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The memoir by Steve Jobs' daughter makes clear he was a truly rotten person whose bad behavior was repeatedly enabled by those around him (AAPL)

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Steve Jobs

  • It's been well-established that Apple cofounder Steve Jobs often acted like a jerk.
  • But in a new memoir, Jobs' eldest daughter recounts the many ways he was cruel to her.
  • The newly revealed anecdotes add color to the many stories of how Jobs was mean or rude to employees and business partners.
  • The net effect is that Jobs looks like a truly terrible person.
  • His rotten behavior was enabled by his wife, his colleagues, and his business partners.
  • It's hard to say whether his business achievements outweigh his cruelty, but they certainly got more attention during his lifetime — and helped enable his bad behavior.


It's no surprise that Steve Jobs was a jerk.

There have been plenty of accounts over the years that have detailed his cruelty, rudeness, and miserliness to workers, business partners, and even family and friends.

Still, the stories that have come out so far from "Small Fry," the new autobiography from his daughter Lisa Brennan-Jobs are shocking. Jobs comes across not just as someone who could be self-centered and mean, but someone who was a truly terrible human being.

We've known for years now that Jobs initially denied being Brennan-Jobs' father and didn't start paying child support until after a DNA test proved he was father and he was ordered to do so by a court. We've also known that he denied for years that Apple's Lisa computer, which it debuted right before the Macintosh, was named for his daughter — before finally admitting it to her and the world.

But Brennan-Jobs' book adds fresh details on how awful he was to her. He rarely saw her when she was a young child, even after admitting his paternity. While he was avoiding her and avoiding paying child support — despite already having founded and making money at Apple — she and her mother lived in poverty, subsisting on welfare payments, her mother's low-paying jobs, and the charity of others. When he was finally forced to pay child support, he made sure that the case against him was closed days before Apple went public and he became a multimillionaire.

Even after Jobs started paying more attention to Brennan-Jobs, her mother, Chrisann Brennan, apparently felt uncomfortable leaving him with her alone after an incident in which he questioned and teased the then-nine-year-old Brennan-Jobs about her sexual attractions and proclivities.

"We're cold people"

Then, when Brennan-Jobs went to live with him as a teenager, he forbade her from seeing Brennan for six months, even though her mother had been the only constant figure in her life up to then. After moving in with them, Brennan-Jobs told him and her stepmother, Laurene Powell-Jobs, that she felt lonely and asked that they tell her goodnight in the evenings. Instead of acknowledging her feelings and acceding to such a simple request, Powell-Jobs responded, "We're cold people."

Laurene Powell JobsBut there's more. Once, as Jobs groped his wife and pretended to be having sex with her, he demanded that Brennan-Jobs stay in the room, calling it a "family moment." He repeatedly withheld money from her, told her that she would get "nothing" from his wealth — and even refused to install heat in her bedroom.

When she started to become active in her high school, getting involved in clubs and running for student government, Jobs — the one, again, who previously refused to acknowledge his paternity and spent almost no time with her when she was little — got on Brennan-Jobs for not spending more time with the family, telling her, "This isn't working out. You're not succeeding as a member of this family."

At one point, neighbors of the family were so worried about Brennan-Jobs that they helped her move into their house. They also helped her pay for college.

It's bad to treat employees and significant others poorly. But it's really evil to inflict such pain on a child. We knew Jobs was a bully toward many people. Now we know he was one to his own daughter.

Brennan-Jobs comes across as a survivor of abuse

These are only excerpts from the book, which goes on sale September 4, so we don't have the full picture. And of course, they're the recollections of one person, with all the emotional baggage and bias that entails. Powell-Jobs and Jobs' sister have said in a statement that the book "differs dramatically from our memories of those times."

But in her book, Brennan-Jobs brings up these incidents not to condemn Jobs, but to make peace with them and him. She aims to forgive him and move on.

That's her choice and her right. But, as others have pointed out, what she endured was something many people would now consider child abuse — the intentional infliction of emotional cruelty. And in trying to find a way to forgive and understand him, she is reacting similar to other child abuse survivors.

 

In trying to find a way to excuse her father, Brennan-Jobs is following a long line of people, all of whom are much more culpable than her for his behavior. Generally, the only way to get a bully to back off is to stand up to him and for others to do so on behalf of his targets; in Jobs' case, too few people did.

When it concerned his behavior toward Brennan-Jobs, his wife, Powell-Jobs, clearly didn't stand up to him. When it concerned his behavior to employees and business partners, his colleagues just as obviously didn't.

Jobs had remarkable achievements — and was unbelievably cruel

I don't know how the cosmic balancing stick weighs something as complicated as a person's life, but I do think Brennan-Jobs' book puts the other stories about Jobs, the ones about how he treated his employees, colleagues and partners, in a different light. They make him seem less like a driven leader who was sometimes harsh to achieve his goals and more like a cruel person who succeeded because those around him accommodated and acquiesced to his awfulness.

Jobs is rightly praised for his role in resurrecting Apple. When he took charge, the company was a few months away from bankruptcy. When he left Apple right before his death, it already was the most important consumer technology company in the world and was well on its way to becoming the behemoth it is now. Given the generally poor track record of corporate managers in turning around seemingly hopeless situations, it's quite possible that only Jobs could have saved Apple and put it on that path.

And that's no small achievement. In turning around the company, Jobs saved thousands of jobs and helped to create thousands more. He also made lots of people inside and outside the company very rich.

The positive side of Jobs' ledger also includes his role in creating some of the most influential products of the last 50 years — the iPhone, the Mac, the iPad, the iPod, and the original Apple computers. Maybe similar products could and would have been created without him. But there's no denying that he had a leading role in shaping how billions of people interact with technology, in many ways for the better.

We too often glorify business leaders and ignore their failings

Of course even those achievements are leavened by less laudable ones, such as his overseeing of Apple's outsourcing of thousands of factory jobs overseas and the convoluted contortions it made to avoid paying taxes. He also headed the company and personally benefited when it backdated stock options to make them more valuable, but let other executives take the fall. Oh, and he repeatedly yelled at employees and publicly embarrassed them.

And that's not to mention his antics during his first tenure at Apple, such as how he attempted to undermine then-CEO John Sculley and refused to give stock options to one of Apple's first employees.

In the end, did his business achievements outweigh the cruelty he inflicted on others? I don't know.

I do know that we too often glorify business leaders for their achievements without taking a close look at who they are as human beings and how their actions — both personal and professional — affect those around them and the wider world. I also believe that focus on their accomplishments helps enables their bad behavior.

That certainly seemed to be the case with Steve Jobs.

SEE ALSO: Steve Jobs' wife told his daughter 'we're just cold people' when she asked them to say good night to her

SEE ALSO: The new biography from Steve Jobs' daughter offers more proof that Silicon Valley is like a small town

SEE ALSO: Steve Jobs wasn't just a design and marketing genius — he had a hidden talent for logistics too, says a former Apple exec

Join the conversation about this story »

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The CEO of one of America's largest crafting stores is mounting a furious campaign against Trump's tariffs

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donald trump

  • President Donald Trump is considering tariffs on another $200 billion of Chinese goods.
  • Many US companies are worried about the increased costs from the tariffs.
  • One of those businesses is Joann, a leading fabric and crafting retailer.
  • Joann CEO Jill Soltau spoke with Business Insider about the tariffs' downsides for small businesses and how her company is responding to the possibility of more.

