• Everyone should keep a stocked emergency kit on-hand so they're prepared in the event of an unexpected natural disaster, power outage, or big storm. 
• There are generally two emergency kit options, as you're able to either purchase a pre-assembled kit or piece together a custom one of your own.
• Many pre-assembled kits are designed for specific use cases such as those for handling natural disasters or others compiled in order to be the most portable. 
• Our top pick, the Sustain Supply Co. Comfort4 72-Hour Emergency Survival Kit, not only covers critical needs like water, warmth, sustenance, and first aid, but it also has plenty of redundancies which is a critical part of any kit. 

Editor's note: With inventories in constant flux, we're keeping up with providing links to products and goods that are in stock and priced appropriately as best we can. Some recommendations may link to products that are currently out of stock, available via a third party, or aren't able to ship for several weeks. 

Statistically speaking, it's unlikely you'll find yourself in a situation calling for an emergency preparedness kit, but preparedness is the operative word. Should a disaster strike in the form of an earthquake, tornado, civil unrest, a major storm, or something similar, you might find yourself cut off from outside help, relying on your wits and whatever rations and supplies you have on hand.

If this does happen, rations with a multi-year shelf life and any supplies included in a first aid kit like light sources, fire-starting tools, and other such essentials could be literal lifesavers. But remember, buying an emergency preparedness kit is only the first step in readying yourself and your household to respond to a crisis properly.

How to make the most of your emergency kit

To get some insight into how to best use your kit, we spoke to Brent Stern, founder of the emergency kit company, Sustain Supply Co.

"When you're in a stressful situation, your ability to problem-solve is diminished," Stern told Business Insider.

He advises people to not only procure supplies but to study what they have, too. "Take at least a half-hour to go through your kit and know what's in there and where things are in the bag. Put some cash in, too, and any prescription drugs or specific first aid needs you or a family member might require."

Ultimately, according to Stern, "a good survival kit gives you the ability to be self-sufficient." The emergency prep kits on our list below allow you and a small group to do just that, fend for yourselves for a few days as you wait for the restoration of civil support systems in your area or anything other help and support.

Here are the best emergency kits:

• Best overall: Sustain Supply Co. Comfort4 72-Hour Emergency Survival Kit
• Best for natural disasters: Rescue Guard First Aid Kit
• Best for severe weather: Complete Earthquake Bag
• Best budget: Ready America 2-Person 3-Day Emergency Kit
• Best portable: Monoki First Aid Survival Kit

Updated on 10/1/2020 by Rick Stella: Updated the section on how to make the most of your emergency kit, as well as the copy for each pick, checked the availability of all recommended kits, and updated the prices and links where necessary.

The best overall

The carefully curated Sustain Supply Co. Comfort4 72-Hour Emergency Survival Kit overs basic needs and offers redundancies in critical areas such as hydration and warmth.

I chose the Sustain Supply Co. Comfort4 72-Hour Emergency Survival Kit as my family's emergency preparedness kit because after looking at many different options, it seemed to be the most thoughtfully curated option. There is simply nothing in this kit that feels superfluous, and there's no glaring omission, either.

Many survival kits have items like toothbrushes and hair combs that may make mornings more pleasant but aren't entirely imperative for survival during an emergency. In other words, that means they're just extra weight. The Comfort4 kit is stocked almost exactly as I'd have built a kit from scratch.

When I got the founder of Sustain Supply Co. on the phone, I learned how they pulled that off. Brent Stern explained that they used Amazon analytics to determine which prep/survival products people tended to buy at the same time and then made the leading choices of discerning shoppers the products they included in the kit.

Thus, the Comfort4 comes stocked with foods that may have a 30-year shelf life and that actually taste good once rehydrated and cooked. It includes more emergency drinking water than you'll find in almost any other emergency kit, too. The kit also has all the basics, like first aid supplies, fire starters, emergency blankets, a razor-sharp knife, and more.

But there's another reason I chose the Sustain Supply Co. Four-72 Emergency Survival Kit both for my own home as well as for the top pick on this list: redundancy. The kit comes with two lanterns, two flashlights, and multiple chemical snap lights (AKA glow sticks). As noted, it comes with a lot of drinking water, but it also has a water filter included. It has enough fire starting supplies to make more than enough fires for the three days for which the kit is designed to sustain four adults.

Yes, it's expensive but your safety is priceless. And though it's on the heavy side, if you're with other adults, you can spread the weight around or pass the backpack from person to person as needed.

Pros: Thoughtful and comprehensive curation, included rations actually taste good, comes with plenty of water and its own filtration system

Cons: Quite expensive compared to other options

The best for natural disasters

This Rescue Guard First Aid Kit packs plenty of supplies to support families up to 72 hours in the event of an evacuation or quarantine, including safety shelters, a fully-stocked first aid kit, and food and water.

It's important to stay prepared in the event of an evacuation or quarantine, and this includes having an emergency kit on-hand stocked with everything from first aid supplies and water to tents and fire starters. Rescue Guard's First Aid Kit not only comes standard with these valuable items but offers enough supplies to support a family of four up to 72 hours.

Packed entirely into an easily transportable backpack, this kit comes with a pair of two-person survival shelters, four rain ponchos, and an easy-to-use fire starter. There are even thermal blankets included, as well. The backpack also has a fully-stocked first aid kit with gauze pads, tweezers, first aid ointment, ibuprofen, and several sizes of bandages.

Purified drinking water and Coast Guard-approved food rations are included should food or water become scarce. Other useful items include a roll of duct tape, a small flashlight, and four safety respirators. Though you'd ideally not break into much of what's included, it's far better to have access to more than you need than to be searching for something in a time of crisis. 

Pros: Has enough supplies to support a four-person family for 72 hours, everything comes packed in an easy-to-carry backpack

Cons: May want to pack more water and food

The best for severe weather

The Complete Earthquake Bag is designed to keep you safe and prepared during natural disasters like earthquakes, hurricanes, or tornadoes, and features enough supplies to support at least four people. 

If the natural disaster most likely to ravage your hometown is an earthquake, hurricane, or flood, this is the kit for you. Featuring enough supplies for up to four people (variations of the kit can serve up to six, too), the Complete Earthquake Bag is a literal life-saver. 
The kit packs all of its supplies into a portable duffle bag that features an extending handle and roller wheels, making it easy to grab and go (and using it like a roller bag is preferred when the bag is full of contents, too). 

Along with a standard 107-piece first aid kit, it also features hygiene kits, a water carrier, 40 purification tablets, several high-calorie food bars, a 30-hour candle, and a hand-crank flashlight that also acts as a phone charger and radio. There are even hand warmers and emergency ponchos, as well as waterproof matches and four mylar sleeping bags. 

Auxillary items like goggles, a sewing kit, nylon rope, and leather-palmed gloves are also included, allowing the kit to offer respite in a variety of environments and emergencies. Though the bag comes packed full with the included contents, there's still some room to include a few extras of your own. This could include personal medication, additional food, or extra pairs of socks, and the like. 

Don't let the price tag scare you away either. For everything that's included, and how important it is to be this prepared in the event of a natural disaster, the Complete Earthquake Bag is an incredible value. 

