success shepherding Obamacare through Congress and into law. 

"The skill of the leader is critically important — doesn't matter if she's a little bit to the right or the left," Richard Ravitch — a real estate developer, former lieutenant governor of New York, and a signatory of the letter — told INSIDER. "And it's more important than ever given that we have a psychopath in the White House."

Jeff Gural, a New York real estate developer who also signed the letter, chalked up the Democratic Party's midterm successes to their focus on healthcare — an issue on which the party has authority thanks to Pelosi's efforts. 

"I hear the argument, 'You would've won more seats if Nancy wasn’t the speaker' — yeah, well, we wouldn't have won any seats without healthcare," Gural told INSIDER, adding that Pelosi is "the hardest working person I know in politics." Gural added that he fears an inexperienced new leader "who could totally botch the job." 

The donors' letter was prompted by the 16 House Democrats who signed a letter this week outlining their opposition to Pelosi's re-election as House speaker. The lawmakers, five of whom are incoming members, argued that Democrats "ran and won on a message of change" this year, and that the party's leadership should respond to that mandate by handing the reins to a new, younger, guard.

Mitch Draizin — a New York hedge fund founder and another Pelosi-allied donor — called the opposition to the 78-year-old lawmaker "naive and self-destructive to the country and to the party" in an interview with INSIDER. 

"I'm a bit insulted that these freshmen and some of these younger folks ... who haven't done anything yet, have the audacity to challenge her," Draizin said, adding that Pelosi "is the personification of leadership."

The opposition hasn't put forward any substantive reasons why she should be replaced and they don't have a contender to challenge her — Rep. Marcia Fudge, a former chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, who considered challenging Pelosi, announced on Tuesday evening that she would not run after Pelosi named her the chair of the reconstituted House Subcommittee on election-related issues. 

Donors are skeptical that any challenger could rival Pelosi. 

Gural said he was first convinced to donate to the DCCC after getting to know Pelosi, and he isn't sure he'd be willing to reach into his pockets for another leader, particularly if he felt the new leadership had "thrown [Pelosi] under the bus." 

"It's easy to say that people who've been donating significant sums of money to the Democrats all these years like myself would continue to do it without a phone call from Nancy," Gural said. "I'm not so sure."

The vocal and increasingly influential progressive wing of the party — some of whom were critical of Pelosi on the campaign trail this year — are also unconvinced by the movement against Pelosi. 

"My main concern was that there is no vision, there is no common value, there is no goal that is really articulated in this letter aside from we need to change," Congresswoman-elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a democratic socialist and breakout star of the left in the Democratic Party, told MSNBC on Monday night of the anti-Pelosi letter. 

SEE ALSO: Nancy Pelosi is using gender to win over progressives in her fight to become House speaker

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Megyn Kelly in 2017: 'I regret a lot' of the controversial stuff I've said on live television

• President Donald Trump reportedly wanted to order the DOJ to prosecute former FBI director James Comey and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
• Trump only backed down when then White House counsel Don McGahn told him he didn't have the power to order investigations into his political rivals.
• The move is the latest in a series of documented efforts in which Trump has tried to use the DOJ as a weapon against his perceived enemies.

President Donald Trump wanted to order the Justice Department to prosecute two of his biggest political rivals but backed down when he was told he didn't have the authority to do that, The New York Times reported Tuesday.

Trump wanted the DOJ to investigate former FBI director James Comey and former Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, according to the report. But when the president floated the idea to then White House counsel Don McGahn in the spring, McGahn is said to have told Trump he couldn't order the DOJ to conduct investigations.

McGahn reportedly added that Trump could request an investigation, but that the move would likely spark a public outcry and accusations that he was abusing his power.

After The Times' story broke, CNN reported that Trump also broached the topic of investigating Clinton and Comey with Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein and acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker.

One source told CNN that Whitaker came prepared to answer questions about what the DOJ was doing on matters related to Clinton, including the Clinton Foundation and the Uranium One deal. The person reportedly added that while Whitaker was trying to capitulate to the president, he did not appear to cross any line.

Read more: In a 'self-defeating and self-incriminating' slipup, Trump just indicated he installed Matthew Whitaker to kill the Russia probe

Trump exerts control over the DOJ as the Russia probe gains steam

Tuesday's revelation is the latest in a series of documented efforts Trump has made to exert control over the nation's top law-enforcement agency. The DOJ is meant to be independent of the White House, but Trump has previously shown that he believes it is a political tool to be wielded against his perceived enemies.

In addition to publicly pressuring the DOJ to prosecute his rivals, Trump once reportedly asked advisers why he couldn't have "my guys" at the "Trump Justice Department" do his bidding.

Trump has long harbored resentment toward both Comey and Clinton. When he ran against the former first lady in the 2016 election, Trump and his surrogates regularly led chants calling to "lock her up" in response to revelations that Clinton used a private email server to conduct government business when she was secretary of state.

He initially backed down after he won the presidency, but Trump soon resumed his calls for her prosecution when Clinton began criticizing him after the election, and as the FBI began investigating his campaign's contacts with Russia.

Comey, meanwhile, moved into Trump's crosshairs when he publicly confirmed the existence of the Russia investigation last March, shortly after Trump took office.

Read more: Trump rips into Mueller and Russia probe as the special counsel reportedly prepares to drop more indictments

Subsequent reporting and congressional testimony revealed that after Trump learned of the investigation, he repeatedly pressured Comey to publicly state he was not personally under investigation, or to drop the probe entirely. When Comey refused, Trump fired him and later publicly stated he ousted the FBI director because of the Russia investigation.

Comey's firing now makes up the basis of a separate inquiry, overseen by the special counsel Robert Mueller, into whether Trump sought to obstruct justice in the Russia probe.

When Comey began publicly criticizing Trump after his removal, the president called for prosecutors to investigate Comey for leaking classified information to The Times when he had his friend share a memo with the paper that documented some of what Comey believed were his most troubling interactions with the president. The memo did not contain any classified information.

He has also called for Comey and other current and former FBI and DOJ officials to be investigated over their handling of the Clinton email probe during the election.

SEE ALSO: In a 'self-defeating and self-incriminating' slipup, Trump just indicated he installed Matthew Whitaker to kill the Russia probe

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