President Donald Trump could be about to take the trade war with China to a new level, and one US CEO is worried.

The Trump administration is considering either a 10% or 25% tariff on $200 billion worth of Chinese goods, causing alarm for many businesses that rely on goods from China. Hearings on the new tariffs, which are being pursued under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, took place in Washington, DC. Tariffs could be imposed as soon as next month.

One of those businesses is Joann, a fabric and craft retailer that boasts more than 850 stores around the country and over 22,000 US employees. In an interview, Joann CEO Jill Soltau told Business Insider that the next round of tariffs posed a real threat to not only her company, but also many other US businesses that rely on Joann.

Many of the textiles, yarns, and fabrics sold at Joann stores that are sourced in China are on the proposed list of goods that could get hit by the next wave of tariffs. These goods, Soltau said, are used by many small US businesses and crafters to create final products.

Increasing the cost of these materials would put the squeeze not only on Joann, Soltau said, but also on the small businesses that rely on those items for their products.

The company says that if the tariffs go through, 42% of all of the goods sold at Joann stores will be subject to tariffs.

Soltau has been on a media blitz to try and raise awareness about the possible downsides of the tariffs including speaking at the Section 301 hearing in Washington, DC and creating the Made in America Tax website to highlight the dangers of Trump's tariffs.

The Joann CEO spoke with Business Insider on Thursday to talk about the tariffs, how Joann is responding, and how small businesses may get the short end of the stick.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Bob Bryan: When you looked at the list of items that were on the Section 301 list and saw some of the goods that you use in your stores, what was your initial reaction?

Jill Soltau: We looked at it and as we digested it the conclusion we came to is that these tariffs would unintentionally create a tax on raw materials that are imported into the United States so that our customers can create projects and products that are made in America.

It's small business owners that represent over 20% of our customer base that we first thought of because of the amounts that these tariffs are implying — anywhere from a 10% to 25% increase in cost — we will have to share in the cost with our customer.

And that's what really causes us the greatest concern is that people like Heather and Diane who have this great business out of Hector, Minnesota. They design, sew, and sell these fabric kitchen appliance covers that their customers then buy. With their costs then going up, they'll have to raise their prices to their customers and then their customers will really have the option to really walk away and buy something that's foreign-made out of largely the same materials but at a cheapest prices because those finished products won't have a tariff on them.

So that was our first response: "Wow, this is really unintentionally creating a made in America tax."

Bryan: What percentage of you goods do you expect to get hit by the tariffs.

Soltau: About 70% of what we import is made in China. [Editor's note: A Joann spokesperson clarified that while 70% of the company's total goods come from China, only 60% of those Chinese imports would be subject to the tariffs.] We carry about 40,000 products every single day in a typical store and much of those products come from China, and it's how we as a craft and fabric retailer have been able to supply such an incredible assortment to our readers and be the strong, growing, profitable retailer that we are today.

It was really in the 1970s when China emerged as a manufacturing country and we became part of a global economy.

For instance, our fleece fabrics, we sell over 40 million yards per year, and it has always been manufactured in China especially at the quality standards we require and the quantity that we need.

Bryan: So it's not a case where you shift your sourcing or supply chain elsewhere to work around the tariffs? 

Soltau: It would be very difficult. In that example, the capital requirements are very intensive for an aspiring business person to want to set up a fleece manufacturing plant somewhere else.

Even if that reach that first hurdle, it would probably be 18 months before they could be up and running, probably three to four years before they could actually get any kind of scale. I don't think we would see full production requirements inside of a decade. So a lot of hurdles there for someone to scale.

Even after the couple of years it could potentially take if someone had the money, there would be a lot of challenges for out customers.

Bryan: Have y'all estimated the exact cost increase for your company if a 10% or a 25% tariff goes through?

Soltau: Just the sheer fact that the 10% to 25% increase would be what it is if these tariffs pass. I do not believe that Joann could singularly absorb this, nor could our customers, so we would have to share in that effort.

We are looking at every possibility on how we can manage through this if these come to fruition, but our biggest focus right now is creating the awareness with our administration. We support the administration's efforts to level the playing field with China and have a strong trade agreement between China and the US.

We know their intentions are good and we support that. But, we don't understand how fabric and yarn and scrap-booking supplies have made it on to a list that's really been more of a high-tech debate in relation to Made in China 2025.

Bryan: A number of Trump administration officials have compared the tariffs to a "diet," where the US needs to withstand short-term pain to get the long-term gain of better trade deals. What are your thoughts on that analogy?

Soltau: The third component is that it's making a made in America tax. We sell the raw materials and the products that are being developed through these materials are in fact made in America. That's the critical aspect for us and our customers and our employees.

We are supporting manufacturing in America with the small businesses with the organization, that are creating for donations.

Over 22% of our customers are seniors, they live on a fixed income, and they are doing this as part of their livelihood. They've earned the right to do what they enjoy in their retirement and for them to pay for these things, that's really what we're focused on is spreading the awareness.

Bryan: A lot of other US companies have said that they may have to deal with the increased costs by cutting costs in other areas like labor, so laying off employees, is this something you all have considered?

Soltau: We are looking at every opportunity we can so that we don't have to go there. Again, the sharing of the cost between our customers and ourselves. In terms of how we can work smarter, how we can negotiate costs with the makers we are engaged with.

That's really the areas and options that we're looking at and that's really where our focus is before we would reduce our workforce.

Bryan: Another response that businesses have had is to put major investments, such an expansions, on hold. Is this something you all are considering?

Soltau: We are evaluating all of that. As I mentioned we are a growing, thriving, profitable company. We've opened over 120 stores over the last five years and added over 2,600 jobs into the US economy. We'd like to continue at that cadence, but at this point everything is on the table and we're just being smart.

We're watching it, but as I mentioned our focus is bringing to the attention that we don't want to place a tax on good that are made in America.

SEE ALSO: One quote from Chinese giant Alibaba shows how Trump's trade war could backfire

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'We know that his flame lives on, in each of us': Meghan McCain remembers her father, Sen. John McCain

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Sen. John McCain introduces his daughter Meghan at a 2008 campaign stop in Pennsylvania.

  • Meghan McCain, one of Sen. John McCain's daughters, remembered her father, who died on Saturday, in a heartfelt statement.
  • The veteran senator and war hero, 81, died of complications stemming from brain cancer.
  • "All that I am is thanks to him. Now that he is gone, the task of my lifetime is to live up to his example, his expectations, and his love," Meghan wrote.

Meghan McCain, one of Sen. John McCain's daughters, remembered her father, who died on Saturday, in a heartfelt statement.

"I was with my father at his end, as he was with me at my beginning. In the thirty-three years we shared together, he raised me, taught me, corrected me, comforted me, encouraged me, and supported me in all things," she wrote. "All that I am is thanks to him. Now that he is gone, the task of my lifetime is to live up to his example, his expectations, and his love."

Meghan, a prominent conservative pundit and cohost of ABC's "The View," is the most famous among his children and has been outspoken about the challenges of her family's struggle with the aggressive form of brain cancer, the malignant brain tumor glioblastoma, that ultimately killed her father.

During a December episode of the talk show, former Vice President Joe Biden consoled her and said that if "anybody" could overcome that cancer, it was her father.

The senator, 81, was a part of many of the past three decades' most significant political moments. He was the 2008 Republican presidential nominee in a contest he lost to President Barack Obama. He also sought the presidency in 2000, mounting a primary campaign against President George W. Bush.