Pros: Packed in a roller bag-style duffle, has enough capacity to support up to four people for several days, contains a large first aid kit, comes with mylar sleeping bags, food and water included is good for up to five years

Cons: Bag isn't waterproof which would make it susceptible to damage in the event of a flood

The best budget

The Ready America 2-Person 3-Day Emergency Kit has the basics you'll need to shelter in place or cover some ground for a few days.

There are some notable items missing from the Ready America 2-Person 3-Day Emergency Kit. It lacks a flashlight or lantern, with the only light source being two chemical light sticks. There's also no blade or tool of any sort and it lacks fire-starting gear — not even a lighter or a pack of matches.

But here's the thing: The basic necessities needed for survival don't actually include a light source, a cutting tool, or even fire. They amount to hydration, nutrition, and protection from the elements, and this low-cost emergency prep kit has you and one other adult covered on those fronts.

The pair of emergency blankets and ponchos keep you relatively warm and dry even in harsh environs, the food and water rations keep you sufficiently nourished, and the first aid kit helps with most minor medical issues. 

Although it's basic, the Ready America 2-Person 3-Day Emergency Kit is sufficient to check the "Prepared" box off your household to-do list. I recommend you go ahead and add a light, a pocketknife, and some storm matches, though.

Pros: Great low price, high visibility backpack, covers basic needs

Cons: Lacking several key items, the backpack itself is low quality

The best portable

A first aid kit that's portable makes it much easier to grab and go in times of need, and the 241-piece Monoki First Aid Survival Kit is easily stored in a backpack, large bag, or can even be carried with little trouble.

A cumbersome first aid kit can sometimes make it hard to easily take it while on-the-go. With the Monoki First Aid Survival Kit, not only is it a highly portable emergency kit but it doesn't sacrifice any of the gear you'd need to rely on it in times of an emergency.

At 241 total pieces, this kit includes everything from medical gloves and bandages to a small pocketknife and multi-tool. There's even a pocket-sized flashlight, a compass, and a fire starter kit. Extra items like cotton swabs, fishing line, tweezers, safety pins, and a first aid blanket are also included.

The kit manages to stay small enough to fit into a roughly 8-inch by 5-inch waterproof container that easily fits into backpacks, bags, or gloveboxes (it's small enough to carry, too). This does mean it won't feature any extended support gear like emergency shelters, sleeping bags, or food and water.

Monoki's First Aid Survival Kit is inexpensive, too, costing just $36. So, not only does it pack the first aid supplies you'd need in the event of an emergency but it's a great value, as well. -- Rick Stella

Pros: Features 241 pieces of first aid kit supplies, comes in an easy-to-transport waterproof case, a great companion to a larger emergency kit

Cons: Doesn't feature long-term emergency support supplies like food or water

Check out more Insider Reviews preparedness coverage

The best first aid kits

While you never want to need a first aid kit, should that need arise, you'll be glad you planned ahead and kept some high-quality medical supplies on hand. Here are the best you can buy.

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The best backpacking food 

Fortunately, enjoying a great "real" meal while you camp, trek, or climb isn't all that hard to do provided you planned ahead. None of the meals on this list require anything fancier than a pot, some water, and a stove (or fire) to prepare, and some don't even require the pot. Find our top picks.

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The best survival knives

If you're in the wilderness and can only take a single item with you, then a good survival blade is the one you need. Here are our top picks.

• The wildly popular Nintendo Switch game "Super Smash Bros. Ultimate" is getting Steve, the main character from Microsoft's "Minecraft" series, in a new update.
• This is the second major collaboration between Nintendo and Microsoft for "Super Smash Bros. Ultimate," with Banjo-Kazooie appearing in a previous update.
• Steve is a long-requested character that few people actually expected to be added to the game.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Two of gaming's biggest franchises are coming together once again: "Minecraft" main character Steve is scheduled to arrive as a playable fighter in the Nintendo Switch smash-hit game "Super Smash Bros. Ultimate," Nintendo announced on Thursday.

Though Microsoft owns "Minecraft" and Nintendo owns "Super Smash Bros. Ultimate," the two gaming titans are putting aside their differences once again to bring together Mario and "Minecraft." The long-running "Super Smash Bros." series is famous for such collaborations, with previous installments including non-Nintendo gaming icons like Snake from "Metal Gear Solid" and Cloud from "Final Fantasy VII." 

Nintendo has also worked with Microsoft previously on "Minecraft," with "Super Mario Bros." characters appearing in Microsoft's game.

With over 20 million copies sold, "Super Smash Bros. Ultimate" is one of Nintendo's most popular games on its wildly successful Nintendo Switch console. The game pits Nintendo icons like Mario, Donkey Kong, and Pikachu against each other in a lighthearted battle to the death.

When Steve arrives in the game in an upcoming patch, he'll come alongside, "a new stage and seven music tracks from the 'Minecraft' series," Nintendo said in its announcement. Additionally, players will be able to swap between a variety of different character skins from "Minecraft," including zombies and endermen. 

It's not clear exactly when he's coming to the game, but when he does he'll cost at least $5.99 (though he's also available as part of the ongoing Fighters Pass, which costs $29.99 and includes six characters in total).

Take a look at Steve in action right here:

Got a tip? Contact Business Insider senior correspondent Ben Gilbert via email (bgilbert@businessinsider.com), or Twitter DM (@realbengilbert). We can keep sources anonymous. Use a non-work device to reach out. PR pitches by email only, please.

• You can reschedule a meeting in your Google Calendar by editing its date and time, then notifying the meeting's attendees.
• If you need to reschedule a meeting you've made in your Google Calendar, the process is quick and easy whether you're on a computer or mobile device.
• Visit Business Insider's Tech Reference library for more stories.

Google Calendar is a relatively straightforward tool that is compatible with all other Google applications, such as Gmail. 

If you need to reschedule a meeting on your Google Calendar, you can do so in just a few simple steps.

How to reschedule a meeting on the Google Calendar website

Note that these instructions correspond to Google Calendar's desktop site, not its mobile application.

1. Log in to your Google account and proceed to the Google Calendar. 

2. Click on the meeting you wish to reschedule.

3. In the pop-up window that appears, click on the pencil icon. 

4. Click on the meeting date and time, and change it to the desired date/time by clicking on the respective values in the pop-up menus that appear. For example, if you wish to change the date of the meeting to September 29, you would click on the corresponding date in the pop-up menu. 

5. Click the button labeled "Save," located near the top of the screen.

6. If you wish to send notifications of the rescheduling to meeting attendees, click "Send" in the pop-up window. If you don't wish to notify attendees, click on "Don't send." 

Your meeting will now appear in its rescheduled position on your Google Calendar. 

How to reschedule a meeting on the Google Calendar mobile app

1. Open the Google Calendar app on your mobile device. 

2. Tap on the meeting you wish to reschedule. 

3. In the meeting's pop-up window, tap the pencil icon in the top right corner.

4. Tap on the meeting date and time, and change it to the desired date/time by clicking on the respective values in the pop-up menus that appear. 

5. Tap the "Save" button in the top right corner of the window.

6. After hitting "Save," all attendees will be automatically sent a notification about the updated time.

Related coverage from Tech Reference:

• How to sync a Google Calendar with your iPhone's built-in calendar app
  

• How to sync your Google Calendar with Outlook on a PC, Mac computer, or Outlook.com

• How to accept a Google Calendar invite on your computer or mobile device

• How to make your Google Calendar private and customize your privacy settings

• How to send a Google Calendar invite to anyone using the desktop site or a mobile device

When you buy through our links, we may earn money from our affiliate partners. Learn more.