McCain is survived by his 106-year-old mother Roberta, seven children, and his second wife, Cindy, whom he married in 1980 following a 15-year marriage to Carol Shepp.

Read Meghan's full statement below:

"My father, United States Senator John Sidney McCain III, departed this life today.

I was with my father at his end, as he was with me at my beginning. In the thirty-three years we shared together, he raised me, taught me, corrected me, comforted me, encouraged me, and supported me in all things. He loved me, and I loved him. He taught me how to live. His love and his care, ever present, always unfailing, took me from a girl to a woman — and he showed me what it is to be a man.

All that I am is thanks to him. Now that he is gone, the task of my lifetime is to live up to his example, his expectations, and his love.

My father's passing comes with sorrow and grief for me, for my mother, for my brothers, and for my sisters. He was a great fire who burned bright, and we lived in his light and warmth for so very long. We know that his flame lives on, in each of us. The days and years to come will not be the same without my dad — but they will be good days, filled with life and love, because of the example he lived for us.

Your prayers, for his soul and for our family, are sincerely appreciated.

My father is gone, and I miss him as only an adoring daughter can. But in this loss, and in this sorrow, I take comfort in this: John McCain, hero of the republic and to his little girl, wakes today to something more glorious than anything on this earth. Today the warrior enters his true and eternal life, greeted by those who have gone before him, rising to meet the Author of All Things:

'The dream is ended: this is the morning.'"

Allan Smith contributed reporting.

SEE ALSO: John McCain, war hero and longtime senator, dead at 81

DON'T MISS: Joe Biden comforts tearful Meghan McCain after losing his son to the same cancer her father has

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Meet the woman behind Trump's $20 million merch empire

How Michael Cohen went from saying he would 'take a bullet' for Trump to incriminating him in a federal crime

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michael cohen plea deal court

  • Michael Cohen, formerly one of President Donald Trump's closest allies, shocked the world when he implicated Trump in two federal crimes during his guilty plea to eight felonies on Tuesday.
  • One lawyer told Business Insider that, given the severity of the charges Cohen is facing, he likely had no choice but to take a plea deal or potentially risk spending the rest of his life in prison. 
  • Lanny Davis, one of Cohen's attorneys, gave Business Insider some insight into what motivated Cohen to turn on Trump.

Michael Cohen, the longtime personal lawyer and fixer to President Donald Trump, shocked the world on Tuesday when he pleaded guilty to eight federal crimes in the Southern District of New York, and directly implicated President Donald Trump in two of them.

Cohen pleaded guilty to five counts of tax evasion, one count of bank fraud, one count linked to an unlawful corporate contribution, and one count stemming from an illegal campaign contribution. During his hearing, Cohen said he committed the latter two offenses "at the direction" of then-candidate Trump with the intent of influencing the 2016 election.

Both the illegal corporate and campaign contributions refer to Cohen's efforts to quash negative stories about Trump's alleged affairs with porn star Stormy Daniels and model Karen McDougal, just weeks before the election.

Federal prosecutors in the Southern District of New York initially began investigating Cohen for potential campaign finance law violations in part because of a $130,000 hush-money payout to Stormy Daniels, but the inquiry expanded to Cohen's potential tax and bank fraud relating to his taxi medallion business. 

But Cohen's transformation is perhaps most notable because of the dramatic manner in which he turn away from Trump; having gone from saying he would "take a bullet" for Trump, to incriminating him in two serious federal crimes, possibly throwing the US into uncharted constitutional territory. 

Why Cohen took the plea deal

michael cohen trump

Jeffrey Cohen, a practicing attorney in New York City (no relation to Michael Cohen), told Business Insider in a Wednesday phone call that, given the severity of the federal charges involved, taking a plea deal was, in his view, the best way for Cohen to hedge his bets in this matter.

"His lawyers almost definitely knew he was going to lose," he said. "If you take a plea before trial, you do better than if you try to approach a deal after the government has invested the time and money in trying the case, In this case, my feeling is that he just didn't have a choice." 

Deputy US Attorney Robert Khuzami said Cohen's conduct reflected a "pattern of lies and dishonesty" in a press conference after Cohen's hearing and said they were "particularly significant when done by a lawyer."

"They were going to crucify him," Jeffrey Cohen speculated. "If he went to trial and he lost, he would have gone to jail for the rest of his life." 

Cohen could have faced up to 65 years of prison, if convicted. Under the plea agreement, Cohen will likely serve three to five years.

An official sentence will be handed down on December 12.

'The straw that broke the camel's back'

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Cohen's claim that he violated federal laws specifically at the behest of Trump was believed to have caught some by surprise. Prosecutors did not explicitly lay out that connection in Cohen's court documents and Cohen did not have to reveal that information.

Former federal prosecutor Renato Mariotti explained the significance in an article for Politico Magazine. 

"It’s not clear whether federal prosecutors knew in advance that Cohen would implicate Trump, but if they had any reason not to believe him, they were obligated not to permit Cohen to lie to the judge," he wrote. "Because they didn’t, we know that his statements were consistent with the other evidence in their possession."

In an interview with Business Insider on Wednesday, Lanny Davis, an attorney for Cohen said his client "started to unload on me about Trump's suitability to be president, his temperament, the Twitter, the venom, the anger," long before Tuesday's announcement.

Davis described Trump's controversial summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin as the "straw that broke the camel's back" for his client. 

He said Trump's public doubting of his intelligence community's assessment that Russia interfered in the 2016 election in favor of Putin's denial made his client "very emotional."

Davis described Cohen as feeling "liberated" after entering his guilty pleas and having the freedom to now speak his mind.

SEE ALSO: New York state has subpoenaed Michael Cohen as part of a probe into the Trump Foundation

SEE ALSO: 'The worst day of the Trump presidency': Manafort's conviction and Cohen's plea deal land within striking distance of the White House

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Former presidents, congressional leaders, and the military commend John McCain's storied life and service

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John McCain

  • Sen. John McCain died on Saturday, one day after his family announced he would be discontinuing his brain cancer treatment.
  • Former presidents, world leaders, and Congress mourned his passing and offered their condolences for his family.

Sen. John McCain died on Saturday, one day after his family announced he would be discontinuing his brain cancer treatment.

McCain, a six-term US senator, earned both praise and criticism during his long tenure. But despite political differences, he earned the respect from his colleagues for his storied military service and plain-spoken views.

Former presidents, world leaders, and Congress mourned his passing and offered their condolences for his family.

Here's what they had to say:

SEE ALSO: The incredible life of John McCain in 31 photos

DON'T MISS: 10 of John McCain's best quotes on courage, happiness, and character

Former President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama

"John McCain and I were members of different generations, came from completely different backgrounds, and competed at the highest level of politics. But we shared, for all our differences, a fidelity to something higher – the ideals for which generations of Americans and immigrants alike have fought, marched, and sacrificed. 

We saw our political battles, even, as a privilege, something noble, an opportunity to serve as stewards of those high ideals at home, and to advance them around the world. We saw this country as a place where anything is possible – and citizenship as our patriotic obligation to ensure it forever remains that way.

Few of us have been tested the way John once was, or required to show the kind of courage that he did. But all of us can aspire to the courage to put the greater good above our own. At John’s best, he showed us what that means. And for that, we are all in his debt. Michelle and I send our most heartfelt condolences to Cindy and their family."



Former President George W. Bush

"Some lives are so vivid, it is difficult to imagine them ended. Some voices are so vibrant, it is hard to think of them stilled. John McCain was a man of deep conviction and a patriot of the highest order.

He was a public servant in the finest traditions of our country. And to me, he was a friend whom I'll deeply miss.

Laura and I send our heartfelt sympathies to Cindy and the entire McCain family, and our thanks to God for the life of John McCain."



Former President Bill Clinton

"Senator John McCain believed that every citizen has a responsibility to make something of the freedoms given by our Constitution, and from his heroic service in the Navy to his 35 years in Congress, he lived by his creed every day. 

He was a skilled, tough politician, as well as a trusted colleague alongside whom Hillary was honored to serve in the Senate.  He frequently put partisanship aside to do what he thought was best for the country, and was never afraid to break the mold if it was the right thing to do. 

I will always be especially grateful for his leadership in our successful efforts to normalize relations with Vietnam. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Cindy, his mother, Roberta, his children, and his entire family."

 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Politicians are backing Sen. Schumer's call to rename the Russell Senate Office Building for John McCain

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John McCain

  • Several political leaders followed Sen. Chuck Schumer's call to rename the Senate Office Building for the late Sen. John McCain after his death.
  • In a statement Saturday, Schumer said he would be introducing a resolution for the building's name to be changed, which several leaders supported in on-air appearances Sunday.
  • There has been previous debate about renaming the building from the late Sen. Richard B. Russell of Georgia, who held pro-segregationist views.

Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer's call to rename the Senate Office Building for the late Sen. John McCain received support from prominent members of Congress on Sunday.

In a statement Saturday, Schumer said he would be introducing a resolution for the building's name to be changed "so that generations remember him."

Officials from both sides of the aisle backed the proposed change in on-air appearances on the Sunday political shows.

Sen. Jeff Flake of Arizona, McCain's longtime state colleague, said on CBS's "Face the Nation" he wanted to be the "first Republican co-sponsor" for the name change, adding it would be one honor among "many other things that we need to do, but that’s a good one."

There has been previous debate about renaming the building to distance it from the legacy of the late Sen. Richard B. Russell of Georgia, who held pro-segregationist views, according to official Senate history.

CNN's "State of the Union" host Jake Tapper called the proposition a "quite brilliant" move that goes beyond political ideology to assign the honor of the building's name to a widely appreciated figure.

"You get rid of Dick Russell's memory, a giant of the Senate but also a horrific white supremacist, a Democrat, and you get to erase him from the democratic archives," Tapper said. "It's a nice bipartisan moment."

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said on ABC's "This Week" it would be a "great tribute" to McCain, who she said "was formidable, had enormous integrity, and was acting on behalf of our country and what he truly believed."

"Decades to come, everyone who came to Washington would know the very special place that John McCain held ... and will continue to hold," Pelosi added.

McCain died Saturday at the age of 81 after his family announced he would be ending treatment for brain cancer.

Tributes poured in from military leaders, former presidents, and McCain's former Senate colleagues commending his life and career, which included over 20 years in the US Navy and three decades as an Arizona senator.

Remembering the life and legacy of John McCain:

SEE ALSO: Former presidents, congressional leaders, and the military commend John McCain's storied life and service David Choi 12h

DON'T MISS: These 10 photos show John McCain's heroism in Vietnam and his lasting impact on the US military

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The life and career of Oprah Winfrey, who was nominated for an Oscar and lives in a $52 million estate nicknamed 'The Promised Land'

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Oprah Winfrey

  • Oprah Winfrey is a media mogul, an actress, and a philanthropist, with an estimated net worth of about $2.9 billion.
  • She grew up poor and had a difficult childhood.
  • We've collected the highlights of her remarkable life and career, from her first job as a talk show host to the launch of her own cable channel.


Oprah Winfrey is a media mogul, philanthropist, and talented actress. Her current net worth is about $2.9 billion, according to Forbes.

Winfrey grew up poor, and her childhood and early adolescence were difficult. But her to drive to succeed, and to prove herself, motivated her to achieve wealth and fame.

Below, see the highlights of her life and career.

SEE ALSO: The life and career of Bethenny Frankel, a reality TV star and businesswoman who sold her company for $100 million

Oprah Winfrey, 64 years old, is a media mogul, a celebrated actress, and a philanthropist. Forbes estimates that her net worth is about $2.9 billion.

Source: Forbes



Winfrey was also ranked sixth on Forbes' list of America's richest self-made women, and is the only African-American woman on Forbes' 2018 billionaire list.

Source: Forbes, ForbesBusiness Insider



Winfrey endured a turbulent childhood. She spent her early years on her grandmother's farm, in Kosciusko, Mississippi. At age six, she went to live with her mother in Milwaukee; while her mother was away at work, Winfrey was molested multiple times by people including relatives.

Source: Academy of Achievement



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The Michael Cohen controversy reached a climax this week as he pleaded guilty to federal crimes and implicated Trump — here's a full timeline of events

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  • President Donald Trump's former longtime lawyer Michael Cohen pleaded guilty this week.
  • It marked the climax of the Cohen controversy.
  • Here's the full timeline of events from it.

President Donald Trump's former longtime lawyer Michael Cohen pleaded guilty this week to a list of federal crimes as the controversy surrounding him reached a climax.

On Tuesday, Cohen cut a deal with federal prosecutors and pleaded guilty to five counts of tax evasion, one count of making a false statement to a financial institution, and two counts related to campaign-finance violations. Cohen said under oath that Trump directed him to violate campaign-finance laws just before the 2016 presidential election in order to boost his candidacy.

The latter two charges were in connection to payments to the former Playboy model Karen McDougal and the porn actress Stormy Daniels in order to silence their allegations of affairs with Trump.

As Cohen explained that he committed the campaign-finance violations "at the direction of the candidate" and with the "purpose of influencing the election," there were audible gasps in the lower Manhattan courtroom packed with reporters.

The federal prosecutors Cohen struck a deal with said they had evidence corroborating Cohen's admissions, stemming from records obtained from him that included audio tapes, texts, phone records, emails, witnesses with knowledge of the transactions, and records from The National Enquirer.

Later in the week, federal prosecutors probing Cohen granted immunity to Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg, and American Media Inc. CEO David Pecker, who struck the deal with McDougal, The Wall Street Journal reported.

Cohen initially faced the potential of 65 years in prison, but the deal narrowed that sentence down to a much more palatable three to five years, though the judge reserves the right to impose a more severe punishment at a December sentencing.

Lanny Davis, one of Cohen's attorneys, told Business Insider on Wednesday that Cohen feels "pain for his family" that he could go to prison, and relief that the uncertainty is over now that he has a plea deal. Cohen's also not done opening up on what he knows about Trump, Davis said.

"This is the time he knows he's going to jail, and he feels liberated that he can finally speak his mind about his concerns about Donald Trump without a criminal lawyer telling him to 'be quiet' because 'you'll upset the prosecutors,'" he said.

Moving forward, all eyes are on what happens next, particularly for Trump.

"The plea, under oath, establishes that the president was a co-conspirator in the campaign violations to which Cohen pleaded guilty," Philip Allen Lacovara, who served as counsel to the special prosecutors investigating former President Richard Nixon's role in the Watergate scandal, told The New York Times.

Before he resigned from office, a grand jury named Nixon an "unindicted co-conspirator." Lacovara said that is now what Trump "technically" is.