• Calming products like "foraging mats" have been a trend for the past few years, and one of the reasons is that they combat behavior issues in our dogs.
• My dogs use the Paw5 Wooly Snuffle Mat to hunt for treats, especially on days when they need to burn off extra energy.
• I set up snuffle mat games for my 14-year-old hound to play in between meals to help keep his mind active.
• The mat also stood up to my standard dachshund, and he knows how to use his nose. 

Foraging is a natural instinct for dogs, and my two hounds love nothing more than using their noses, especially on long walks.

But we live in the Pacific Northwest where it rains a good portion of the year. We still get out in the rain and mud, but there are days when nonstop rain means walks get cut short. On these wet days, I'm always looking for ways to let them use their noses and exercise their foraging instincts inside so they can burn off extra energy with games like hide-and-seek.

And then there's the Paw5 Wooly Snuffle Mat.

Snuffle mats have a bit of a cult-following among dog owners and trainers who like to keep their dogs stimulated by encouraging their natural instincts. The low-tech, easy-to-use mats are designed to mimic grass with strips of soft material between which you can hide treats. It really is as simple as tossing treats or kibble on top of the mat and letting your dog go on a treasure hunt.

Paw5's Wooly Snuffle Mat stands out because it is durable, made from sustainable materials, and machine washable. The mat is available in one color, grey, and at 12 inches by 18 inches, it's a perfect size for both my dogs.   

The brand's emphasis on sustainability places this product above the competition, too. Each mat is handmade from upcycled polyester and cotton fabric. It's soft and not abrasive on my dogs' noses. It's also easy to clean. After your dog hunts for treats a few times, you'll want to throw it in the wash. Even after more than 20 washes, our mat still looks good.   

A tired dog is a good dog

Both my dogs have experience at a dog sport referred to as K9 Nose Work, which means they search for odors paired with food in containers. The Paw5 Wooly Snuffle Mat is like a game we'd play in Nose Work class. Any type of nose work requires a lot of energy from your dog, so hunting for treats is a game that can help diffuse any anxiety built up from not getting outdoors. 

Senior dogs love it, too

My 14-year-old beagle has trouble going on the same hikes he used to when he was younger, so a game indoors between meals helps keep him sharp. According to Dr. Katherine Houpt, professor emeritus of behavioral medicine at Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine, enrichment activities like this and feeding puzzles can limit the signs of canine cognitive dysfunction in senior dogs, which is akin to dementia in humans. They are also beneficial for dogs that have anxiety or shouldn't exercise post-surgery. "If dogs were in the wild, this is what they'd be doing. They'd be looking for little tidbits to eat," she explained.

Bored dogs tire after nose games

You can essentially just throw kibble or treats on top of the mat, but my dachshund Walter is a very busy dog who needs the ultimate challenge. Hiding treats between the pieces of fabric makes it more challenging. Make sure you break up the treats into tiny pieces. It's easy to make this scavenging game last for a while if you hide a lot of small treats throughout the mat. If your dog knows a search command like "find it," it's a great way to initiate the game. 

If you have a dog prone to boredom and nuisance behaviors, a Snuffle Mat may be a good management tool. "Enrichment goes into the management bucket because through the use of puzzle toys, flirt poles, fetch games, etc., we can offset the boredom that leads to behavior problems," according to the Academy for Dog Trainers. "Which dog is more likely to bark at people and dogs walking past the window, the one who looks outside all day while lying on the couch or the one who is too busy kicking around a Snoop to care?" 

The cons

The mat can hold the odors of the treats, so you should supervise your dog with this product. I caught my dachshund Walter chewing on the fabric strips. Also, the mat doesn't have a no-slip bottom, so I've found it works best on carpet. 

This isn't a game for all your dogs to play together. I put one of our dogs behind a baby gate so they each have their own turn at the game. You don't want to encourage guarding behavior. 

The bottom line

There are very few products I've found that burn energy indoors and tire out my two hounds. The Paw5 Wooly Snuffle Mat is a product that is great to have on hand for rainy, snowy, or hot days when you have to cut walks short. Even if you don't think you'll use it daily, it's worth having in your enrichment toolkit.

Pros: Easy to set up, tires dogs out  

Cons: Aggressive chewers may start to chew on their mat, requires supervision, should only be used by one dog at a time

• The oldest college in each US state includes some of the most prestigious academic institutions in the country and several flagship state universities.
• The oldest college in the United States is Harvard University, founded in 1636.
• Meanwhile, the most recent state to get a college for the first time is Alaska.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

The United States is home to some pretty old colleges and universities.

In fact, there are more than a dozen that are older than America itself — none older than Harvard University, which was founded in 1636.

Meanwhile, other states took longer to open their first colleges. The most recent state to get its first college is Alaska, whose University of Alaska Fairbanks celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2017.

Across the US, the list of oldest colleges in each state features some of the most prestigious academic institutions in the country as well as flagship state universities and a handful of lesser-known schools.

Read on to find out the oldest college in every US state and Washington, DC.

ALABAMA: Spring Hill College in Mobile

Spring Hill College in Mobile, Alabama, was founded in 1830 and claims to be Alabama's oldest institution of higher learning. According to the school's website, it is the first Catholic college in the Southeast United States, the third-oldest Jesuit college, and the fifth-oldest Catholic college in the US.

ALASKA: The University of Alaska Fairbanks in Fairbanks

The University of Alaska Fairbanks celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2017. The university was founded in 1917, however, classes didn't officially open until 1922, according to the school's website. In 1935, the Alaska Agricultural College and School of Mines became the University of Alaska. The school awarded its first Ph.D. in 1955.

ARIZONA: The University of Arizona in Tucson

The University of Arizona dates back to 1885, with enrollment at the school beginning in 1891. According to Britannica, in 1915, the university consisted of just three colleges — letters, arts, and sciences; mines and engineering; and agriculture. Today, there are more than 15 colleges for students to choose from.

ARKANSAS: University of the Ozarks in Clarksville

The University of the Ozarks in Clarksville, Arkansas, was founded in 1834 by Cumberland Presbyterian officials. The first classes were held in a two-room log schoolhouse. The name would eventually change from Cane Hill College to The College of the Ozarks and later The University of the Ozarks. 

In 1957, The University of the Ozarks became the first traditionally white college in Arkansas to admit African American students, according to the school's website.

CALIFORNIA: Santa Clara University in Santa Clara

Santa Clara University in Santa Clara, California, was founded in 1851 as a preparatory school, though it has roots as a mission back to the late 1700s. In 1853, the school began offering collegiate courses.

COLORADO: The University of Denver in Denver

The University of Denver dates back to 1864 when it was known as the Colorado Seminary. According to the university's website, it was founded just six years after the founding of Denver City in what was then called the Colorado Territory. It later established one of the very first business schools in the entire country.

CONNECTICUT: Yale University in New Haven

Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, is one of America's oldest educational institutions — according to the university, it has roots back to the 1640s, and became Yale College in 1718, 17 years after the Connecticut legislature adopted a charter to erect a Collegiate School.

DELAWARE: The University of Delaware in Newark

The University of Delaware was founded in 1743, making it one of the oldest educational institutions in the country. According to the university's website, a separate college opened in 1914 with 58 female students. In 1921, the two colleges merged to become the University of Delaware.