But it appears highly unlikely Trump will be indicted in this instance — at least while he is still in office.

Here's the full timeline of events in the Cohen investigation:

SEE ALSO: Democrats are still incredibly cautious about discussing Trump's impeachment even after 2 of his top aides have been convicted

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Meet the woman behind Trump's $20 million merch empire


I visited Singapore, the outlandishly wealthy setting of 'Crazy Rich Asians,' and was surprised by how much fun you can have even without billions

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Singapore

  • The summer blockbuster "Crazy Rich Asians" is set in Singapore, which is known worldwide for its extravagance and wealth.
  • I visited Singapore in May expecting it to be wildly expensive and out of reach for all but wealthy travelers.
  • But I found that the city was full of cheap, delicious food, efficient public transportation, top-notch museums, a budding nightlife scene, and beautiful parks. As I quickly learned, if you do as the Singaporeans do, you can easily have a blast in the city without breaking the bank. 

Singapore, known worldwide for its extravagance and wealth, is the setting of "Crazy Rich Asians," the summer blockbuster everyone's talking about based on the bestselling novel by Kevin Kwan.

In recent years, it has become "a one-stop shop for Asia's rich," according to The New York Times, perhaps surpassing even Switzerland as a place for the world's millionaires and billionaires to park their money.

The airport has a private-jet terminal. The city-state's best-known landmark is a $6.6 billion megahotel that looks like a floating ship. And there are facilities like Le Freeport, an ultra-secure duty- and tax-free facility for the superrich to store their stuff.

In March, Singapore was named the world's most expensive city to live in for the fifth year running by the Economist Intelligence Unit's "Worldwide Cost of Living" survey.

As a traveler not accustomed to spending a fortune on trips (exhibit A: my bungled recent trip to Mykonos), I wasn't sure what visiting Singapore would be like.

But after spending four days in the city in May, I found that my fears were unfounded. The city abounds with cheap, delicious food, efficient public transportation, top-notch museums, a budding nightlife scene, and beautiful parks. As I quickly learned, if you do as the Singaporeans do, you can easily have a blast in the city without breaking the bank.

Contrary to depictions like those found in "Crazy Rich Asians," most Singaporeans are not rolling in cash. The average salary in the city is about $42,000, according to Payscale.

Here's what it was like to visit Singapore:

SEE ALSO: I've been traveling around the world for 6 months — here’s the most epic thing I did in each country

DON'T MISS: I visited the futuristic park filled with towering 'supertrees' featured in 'Crazy Rich Asians' and it looks like something straight out of science-fiction

My trip to Singapore, like most places, started at the airport. But Singapore's Changi International Airport isn't just any airport — it's considered the best in the world. Upon arriving, I found out why.

Source: Business Insider



Though the airport boasts impressive amenities like a free movie theater, a butterfly garden, a rooftop swimming pool, and 24-hour spas, it's the facility's cleanliness and efficiency that the average traveler will notice most. I really enjoyed the abundant green spaces as well.

Source: Business Insider



As I rode in a car from Grab, Singapore's main ride-hailing app, from the airport ($12), it hit me how green the city is. The streets and highways are shaded with umbrella-like rain trees, dense evergreen tembusu trees, and colorful bougainvillea from magenta to crimson.

Source: Straits Times, Singaporean government



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Maseratis, cheetahs, and private jets: How the 'Rich Kids of Instagram' are spending their summers

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Friends of the Highline 6805

  • The "Rich Kids of Instagram" — now known as "Rich Kids of the Internet" (RKOI) — Instagram and blog are still going strong with addicting photo documentation of wealthy lifestyles.
  • RKOI always know how to live life to its fullest, and summertime is no different.
  • From luxury vacations to private jets, here's how they're enjoying their summer.

With five years under its belt, the "Rich Kids of Instagram" blog and Instagram— now renamed Rich Kids of the Internet — is still at it, curating photos of the lifestyles of the wealthy.

It's August and those featured on the blog are deep into their summertime celebrations — complete with private jets, luxury cars, and beach vacations.

Take a look at what the "Rich Kids" are up to during the summer so far.

Sarah Jacobs contributed to an earlier version of this post.

SEE ALSO: Snap CEO Evan Spiegel and supermodel Miranda Kerr are honeymooning on a luxurious island in Fiji

Last year, some enjoyed some R&R in Malaysia...

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...while others swung high above the jungle.

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And @balenciaganeoprene posed with a leashed cheetah in Dubai.

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See the rest of the story at Business Insider

2 photos show how different it is visiting Portugal in the high season vs. the low season

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Livrarialello

  • Tourism is booming in Portugal.
  • The Livraria Lello bookstore in Porto is one of the world's oldest bookstores, frequently ranked as one of the most beautiful bookstores in the world, and a top place to visit in Portugal.
  • On a recent visit to Livraria Lello, I found the bookstore overrun with tourists, making it impossible to enjoy.
  • But photos of the bookstore in the spring and winter show the bookstore empty.
  • It shows why tourists should consider avoiding vacation hotspots during peak season.

The Livraria Lello bookstore in Porto, Portugal is one of the world's oldest bookstores and frequently ranked as one of the most beautiful bookstores in the world.

By any measure, it is a top tourism destination in a country suddenly exploding with tourists.

Tourism in Portugal began growing in 2011, but, in recent years, the country has become one of the hottest travel destinations, particularly for American tourists.

The number of tourists visiting Portugal rose a whopping 12% last year for a record 12.7 million people. And tourism now accounts for 10% of Portugal's gross domestic product. 2016 saw similar increases, according to Reuters.

While the growth in tourism has helped the country bounce back from the 2010-2014 financial crisis, it has also been disruptive.

An age-old coastal city in northwest Portugal with cobblestone streets and a historic medieval center, Porto is one of the country's premier tourism destinations.

But with only 200,000 inhabitants, it's easy for the city to feel overrun. That's doubly true at the quaint picturesque sites that make the city charming, like Livraria Lello.

Last year, 2.5 million tourists visited northern Portugal, according to Der Spiegel, and around half of them visited Livraria Lello.

The decision some four years ago to charge an entrance fee — despite being packed, no one was buying books — did nothing to deter tourists.

Around 4,000-5000 people now visit every day, and the bookstore generated over $8 million in revenue last year.

BestTimetoTravelPortugal LivrariaLello Porto (11 of 26)

When I visited Livraria Lello, a place that I was admittedly very excited to stroll through, it was swarmed with tourists. A line stretched down several blocks, and we waited half an hour in the late-summer heat.

When I finally got inside — after paying the 5 Euro entrance fee (applicable toward a book purchase) — the store was packed. You could barely move or thumb through a book.

Everyone was taking selfies, getting photos of a partner on the bookstore's majestic spiral staircase, or pushing to a room in the back decked out in Harry Potter books and memorabilia.

It has been reported repeatedly that J.K. Rowling, who lived and taught English in Porto from 1991 to 1993, was a loyal customer of Livraria Lello.

Many have suggested that the bookstore's ornate Neo-Gothic architecture bears a striking resemblance both to depictions of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the central setting of the books, and Flourish and Botts bookshop, where characters in the books purchase their books on magic.

Whether the Harry Potter connection or the stunning architecture is driving the tourism is anyone's guess, but one thing is certain: During the summer months, a visit to the bookstore feels like a miserable tourist trap.

But when I posted such a sentiment to my Instagram, a follower sent me photos from his own trip, during the winter, showing the bookstore in its empty, beautiful glory. Most of the photos adorning web articles covering the bookstore show the site similarly.

All of which, in my mind, shows why visiting tourism hotspots in the off-season or the "shoulder season" (April, May, September, October) is the way to go. So before you book that trip to Portugal, I'd encourage you to think twice about doing it in summer.

Livraria Lello is but one tiny microcosm of what it's like to visit the country in August.

SEE ALSO: I ate at the most beautiful McDonald's in the world, with crystal chandeliers, stained glass windows, and outrageously delicious pastries

DON'T MISS: Two photos show how different the billionaire haven of Mykonos is for travelers who aren't swimming in money

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: This London restaurant only sells deep-fried cheese fries — here’s how they’re made

'Mass shooting' leaves multiple dead at Madden video game tournament in Jacksonville, Florida

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jacksonville mass shooting madden

  • A "mass shooting" at a video game tournament in Jacksonville, Florida has reportedly left at least four people dead, including one suspect.
  • Jacksonville Sheriff Mike Williams said in a press conference the shooter died at the scene and there are no other outstanding suspects. 
  • Williams did not specify a number of victims, but said there were deceased victims at the scene and those injured were receiving hospital treatment. 
  • The shooting comes two days after a gunman killed one person and left two injured at a high school football game in Jacksonville.

A shooting at a video game tournament Sunday afternoon in Jacksonville, Florida has reportedly left at least four people dead, including one suspect.

Jacksonville news outlet WJXT reported at least 11 were shot at the livestream tournament of the new game Madden NFL 19, hosted at the Good Luck Have Fun Game Bar at Jacksonville Landing, an outdoor mall.

Jacksonville Sheriff Mike Williams said in a press conference they are still working to confirm the identity of the shooter, who died at the scene. He also confirmed there were no other outstanding suspects.

Williams said he could only identify the shooter as a white male said his office will release further information on Twitter, and Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry is due to hold a press conference later today.

The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office tweeted earlier in the afternoon to confirm the shooting, writing "Mass shooting at the Jacksonville Landing. Stay far away from the area. The area is not safe at this time. STAY AWAY #TheLandingMassShooting."

"We can't stress enough to stay away. Many blocks away," the account later tweeted.

The office also tweeted there were "multiple fatalities at the scene, many transported," before confirming "one suspect is dead at the scene, unknown at this time if we have a second suspect. Searches are being conducted."

One suspect is reported to be dead at the scene and police tweeted it is unknown at this time if there is a second suspect.

SWAT searched the scene for survivors and any other possible suspects. Authorities encouraged anyone trapped inside to call 911 so they could find them.

A recording of the Twitch live stream shows two competitors playing the game before what looks like it could be a red laser appears on one of their sweatshirts. The video's screen then switches as gunshots are fired.

Drini Gjoka, one of the two competitors shown in the live stream, tweeted that the "tourney just got shot up" and a bullet had hit his thumb.

A competitor told The Los Angeles Times the shooter was a participant who competed in the tournament and lost, though that account has not been confirmed by law enforcement.

Steven "Steveyj" Javaruski told the Times the shooter "targeted a few people" and shot at least five before killing himself. There were two or three people killed "that I saw," Javaruski reportedly said.

Madden publisher and host of the tournament, Electric Arts, tweeted "this is a horrible situation, and our deepest sympathies go out to all involved."

White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said President Trump has been briefed on the shooting, and they were monitoring the situation.

Florida Governor Rick Scott tweeted that he had been in touch with Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry to offer "state support and resources" for dealing with the shooting.

Florida Senator Marco Rubio tweeted that local authorities were in touch with federal resources for the next steps in responding to the shooting.

The shooting comes two days after a gunman killed one person and left two injured at a high school football game, which Florida Senator Bill Nelson referenced in a tweet, writing "Word of another tragic mass shooting in our state brings shock and outrage."

Nelson urged "right now, law enforcement are doing their jobs under horrific circumstances and it's important that people in the Jacksonville area heed their warnings."

This is a developing story. Refresh for updates.

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This Taiwanese tea is so popular in London that it's only sold twice a day and is limited to 1 per person

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  • The Mudflip is a drink that takes two hours to make.
  • It’s the signature drink of Taiwanese tea brand YiFang.
  • It's only served two times a day and is limited to one per person.
  • It has tapioca pearls, brown sugar, and milk.
  • The best way to enjoy the Mudflip is by indeed flipping it.

 

Taiwanese tea brand YiFang sells the Mudflip, a drink so popular that it's only served two times a day and is limited to one per person.

The Mudflip is made with tapioca pearls, brown sugar, and milk. Before serving, the pearls have to cook in the sugar for about two hours, which is why the tea is such a limited edition.

The best way to enjoy the Mudflip is by indeed flipping it as you can see the thick brown sugar syrup and the pearls mixing up with the milk.

In total, YiFang serves 20 different drinks and brews 100 liters of tea per day. It uses four teas: black, green, ching, and oolong.

It has over 600 stores in Taiwan and it opened three in London in 2018.

Produced and filmed by Claudia Romeo

SEE ALSO: Inside London’s all-cereal café that’s so popular it has opened stores in Dubai, Kuwait, and Qatar

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HBO debuted the first trailer for 'True Detective' season 3 starring Oscar winner Mahershala Ali

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True Detective season 3

  • HBO aired the first trailer for "True Detective" season three on Sunday night.
  • The new season, its first since 2015, stars Oscar winner Mahershala Ali and takes place in the Ozarks. Like the first season, the story will span decades. 
  • It already looks more promising than season two.

HBO aired the first trailer for season three of "True Detective" on Sunday night during the series finale of its summer miniseries, "Sharp Objects."

Season three of "True Detective" is set to premiere in January 2019. It stars Oscar winner Mahershala Ali ("Moonlight"), Ray Fisher ("Justice League"), Scoot McNairy ("Halt and Catch Fire"), Stephen Dorff ("Blade"), and Mamie Gummer ("The Good Wife").

The third season of the anthology series comes from Nic Pizzolatto, who created the show and wrote the first two seasons. David Milch, creator of "Deadwood," co-wrote the fourth episode of season three. The first season of "True Detective" premiered to high critical acclaim in 2014. The second season, which premiered in 2015, was highly anticipated but a huge disappointment to critics and audiences. While the first season has a 86% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes, the second season only has a 63%.

The third season of the series will take place in the Ozarks and span decades, as did season one. 

You can watch the trailer below: 

SEE ALSO: Jim Gaffigan on turning down Netflix to make his latest stand-up special 'available to everyone,' and exploring cathartic material about his wife's brain surgery

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: How a black cop infiltrated the KKK — the true story behind Spike Lee's 'BlacKkKlansman'

Sacha Baron Cohen tried to get OJ Simpson to confess to murder on the 'Who Is America?' finale

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OJ

  • Sacha Baron Cohen took on OJ Simpson in the season finale for his Showtime series, "Who Is America?" 
  • Cohen's Italian photographer character tried to get Simpson to confess to committing murder by repeatedly joking about killing his girlfriend.

Sacha Baron Cohen tried (in vain) to get OJ Simpson to confess to committing murder in the season finale for his Showtime series "Who Is America?" on Sunday. 

Disguised in the segment as his Italian photographer character, Gio Monaldo, Cohen sits down with Simpson in Las Vegas. Cohen's character introduces his girlfriend to Simpson and, in an attempt to get her to recognize Simpson, says that Simpson was a Buffalo Bill and an actor in the "Naked Gun" films. The girlfriend doesn't recognize Simpson — who was found not guilty of murdering his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman in 1995 — until Cohen makes repeated stabbing motions with his hand.