WASHINGTON, DC: Georgetown University in Washington, DC

Georgetown University in Washington, DC, was founded in 1789. According to the university's website, it is the oldest Catholic and Jesuit institution of higher learning in the United States. Classes began in 1792 and within the first year of the school's operations, the class size had grown to more than 40 students.

FLORIDA: Florida State University in Tallahassee

Florida State University in Tallahassee dates back to 1851. Though the first recognized college in the US is Rollings College in Winter Park, Florida, Rollings wasn't founded until 1855, making Florida State University technically the oldest in the state.

GEORGIA: The University of Georgia in Athens

The University of Georgia in Athens became the first university in the country to have a state-supported charter in 1785. The university was established in 1801 after a group of board trustees officially selected a land site.

HAWAII: The University of Hawaii at Manoa in Honolulu

The University of Hawaii at Manoa in Honolulu, Hawaii, was founded slightly more recently as far as old colleges go. According to the university's website, it was founded in 1907 under the Morrill Act as "a land-grant college of agriculture and mechanic arts."

IDAHO: Brigham Young University Idaho in Rexburg

Brigham Young University Idaho in Rexburg, Idaho, was founded in 1888. It started as Bannock Stake Academy and is owned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. According to the school's website, the institution officially became known as Brigham Young University-Idaho in August 2001.

ILLINOIS: McKendree University in Lebanon

McKendree University in Lebanon, Illinois, was founded in 1828 by pioneer methodists in the state. According to the university's website, it is the oldest college in Illinois and the oldest in the nation with continuous ties to the United Methodist Church.

INDIANA: Vincennes University in Vincennes

Vincennes University in Vincennes, Indiana, opened in 1801 under the name Jefferson Academy. According to the university's website, Vincennes is also the oldest city in Indiana, with many pieces of architecture dating back to its time as a French fur trading post.

IOWA: Loras College in Dubuque

Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa, was founded in 1839 as a school intended to educate young men for the priesthood. Loras College adopted its present name in 1939 and became a coeducational institution in the fall of 1971.

KANSAS: Baker University in Baldwin City

Baker University in Baldwin City, Kansas, was founded in February 1858. The university opened its doors to students later that year.

KENTUCKY: Transylvania University in Lexington

Transylvania University in Lexington, Kentucky, was founded in 1780. According to the university, the first classes were held near Danville, Kentucky, in a cabin owned by one the first chairman of the Board of Trustees in 1785.

LOUISIANA: Centenary College of Louisiana in Shreveport

Centenary College of Louisiana in Shreveport was founded in 1825, during which time it was known as the College of Louisiana. It is the 43rd oldest college in the United States. According to the university's website, tuition in the early days of the school was just $50 per year, and room, board, and firewood were $7 per month.

MAINE: Bowdoin College in Brunswick

Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine, was established in 1794. According to Britannica, classes officially began in 1802, and women were admitted for the first time in 1971.

MARYLAND: St. John's College in Annapolis

St. John's College in Annapolis was founded in 1696. According to the school's website, it is the third oldest college in the United States, behind Harvard University and College of William and Mary. It was originally founded under the name The King William's School.

MASSACHUSETTS: Harvard University in Cambridge

Harvard University is the oldest college in the entire country — it dates back to 1636. The school was named after a young minister by the name of John Harvard, who, according to the university, left his library and half of his estate to the institution upon his death in 1638.

MICHIGAN: The University of Michigan in Ann Arbor

The University of Michigan was founded in 1817 as a preparatory school in Detroit. According to Britannica, the school moved to its present site in Ann Arbor in 1837.

MINNESOTA: University of Minnesota – Twin Cities in Minneapolis

The University of Minnesota – Twin Cities was established in 1851, seven years before the creation of the state itself in 1858. Both male and female students received instruction from the school before the school closed during the Civil War. The University of Minnesota reopened in 1867 and was reorganized as a university in 1869.

MISSISSIPPI: Mississippi College in Clinton

Founded in 1826 as Hampstead Academy, Mississippi College is the oldest educational institution in Mississippi. It is located in Clinton, Mississippi, and was renamed Mississippi Academy in January 1827, when the school began offering classes to both male and female students.

MISSOURI: Saint Louis University in St. Louis

Saint Louis University was founded inside a private residence near the Mississippi River at the request of the Rev. Louis William DuBourg, Catholic Bishop of Louisiana, in 1818. Not only is Saint Louis University the oldest educational institution of higher learning in Missouri, but it's also the oldest institution west of the Mississippi River, according to the school's website.

MONTANA: Rocky Mountain College in Billings

Rocky Mountain College in Billings, Montana, dates back to 1878 and originally comprised of three separate colleges. In 1947, the schools combined to become Billings Polytechnic Institute, later named Rocky Mountain College.

NEBRASKA: Peru State College in Peru

Peru State College is the oldest college in Nebraska — it was founded in 1867. It was originally established as a teacher training school with 60 students attending classes in one building. However, the institution has since expanded immensely.

NEVADA: The University of Nevada in Reno

The University of Nevada was founded in 1874 after the Morrill Land Grant Act of 1862. The University's first iteration was located in Elko but has since moved to Reno, Nevada.

NEW HAMPSHIRE: Dartmouth College in Hanover

Dartmouth College was founded in 1769. It's the ninth-oldest university in the nation, according to the school, and has been in operation for more than 250 years.

NEW JERSEY: Princeton University in Princeton

Princeton University was chartered in 1746, according to the university's website. The university was relocated to Princeton University in 1756 and changed its name from the College of New Jersey to Princeton University in 1896. Princeton is the fourth-oldest college in the United States.

NEW MEXICO: New Mexico State University in Las Cruces

New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, New Mexico, was founded in 1888 as the state's first land-grant university. Throughout its history, the university has operated under multiple names, including Las Cruces College and New Mexico College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts. 

NEW YORK: Columbia University in New York

Columbia University is the oldest college in the state of New York. It was founded in 1754 as King's College by royal charter of King George II of England, according to the school's website.

It is the fifth oldest institute of higher learning in the United States and played a vital role in American history through some of its first students and trustees, namely "John Jay, the first chief justice of the United States; Alexander Hamilton, the first secretary of the treasury; Gouverneur Morris, the author of the final draft of the U.S. Constitution; and Robert R. Livingston, a member of the five-man committee that drafted the Declaration of Independence," according to the school's website.

NORTH CAROLINA: Salem College in Winston-Salem

Salem College was founded in 1772, four years before the United States declared its independence from Great Britain. It was originally founded as a school for girls and is still recognized as the oldest educational institution for girls and women in America, according to the college's website.

NORTH DAKOTA: The University of North Dakota in Grand Forks

The University of North Dakota was founded in 1883, six years before North Dakota became recognized as a state. The very first graduating class was coeducational and consisted of six women and two men. Of them, Dr. Cora Smith King became the first woman to receive a medical license in the state of North Dakota, according to the university's website.

OHIO: Ohio University in Athens

Ohio University in Athens, Ohio, was founded in 1804 after the Ohio legislature approved a new act allowing the university to be established. Ohio University first offered classes in 1809, during which time the institution operated more like a high school than a college, according to the university's website.

In 1822, after Ohio University was able to hire a team of higher-skilled faculty members, the school began to offer a traditional college program.