"She knows that, oh Jesus," Simpson replies, shaking his head and laughing.

After his girlfriend leaves the room and Simpson calls her "gorgeous," Cohen makes a series of jokes about killing her in an attempt to get Simpson to agree with him.

"She's gorgeous but sometimes I want to kill her," Cohen says. "I want to send her on a private helicopter and throw her over the Grand Canyon — oopsie daisie!" Cohen high-fives Simpson, but Simpson laughs and says "stop" repeatedly. 

In another hypothetical murder scenario, Simpson goes along with Cohen's character by saying that Monaldo's girlfriend might go bungee jumping with a cord that's too long. 

The segment concludes with Cohen asking Simpson "how [he] got away with" his wife's murder. 

"Me and you, we got something in common," Cohen says. "We both, how you say, 'ladykillers.'"

"No, I didn't kill nobody," Simpson says, laughing.

"Ah, I didn't either," Cohen replies.

Watch the episode on Showtime.

SEE ALSO: How OJ Simpson says he would've murdered Nicole Brown and Ron Goldman — 'if' he did it

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: How a black cop infiltrated the KKK — the true story behind Spike Lee's 'BlacKkKlansman'


Spotify shared its 10 most popular songs of the summer, and Drake won by a landslide

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drake in my feelings

Spotify has shared a list of the songs its global users listened to the most in summer 2018. 

Drake, unsurprisingly, tops the list with his ubiquitous Billboard No. 1 single "In My Feelings," which went viral earlier this summer on the strength of a video dance challenge that Will Smith ended up participating in. 

Spotify said its listeners streamed "In My Feelings" 393 million times between June 1 and August 20.

Maroon 5's Cardi B collaboration "“Girls Like You" came in a distant second place with 293 million streams during the same period. 

Rounding out the list are tracks from the likes of Calvin Harris, Post Malone, and the late rapper Xxxtentaction

Here's Spotify's global list of its 10 most popular songs of the summer:

SEE ALSO: Here's what Spotify predicted its songs of the summer would be in May

10. "Youngblood" - 5 Seconds of Summer

Listen to it on Spotify.



9. "Taste" - Tyga (feat. Offset)

Listen to it on Spotify.



8. "Solo" - Clean Bandit (feat. Demi Lovato)

Listen to it on Spotify.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Rafael Nadal is one of the highest-paid tennis players of all time — here's how he spends his millions

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rafael nadal french open 2018


Will Rafael Nadal, the world No. 1 men's singles player, win the US Open for the second year in a row? 

Informally known as the King of Clay, Nadal has 80 career single titles under his belt for a total of $7,737,347 in prize winnings. He won the 2017 US Open — and $3.7 million in prize money — as well as the 2018 French Open, earning $2.6 million and his 11th French Open title and 17th Grand Slam title.

But those are only a fraction of his career earnings.

Nadal's career winnings top $102 million. And that's not to mention what he earns from his multiple endorsements, from Nike to Kia. It's easy to see how he's become one of the highest-paid tennis players of all time.

Nadal has a history of spending his hard-earned money a little lavishly, from buying a six-figure watch to purchasing a second home in the Dominican Republic. And then there's his luxury yacht, Beethoven.

But he's also put his money toward philanthropic efforts, tennis centers, and property investments.

From his vacations to his cars, see how Nadal spends his millions.

SEE ALSO: The 30 highest-paid tennis players of all time

DON'T MISS: The incredible life of Roger Federer, the highest-paid tennis player on Earth

Rafael Nadal is one of the top five highest-paid tennis players of all time. Throughout his career, Nadal has won $102,326,975 in prize money for singles and doubles combined.

Source:  US OpenBusiness Insider



He earned $2.4 million for winning the 2017 French Open title and $3.7 million from the 2017 US Open.

Source:  Business Insider



Nadal just won his 11th French Open title, earning his 17th Grand Slam title and about $2.6 million in prize money. That brings his 2018 career winnings up to nearly $6 million.

Source:  New York Times, CNBC,  ATP World Tour



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

John McCain, a Vietnam War hero, is getting a short-lived tribute at the Pentagon thanks to Trump

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McCain is escorted by Lt. Cmdr. Jay Coupe Jr. to the Hanoi airport after McCain was released from captivity in 1973.

  • The Pentagon on Monday said it would not return the flag to half-staff to honor Sen. John McCain, a Vietnam War hero who died Saturday at 81, unless the White House issued a proclamation.
  • A Pentagon representative on Monday told Business Insider via phone that the flag would remain at full staff unless President Donald Trump took action.
  • Trump has repeatedly made clear he is no fan of the longtime Republican senator, and many think the lack of honors stems from the president's disdain.
  • McCain spent over five years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam subjected to brutal torture.
  • He remained a tireless advocate for the military to the end of his days. 

The Pentagon on Monday said it would not return the flag to half-staff to honor Sen. John McCain, a Vietnam War hero who died Saturday at 81, unless the White House issued a proclamation.

The Department of Defense flew the flag at half-staff on Saturday night and Sunday, per the US Flag Code. A Pentagon representative on Monday told Business Insider via phone that the flag would remain at full staff unless President Donald Trump took action.

The White House also returned the flag to full staff on Monday.

Despite his war record and his leadership with and lifelong advocacy for the US military, McCain has received short-lived honors at the Pentagon and the White House.

Trump is breaking with tradition

In the past, when a prominent public official died, the president often would issue a proclamation calling for flags at government and military buildings to be flown at half-staff through the day of the person's interment. President Barack Obama issued such a proclamation after the death of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia in 2016, for example.

So while it's not required for presidents to call for the flag to remain at half-staff after the deaths of public officials beyond what is dictated by the US Flag Code, it has become customary.

But the White House has shown no signs that it plans to follow tradition to honor McCain, and many think that is directly linked to Trump's disdain for the Arizona Republican, who was one of the president's harshest critics.

Trump's grudge against McCain

Trump has repeatedly made clear he is no fan of McCain.

During the 2016 presidential campaign, for example, Trump controversially suggested he did not believe the senator was a war hero because he'd been captured and spent time as a prisoner of war in Vietnam.

"He's not a war hero," Trump, who received five draft deferments during the Vietnam War, said of McCain. "He's a war hero because he was captured. I like people that weren't captured."

Trump also reportedly rejected plans to release a statement praising McCain following his death.

The president has repeatedly painted himself as an undying champion of service members and veterans, but that praise often ends if they publicly criticize him.

McCain is widely respected for his military service

McCain was born on a naval base in Panama and came from a military family with a long record of service. He was the son and grandson of Navy admirals, and he studied at the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.

After graduating, McCain entered flight school in 1958. He was deployed to Vietnam nine years later.

McCain's Skyhawk dive bomber was shot down in Hanoi in 1967, breaking both his arms and shattering his leg in the process. He was promptly captured and thrown in the infamous "Hanoi Hilton" prison.

About a year into McCain's imprisonment, his captors offered to set him free after discovering his father had just been made commander of US forces in the Pacific. They thought that releasing McCain would be a propaganda victory.

But McCain refused this opportunity at freedom over loyalty to his fellow American POWs, some of whom had been held in captivity longer than he had. Consequently, McCain was brutally tortured.