OKLAHOMA: University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond

The University of Central Oklahoma was founded in 1890. In November 1891, the very first class of 23 students met in the Epworth League Room inside the unfurnished First Methodist Church, according to the school's website.

OREGON: Willamette University in Salem

Willamette University was established in 1842 as a missionary school. The university is one of the oldest coeducational colleges in the United States — the very first graduate of the university was a woman, and women were attending the School of Medicine as early as 1877, according to the Willamette University website.

PENNSYLVANIA: The University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia

The University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia dates back to 1740 when it was established as a charity school that would also house a place of worship for local people in Pennsylvania. It was the first American institute of higher learning to officially bear the name "university," according to the school.

RHODE ISLAND: Brown University in Providence

Brown University was founded in 1764 as the third college in New England and the seventh in America. Originally located in Warren, Rhode Island, it was the first Ivy League school to accept students from all religious affiliations, according to the school's website.

SOUTH CAROLINA: College of Charleston in Charleston

The College of Charleston was founded in 1770 and officially charted in 1785, according to Britannica. The city of Charleston took control of the college in 1836, making it the first municipal college in the nation.

SOUTH DAKOTA: Augustana University in Sioux Falls

Augustana University in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, was founded in 1860, though the university's roots were established as Hillsboro Academy, which was founded in 1835. The first class was held on September 1, 1860, which coincides with the founding date of Augustana's sister-college, Augustana College, in Rock Island, Illinois.

TENNESSEE: Tusculum College in Tusculum

Tusculum College in Tusculum, Tennessee, was chartered in 1794 as Greeneville College. In 1844, the renamed Tusculum Academy officially adopted the name Tusculum College, according to the school's website.

TEXAS: Southwestern University in Georgetown

Southwestern University in Georgetown was founded in 1840, five years after Colonel William B. Travis wrote a letter to the New York Christian Advocate asking for a Methodist presence to be established in Texas, according to the school's website.

The school claims to have been the site of many firsts, including the first homecoming on record and the first student literary journal in the state.

UTAH: The University of Utah in Salt Lake City

Originally named the University of Deseret, the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, Utah, was founded in 1850. The first term began in November 1850, during which time only male students were admitted. At the start of the second term, both men and women were allowed to attend.

VERMONT: Castleton University in Castleton

Nestled in the quaint town of Castleton, Vermont, Castleton University was founded in 1787. It is the 18th oldest institute of higher learning in the country, according to its website, and sits on a historic 165-acre campus.

VIRGINIA: College of William & Mary in Williamsburg

The College of William & Mary is located in the historic colonial town of Williamsburg, Virginia, and dates all the way back to 1693. It is the second-oldest institute of higher learning in the US and has a lengthy list of esteemed and influential alumni members.

According to the school's website, American presidents Thomas Jefferson, James Monroe, and John Tyler all studied at William & Mary, in addition to 16 members of the Continental Congress and four signers of the Declaration of Independence. 

WASHINGTON: The University of Washington in Seattle

The University of Washington in Seattle, originally named the Territorial University of Washington, is the oldest in the state — it was founded in 1861. In 1867, the tuition price to attend UW was just $30. 

WEST VIRGINIA: Bethany College in Bethany

Bethany College was founded in 1840, though the town of Bethany dates back to 1769. By the time that West Virginia was recognized as a US state in 1863, Bethany College was the only institute of higher learning in the state to offer collegiate degrees.

WISCONSIN: Carroll University in Waukesha

Carroll University was chartered in 1846 by the Wisconsin Territorial Legislature, two years before Wisconsin became a state. The school was originally established as an academy in 1841 by settlers living in the Wisconsin Territory community of Prairieville. When the college first opened, the enrollment consisted of five students and two faculty members, Eleazar Root and John W. Sterling, according to the university's website.

WYOMING: The University of Wyoming in Laramie

The University of Wyoming in Laramie, Wyoming, was founded as a land-grant university in 1886. When the school first opened, there were five faculty members and 42 students.

• Read more:
• The oldest town in every state
• The oldest building in every state
• The oldest restaurant in every state

• Fox News reporter John Roberts lost his temper on air on Thursday as he discussed the White House's efforts to dance around questions on President Donald Trump's stance on white supremacy.
• "Stop deflecting. Stop blaming the media. I'm tired of it," Roberts, Fox News' chief White House correspondent, said in an impassioned reaction to Thursday's press briefing.
• During the presidential debate on Tuesday, Trump declined to explicitly condemn white-supremacist groups.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Fox News reporter John Roberts on Thursday became visibly frustrated with the White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany's responses to questions on why President Donald Trump had not condemned white supremacist groups.

"Stop deflecting. Stop blaming the media. I'm tired of it," Roberts, Fox News' chief White House correspondent, said in an impassioned reaction to Thursday's press briefing.

"The press secretary would not, in a definitive and unambiguous and non-deflecting way, say that the president condemns white supremacism in all its forms and any group that espouses it," Roberts told the Fox host Melissa Francis.

He mentioned that several prominent Republicans in Congress had urged Trump to "correct" his recent statements on the matter.

"For all of you on Twitter who are hammering me for asking that question, I don't care!" Roberts said. "Because it's a question that needs to be asked, and clearly the president's Republican colleagues a mile away from here are looking for an answer for it too."

—Oliver Darcy (@oliverdarcy) October 1, 2020

During the briefing, Roberts asked McEnany for a declarative statement on whether the president denounced white supremacism and groups that espouse it.

McEnany falsely said Trump had "condemned white supremacy more than any other president in modern history." White-supremacist and other far-right groups have frequently celebrated Trump's rhetoric and policy positions, and white nationalists have endorsed him in the past.

The White House press secretary went on to misleadingly say that Trump's "record on this is unmistakable," adding that it was "shameful that the media refuses to cover it."

Later, McEnany went after Roberts on Twitter and noted that his wife, the reporter Kyra Phillips, said in a tweet on Wednesday that Trump "tells me he DENOUNCES white supremacists."

—Kayleigh McEnany (@PressSec) October 1, 2020

But Roberts' questions on Thursday were linked to Trump's well-documented history of decrying white supremacy only feebly after public pressure. The president has repeatedly failed to forcefully condemn white-supremacist groups and their ideology.

Trump has on many occasions made comments that directly align with the worldviews of white supremacists; he told a rally of nearly all white supporters in Minnesota last month that they had "good genes" as he referenced the "racehorse theory."

It's true that the president has disavowed white-supremacist groups in some instances. But this has generally occurred after he received an endorsement from such groups or people associated with them — including the Ku Klux Klan — or after he ignited backlash for making racist or xenophobic statements.

In one of the most infamous moments of his presidency, Trump blamed "many sides" for violence at a neo-Nazi rally in August 2017 in Charlottesville, Virginia, where a counterprotester was killed.

Subsequently, the former KKK leader David Duke celebrated Trump's remarks and thanked the president for condemning the "leftist terrorists."

After the outcry over his response, Trump came forward to denounce white-nationalist groups. But it took a significant amount of criticism, including from Republicans, to push Trump to that point.

—Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) October 1, 2020

During the presidential debate on Tuesday, the moderator, Chris Wallace of Fox News, asked Trump to explicitly condemn white-supremacist groups. In response, Trump elevated a far-right extremist group with a record of disseminating white-nationalist propaganda and perpetrating violence.

"Proud Boys, stand back and stand by!" Trump said. "But I'll tell you what, somebody's got to do something about antifa and the left."

On Wednesday, Trump backtracked and claimed he didn't know who the Proud Boys were, despite explicitly mentioning them during the debate. It was part of a broader pattern for Trump, who has leaned heavily on white-supremacist ploys as he fights for reelection.

When you buy through our links, we may earn money from our affiliate partners. Learn more.

• Audible has hundreds of thousands of titles to choose between. Below, we've compiled its 30 best selling books among Audible users right now.
• The list ranges from the Obamas' memoirs and a collection of Greek myths to cult-favorite fiction novels.
• You can start a free 30-day Audible trial here and a Premium Plus subscription is currently $50 off as an early Prime Day deal. 
• Read more: The 10 best books of 2020 so far, according to Amazon's editors
• Sign up for Insider Reviews' weekly newsletter for more buying advice and great deals

If you, like many of us, are scraping the bottom of the barrel for new ways to entertain yourself at home — having already learned to bake bread, purchased a tie-dye sweatsuit, and flirted with the idea of committing to a stationary bike — then may we suggest the hours of entertainment that come with the reasonable price of a great audiobook. 

Below, we've compiled the 30 bestselling audiobooks on Audible, according to the company right now. The site has hundreds of thousands of titles to choose between, as well as a catalog of podcasts.

You can access Audible for free as part of a 30-day trial, and currently, a Premium Plus subscription is $50 off as one of several early Prime Day deals.

If you're new to Audible or audiobook services in general, be sure to check out the FAQ section at the bottom of this article to get started.

Here are the 30 best selling audiobooks on Audible right now:

"Rage" by Bob Woodward

Free on Audible with 30-day trial

Available on Amazon for $17.98

Bob Woodward's new book, "Rage," is an unprecedented and intimate tour de force of new reporting on the Trump presidency facing a global pandemic, economic disaster, and racial unrest.

"What Lies Between Us" by John Marrs

Free on Audible with 30-day trial

Available on Amazon for $11.99

Nina can never forgive Maggie for what she did. And she can never let her leave.

Every other night, Maggie and Nina have dinner together. When they are finished, Nina helps Maggie back to her room in the attic, and into the heavy chain that keeps her there. Because Maggie has done things to Nina that can't ever be forgiven, and now she is paying the price.

But there are many things about the past that Nina doesn't know, and Maggie is going to keep it that way — even if it kills her.

 

"Dune" by Frank Herbert

Free on Audible with 30-day trial

Available on Amazon for $9.49

Set on the desert planet Arrakis, "Dune" is the story of the boy Paul Atreides, who would become the mysterious man known as Maud'dib. He would avenge the traitorous plot against his noble family — and would bring to fruition humankind's most ancient and unattainable dream. 

"Blackout, How Black America Can Make Its Second Escape from the Democrat Plantation" by Candace Owens, Larry Elder

Free on Audible with 30-day trial

Available on Amazon for $20.65

Political activist and social media star Candace Owens addresses the many ways that Democrat Party policies hurt, rather than help, the African American community, and why she and many others are turning right.

"Disloyal: A Memoir, The True Story of the Former Personal Attorney to President Donald J. Trump" by Michael Cohen

Free on Audible with 30-day trial

Available on Amazon for $19.50

Once Donald Trump's fiercest surrogate, closest confidant, and staunchest defender, Michael Cohen knows where the skeletons are buried.

At the heart of "Disloyal," we see how Cohen came under the spell of his charismatic boss and, as a result, lost all sense of his moral compass.

"Think Like a Monk, Train Your Mind for Peace and Purpose Every Day" by Jay Shetty

Free on Audible with 30-day trial

Available on Amazon for $16.20

Jay Shetty, social media superstar and host of the podcast "On Purpose," distills the timeless wisdom he learned as a monk into practical steps anyone can take every day to live a less anxious, more meaningful life. 

Combining ancient wisdom and his own rich experiences in the ashram, Shetty transforms abstract lessons into advice and exercises we can all apply to reduce stress, improve relationships, and give the gifts we find in ourselves to the world. 

"Mythos" by Stephen Fry

Free on Audible with 30-day trial

Available on Amazon for $21.96

"Mythos" is a modern collection of Greek myths, stylishly retold by legendary writer, actor, and comedian Stephen Fry. Fry transforms the adventures of Zeus and the Olympians into emotionally resonant and deeply funny stories, without losing any of their original wonder.

"The Evening and the Morning" (Kingsbridge, Book 4) by Ken Follett

Free on Audible with 30-day trial

Available on Amazon for $21.60

It is 997 CE, the end of the Dark Ages. England is facing attacks from the Welsh in the west and the Vikings in the east. Those in power bend justice according to their will, regardless of ordinary people and often in conflict with the king. Without a clear rule of law, chaos reigns.

Thirty years ago, Ken Follett published his most popular novel, "The Pillars of the Earth." Now, Follett's masterful new prequel "The Evening and the Morning" takes us on an epic journey into a historical past rich with ambition and rivalry, death and birth, love and hate, that will end where "The Pillars of the Earth" begins.

"A Promised Land" by Barack Obama

Free on Audible with 30-day trial

Available on Amazon for $34.99

In the stirring, highly anticipated first volume of his presidential memoirs, Barack Obama tells the story of his improbable odyssey from a young man searching for his identity to the leader of the free world, describing in strikingly personal detail both his political education and the landmark moments of the first term of his historic presidency — a time of dramatic transformation and turmoil.

"Total Power" (A Mitch Rapp Novel, Book 19) by Vince Flynn, Kyle Mills

Free on Audible with 30-day trial

Available on Amazon for $17.39

In the next thriller in the #1 New York Times bestselling Mitch Rapp series, it's a race against the clock when ISIS takes out the entire US power grid and throws the country into chaos.

"Troubled Blood" (A Cormoran Strike Novel, Book 5) by Robert Galbraith

Free on Audible with 30-day trial

Available on Amazon for $17.49

Private Detective Cormoran Strike is visiting his family in Cornwall when he is approached by a woman asking for help finding her mother, Margot Bamborough – who went missing in mysterious circumstances in 1974.

Strike has never tackled a cold case before, let alone one forty years old. But despite the slim chance of success, he is intrigued and takes it on. As Strike and Robin investigate Margot's disappearance, they come up against a fiendishly complex case with leads that include tarot cards, a psychopathic serial killer, and witnesses who cannot all be trusted. 

"Midnight Sun" by Stephenie Meyer

Free on Audible with 30-day trial

Available on Amazon for $17.59

Bestselling author Stephenie Meyer makes a triumphant return to the world of Twilight with this highly anticipated companion: the iconic love story of Bella and Edward told from the vampire's point of view.

"A Witch in Time" by Constance Sayers

Free on Audible with 30-day trial

Available on Amazon for $15.99

A witch is cursed to relive a doomed love affair through many lifetimes, as both troubled muse and frustrated artist, in this haunting debut novel.

"The Autobiography of Malcolm X: As Told to Alex Haley" by Malcolm X, Alex Haley

Free on Audible with 30-day trial

Available on Amazon for $7.99

In the searing pages of this classic autobiography, originally published in 1964, Malcolm X, the Muslim leader, firebrand, and anti-integrationist, tells the extraordinary story of his life and the growth of the Black Muslim movement. His fascinating perspective on the lies and limitations of the American Dream, and the inherent racism in a society that denies its nonwhite citizens the opportunity to dream, gives extraordinary insight into the most urgent issues of our own time. 