McCain was a POW from October 1967 to March 1973, spending roughly two of those years in solitary confinement in a windowless 10-by-10-foot cell.

He never fully recovered from the wounds he sustained in Vietnam; he couldn't raise his arms above his head for the rest of his life.

By the end of McCain's military service in 1981, his decorations included the Silver Star Medal, the Legion of Merit with Combat "V" and one gold star, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V" and two gold stars, and the Purple Heart with one gold star.

There are bipartisan calls for the flag to be lowered

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Majority Leader Mitch McConnell are calling on the Department of Defense to "provide necessary support so that U.S. flags on all government buildings remain at half mast through sunset on the day of Senator McCain's" interment, according to a tweet from Schumer's communications director.

Other members of Congress, including Democratic Rep. Ted Lieu, an Air Force veteran, have also called on the Pentagon and Defense Secretary James Mattis to act.

Lieu said in a tweet that lowering the flag until McCain's interment would be the "honorable thing to do" based on his military service.

The nonpartisan organization American Veterans also ripped into the White House for its decision to raise the flag on Monday.

"By lowering flags for not one second more than the bare minimum required by law, despite a long-standing tradition of lowering flags until the funeral, the White House is openly showcasing its blatant disrespect for Senator McCain's many decades of service and sacrifice to our country as well as the service of all his fellow veterans," it said in a statement.

McCain worked to bring peace between Vietnam and the US

Years after the war, McCain, as a US senator, worked closely with former Sen. John Kerry to normalize relations with Vietnam.

Following his death, McCain was mourned widely in Vietnam and applauded for his efforts to reestablish ties between the US and Vietnamese governments.

Even McCain's former jailer — the man who oversaw the Hanoi Hilton — paid his respects to the former Navy pilot and said he'd admired him for his "toughness."

There's a Navy destroyer named after McCain, but the flag still apparently won't be flown at half-staff for him

The USS John S. McCain, a guided-missile destroyer in service of the Navy, was originally named for McCain's father and grandfather.

But on July 12, McCain was inducted by the secretary of the Navy into the official namesake of the vessel.

"As a warrior and a statesman who has always put country first, Sen. John McCain never asked for this honor, and he would never seek it," Secretary of the Navy Richard V. Spencer said at the time. "But we would be remiss if we did not etch his name alongside his illustrious forebears, because this country would not be the same were it not for the courageous service of all three of these great men."

McCain will be laid to rest in Annapolis

McCain died from brain cancer on Saturday in his home state of Arizona.

The former Navy pilot, US senator, and two-time presidential contender will be laid to rest at the US Naval Academy in Annapolis on Sunday.

McCain will be buried in a plot next to his Naval Academy classmate and lifelong friend Adm. Chuck Larson.

Note: Hours after this story was published, the White House reversed its decision and the president signed a proclamation for the flag to remain at half-mast until McCain is interred.

SEE ALSO: As a POW in Vietnam, John McCain refused release until his fellow prisoners were freed, making him a hero in the eyes of many

DON'T MISS: 'I liked him personally for his toughness': John McCain's Vietnamese jailer expresses sadness over his death

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: INSIDE WEST POINT: What it’s really like for new Army cadets on their first day

Dunkin' is dropping the 'Donuts' from its name — and people are freaking out

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Dunkin Donuts Next Generation Concept Store

  • Dunkin' Donuts is dropping "Donuts" from its name, and fans aren't happy.
  • The first Dunkin' store to drop the "Donuts" was in Quincy, Massachusetts, in late 2017. Now the change is rolling out to 30 more Boston-area locations and 20 nationwide locations.
  • The name change is a small part of a major rebrand that includes adding cold-brew taps and digital ordering kiosks, but fans are worried what the change means for their favorite chain.

Dunkin' Donuts is dropping "Donuts" from its name, and fans aren't happy about it.

The name change doesn't come as a surprise — the Massachusetts-based coffee empire began testing the name Dunkin' at a handful of Massachusetts locations late last year, according to Eater.

The Dunkin' concept is part of a major rebrand that includes a new store design, drinks like nitro infused cold brew, and digital kiosks to order at. The first Dunkin' concept was opened at a Quincy,Massachusetts, location. By the end of the year, the new concept will be at 30 locations in Boston and 20 nationwide.

The Dunkin' concept isn't necessarily a permanent change — while it will be rolling out to about 50 stores, Dunkin' Donuts said in a statement that it doesn't plan to make any decisions regarding the branding until later this year. 

Even though the change may not last forever, not everyone is thrilled about it; some fans are confused.dunkin name change 9dunkin name change 6

...but many people are angry about it. "They literally invented the word "Donut". They should keep it forever," wrote Twitter user @larocciDave.

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JetBlue just became the first major US airline to charge $30 for a checked bag, and the move could spur other carriers to do the same (JBLU)

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JetBlue Airbus A320

  • JetBlue Airways will now be charging $30 for a first checked bag, making them the first major U.S. airline to charge this amount. 
  • "As a matter of good business, we routinely review and adjust our ancillary pricing to ensure a healthy business so we can continue offering the best customer experience of any U.S. airline," a JetBlue spokesperson said in a statement to Business Insider. 
  •  This decision is another example of an industry-wide practice of hiking ancillary fees known as "unbundling."

JetBlue Airways  will now be charging $30 for a first checked bag, making them the first major U.S. airline to charge this amount. 

The change in price begins for tickets purchased on Monday, August 27.

In a statement to Business Insider, JetBlue spokesperson Doug McGraw said, "Customers consistently tell us what they love most about JetBlue: free Fly-Fi on all aircraft, live television and free entertainment, the most legroom in coach, free snacks, and great service. As a matter of good business, we routinely review and adjust our ancillary pricing to ensure a healthy business so we can continue offering the best customer experience of any U.S. airline."

According to the airline's website, JetBlue also increased the charge of the second checked bag from $35 to $40 and for a third piece of luggage from $100 to $150. The $30 first checked bag fee will be a $5 increase over the previous price of $25. Some JetBlue passengers, like those have purchased more expensive fares or have reached a specific loyalty program level, may be exempt from these fare hikes. 

According to Bloomberg,Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, and United Airlines all charge $25 for the first bag and $35 for the second, with fees for the third piece of luggage varying. Southwest Airlines Co. is the only large U.S. airline that doesn’t charge for one checked piece of luggage.

USA Today reports that JetBlue will also be hiking their changing fee for Blue and BluePlus customers, from $150 maximum to $200. 

JetBlue's decision to raise charges on the baggage fee and change fee is not the first time airlines have chosen to increase costs of ancillary fees. This industry practice is known as unbundling. 

Unbundling is the practice of separating various costs of services like baggage check, security check, seat assignments, meals, wi-fi use, and early boarding into their own price points. In short, charging little fees for different elements of travel. Unbundling first began in the late 2000s when airlines recognized the necessity of gaining extra revenue to counteract the higher price of crude oil, which had hit $132 a barrel in the summer of 2008.

According to Bob Mann, President of RW Mann & Company, an airline analysis firm with over 40 years of experience in the industry, American Airlines was the first to charge $20 for a baggage check.

"With that out of the box pretty much everybody else did it," Mann said. "It was the first big gasp of how to get unbundling started." 

Today, JetBlue has decided to continue the practice, as they are now the first major U.S. airline to cross the $30 for a baggage check threshold. 

SEE ALSO: Why you have to pay a fortune to get a decent seat on a plane

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