"Can't Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds" by David Goggins

Free on Audible with 30-day trial

Available on Amazon for $18.41

For David Goggins, childhood was a nightmare — poverty, prejudice, and physical abuse colored his days and haunted his nights. But through self-discipline, mental toughness, and hard work, Goggins transformed himself from a depressed, overweight young man with no future into a US Armed Forces icon and one of the world's top endurance athletes. The only man in history to complete elite training as a Navy SEAL, Army Ranger, and Air Force Tactical Air Controller, he went on to set records in numerous endurance events, inspiring Outside magazine to name him The Fittest (Real) Man in America.

In "Can't Hurt Me," he shares his astonishing life story and reveals that most of us tap into only 40% of our capabilities. Goggins calls this The 40% Rule, and his story illuminates a path that anyone can follow to push past pain, demolish fear, and reach their full potential.

"Blood of Elves" by Andrzej Sapkowski

Free on Audible with 30-day trial

Available on Amazon for $14.26

The Witcher, Geralt of Rivia, becomes the guardian of Ciri, surviving heiress of a bloody revolution and prophesied savior of the world, in the first novel of the bestselling series that inspired the Netflix show and the hit video games.

"Untamed" by Glennon Doyle

Free on Audible with 30-day trial

Available on Amazon for $16.80

Soulful and uproarious, forceful and tender, "Untamed" is both an intimate memoir and a galvanizing wake-up call. It is the story of how one woman learned that a responsible mother is not one who slowly dies for her children, but one who shows them how to fully live.

This is the story of navigating divorce, forming a new blended family, and discovering that the brokenness or wholeness of a family depends not on its structure but on each member's ability to bring her full self to the table. And it is the story of how each of us can begin to trust ourselves enough to set boundaries, make peace with our bodies, honor our anger and heartbreak, and unleash our truest, wildest instincts.

"The Guest List: A Novel" by Lucy Foley

Free on Audible with 30-day trial

Available on Amazon for $16.79

On an island off the coast of Ireland, guests gather to celebrate two people joining their lives together as one. The groom: handsome and charming, a rising television star. The bride: smart and ambitious, a magazine publisher. It's a wedding for a magazine, or for a celebrity: the designer dress, the remote location, the luxe party favors, the boutique whiskey.

But perfection is for plans, as the champagne is popped and the festivities begin, resentments and petty jealousies begin to mingle with the reminiscences and well wishes. And then someone turns up dead. Who didn't wish the happy couple well? And perhaps more importantly, why?

"Where the Crawdads Sing" by Delia Owens

Free on Audible with 30-day trial

Available on Amazon for $15.35

For years, rumors of the "Marsh Girl" have haunted Barkley Cove, a quiet town on the North Carolina coast. So in late 1969, when handsome Chase Andrews is found dead, the locals immediately suspect Kya Clark, the so-called Marsh Girl. But Kya is not what they say.

Sensitive and intelligent, she has survived for years alone in the marsh that she calls home, finding friends in the gulls and lessons in the sand. Then the time comes when she yearns to be touched and loved. When two young men from town become intrigued by her wild beauty, Kya opens herself to a new life — until the unthinkable happens.

"The Sandman" by Neil Gaiman, Dirk Maggs

Free on Audible with 30-day trial

Available on Amazon for $16.82

Hailed by the Los Angeles Times Magazine as "the greatest epic in the history of comic books," "The Sandman" changed the game with its dark, literary world of fantasy and horror — creating a global, cultural phenomenon in the process.

At long last, Audible and DC present the first-ever audio production of the New York Times best-selling series written by acclaimed storyteller Neil Gaiman (who also serves as co-executive producer). Adapted and directed by multi-award-winner (and frequent Gaiman collaborator) Dirk Maggs, and performed by an ensemble cast with James McAvoy in the title role, this first installment of a multi-part original audio series will transport you to a world that re-writes the rules of audio entertainment the way that "The Sandman" originally re-defined the graphic novel.

 

"Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones" by James Clear

Free on Audible with 30-day trial

Available on Amazon for $16.20

No matter your goals, "Atomic Habits" offers a proven framework for improving every day. James Clear, one of the world's leading experts on habit formation, reveals practical strategies that will teach you exactly how to form good habits, break bad ones, and master the tiny behaviors that lead to remarkable results.

"Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents" by Isabel Wilkerson

Free on Audible with 30-day trial

Available on Amazon for $19.20

The Pulitzer Prize-winning, bestselling author of "The Warmth of Other Suns" examines the unspoken caste system that has shaped America and shows how our lives today are still defined by a hierarchy of human divisions.

"Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" by J.K. Rowling

Free on Audible with 30-day trial

Available on Amazon for $19.01

Harry Potter has never even heard of Hogwarts when the letters start dropping on the doormat at number four, Privet Drive. Addressed in green ink on yellowish parchment with a purple seal, they are swiftly confiscated by his grisly aunt and uncle. Then, on Harry's eleventh birthday, a great beetle-eyed giant of a man called Rubeus Hagrid bursts in with some astonishing news: Harry Potter is a wizard, and he has a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. 

"The Time of Contempt" (The Witcher, Book 2) by Andrzej Sapkowski

Free on Audible with 30-day trial

Available on Amazon for $11.99

Geralt is a Witcher. He is the guardian of the innocent; protector of those in need; a defender, in dark times, against some of the most frightening creatures of myth and legend. His task, now, is to protect Ciri. A child of prophecy, she will have the power to change the world for good or for ill — but only if she lives to use it.

"The Graveyard Book: Full-Cast Production" by Neil Gaiman

Free on Audible with 30-day trial

Available on Amazon for $8.99

Nobody Owens is an unusual boy who inhabits an unusual place — he's the only living resident of a graveyard. Raised from infancy by the ghosts, werewolves, and other cemetery denizens, Bod has learned the antiquated customs of his guardians' time as well as their ghostly teachings — such as the ability to Fade so mere mortals cannot see him.

Can a boy raised by ghosts face the wonders and terrors of the worlds of both the living and the dead?

"Anxious People: A Novel" by Fredrik Backman

Free on Audible with 30-day trial

Available on Amazon for $17.31

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of "A Man Called Ove" comes a poignant, charming novel about a crime that never took place, a would-be bank robber who disappears into thin air, and eight extremely anxious strangers who find they have more in common than they ever imagined.

"To Sleep in a Sea of Stars" by Christopher Paolini

Free on Audible with 30-day trial

Available on Amazon for $17.99

Kira Navárez dreamed of life on new worlds. Now she's awakened a nightmare.

During a routine survey mission on an uncolonized planet, Kira finds an alien relic. At first, she's delighted, but elation turns to terror when the ancient dust around her begins to move.

As war erupts among the stars, Kira is launched into a galaxy-spanning odyssey of discovery and transformation. First contact isn't at all what she imagined, and events push her to the very limits of what it means to be human.

"To Sleep in a Sea of Stars" is a new epic novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author of "Eragon," Christopher Paolini.

"Becoming" by Michelle Obama

Free on Audible with 30-day trial

Available on Amazon for $11.89

In her memoir, a work of deep reflection and mesmerizing storytelling, Michelle Obama invites readers into her world, chronicling the experiences that have shaped her — from her childhood on the South Side of Chicago to her years as an executive balancing the demands of motherhood and work, to her time spent at the world's most famous address.

With unerring honesty and lively wit, she describes her triumphs and her disappointments, both public and private, telling her full story as she has lived it — in her own words and on her own terms. Warm, wise, and revelatory, "Becoming" is the deeply personal reckoning of a woman of soul and substance who has steadily defied expectations — and whose story inspires us to do the same.

"Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" by J.K. Rowling

Free on Audible with 30-day trial

Available on Amazon for $12.25

Harry Potter's summer has included the worst birthday ever, doomy warnings from a house-elf called Dobby, and rescue from the Dursleys by his friend Ron Weasley in a magical flying car! Back at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for his second year, Harry hears strange whispers echo through empty corridors — and then the attacks start. Students are found as though turned to stone and Dobby's sinister predictions seem to be coming true.

"Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow" by Yuval Noah Harari

Free on Audible with 30-day trial

Available on Amazon for $18.38

Yuval Noah Harari, author of the critically-acclaimed New York Times bestseller and international phenomenon "Sapiens", returns with an equally original, compelling, and provocative book, turning his focus toward humanity's future, and our quest to upgrade humans into gods.

 

Audible FAQ

How much is Audible?

Audible Plus is $7.95/month and Audible Premium is $14.95 per month. You can compare the Audible plans here.

Audible Plus and Audible Premium Plus have a 30-day free trial to most new members that come with one free credit to use on a title of your choice. And since Audible is an Amazon company, Prime members get two credits in their Audible trial as one of their perks.

When your trial is over, you'll be automatically charged a monthly subscription fee. You can cancel anytime. 

What's the difference between Audible Plus and Audible Premium?

Both memberships give you unlimited access to select audiobooks, Audible Originals, podcasts, and more.

But, only Audible Premium gives you a credit that's good for one title of your choice in the premium selection every month and 30% off all additional premium titles, plus access to exclusive sales. You can toggle between some of the titles in the Premium selection and Plus selection here.

Are there other good audiobook services out there?

At Insider Reviews, we also like the service Scribd, which is $10/month for unlimited audiobooks and books. The company also has a joint NYT and Scribd membership for $13/month which can be a very good deal. You can start a free trial here, or find a full review of the service here. 

 

• Shark Tank investor Kevin O'Leary appeared on CNBC's Tuesday Halftime Report and said he is "very selective" in his choice of SPAC leaders.
• "There's a lot of really bad product out there versus good product," the investor said. He recommended examining a SPAC leader's track record before buying in. 
• He listed Bill Ackman, Todd Boehly, Michael Klein, and Alec Gores as four SPAC leaders with long track records of success. 
• "Do I want to bet with Bill? Sure, I'll give him some dough," O'Leary said. 

• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Shark Tank investor Kevin O'Leary shared his SPAC-picking strategy during CNBC's Halftime Report on Tuesday.

O'Leary said he is "very selective" in his choice of leaders and recommends investors examine a SPAC leader's track record before buying. He named Bill Ackman, Todd Boehly, Michael Klein, and Alec Gores as investors with long track records of success.

"There's a lot of really bad product out there versus good product. But give me a guy like Alec Gores or Bill Ackman to be the sponsor and I look at this track record. You don't have to love him, you just have to look at his track record and I'm pretty happy," he said.

Read more: Sustainable-stock funds are snapping up shares of these 20 companies — and most of them beat the market during September's turmoil, RBC says

CNBC showed a list of O'Leary's SPAC "buys" which included Ackman's Pershing Square Tontine, GSC Acquisition Holdings II, and Tailwind Acquisition.

"Do I want to bet with Bill? Sure I'll give him some dough. Todd Boehly? Absolutely, the guy's track record is spectacular out West. I want to give these guys money to put to work for me," he said. "And basically because we have less and less public companies, what they're going to do is find something and take it public, and I'll be getting in hopefully on the ground floor." 

Todd Boehly is behind the Horizon Acquisition Corporation SPAC.

O'Leary also said that choosing a SPAC to invest in can get complicated, and therefore he doesn't recommend them to everyone. But investors who are interested should read the SEC form S-1 filings of the blank check firm before they buy in.

• Bank of America's Sell Side Indicator — which tracks Wall Street's bullishness toward stocks — rose to 56% in September, its highest since the coronavirus pandemic began.
• The reading signals an 11% gain for the S&P 500 over the next 12 months, the team led by Savita Subramanian said.
• In past instances when the gauge sat this low, returns over the next year were positive 94% of the time, they added.
• Past election seasons also saw sentiment usually increase in November and December, according to the bank.
• Visit the Business Insider homepage for more stories.

After months of virus fears, record-breaking rallies, and unprecedented stimulus, Wall Street's outlook for stocks is back to its pre-pandemic norm.

Bank of America's Sell Side Indicator — which measures stock bullishness among Wall Street strategists — climbed to 56% in September, its highest since the coronavirus crisis began. The gauge latest reading sets a 12-month S&P 500 target of 3,734, implying an 11% return for the benchmark.

The reading remains in the same "neutral" territory it entered in 2016. The bank's "buy" threshold, fell slightly to 51.4%, while the level when it recommends selling shares fell to 60.7%.

Read more: US Investing Championship hopeful Evan Buenger raked in a 131.9% return through August. He shares the distinct spin he's putting on a classic trading strategy that's led to his outsize returns.

Bank of America's indicator has a strong record of forecasting near-term market gains. In past instances the gauge sat so low, returns over the next 12 months were positive 94% of the time, the team led by Savita Subramanian said. The median 12-month return in said instances is 20%.

The indicator's uptick comes as investors and strategists alike gird for election-season volatility. Though several firms warn that delayed election results could keep markets frothy for weeks, precedent suggests the months immediately before and after the election will see sentiment turn even more optimistic.

Read more: BlackRock's investment chief breaks down why Congress passing a second round of fiscal stimulus is 'quite serious' for markets and the economy — and pinpoints which sectors will benefit in either scenario

In the eight previous election seasons, sentiment improved in 75% of Octobers, 63% of Novembers, and 50% of Decembers, according to the bank.

However, the trend could spell out a bearish swing should the coronavirus prolong an outcome. The S&P 500 sank roughly 5% in 2000 between election day and when the Supreme Court decided on the race in December. With President Donald Trump hinting he'll contest a Biden victory, a similar plunge could emerge in the final months of 2020.

Now read more markets coverage from Markets Insider and Business Insider:

A portfolio manager who's outperforming nearly all of her peers this year shares 4 high-conviction stocks driving her strong performance across 2 funds

Penn National will nosedive 57% as weak fundamentals overshadow 'internet meme' rally, Deutsche Bank says

First blank-check ETF begins trading as SPAC euphoria continues

• As Election Day draws closer, more companies are making public commitments to giving their employees time off to vote. 
• More than 1,300 companies have joined the "Time to Vote" movement, which aims to increase voter turnout by giving workers flexibility to cast their ballots.
• Here are the retailers and consumer companies that have signed the pledge and shared details about their plans. 
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

The US has one of the lowest voter turnout rates among developed countries. According to the Pew Research Center, 56% of those who were eligible to vote cast their ballots in the 2016 presidential election. 

Though there may be a number of reasons for citizens not voting, a growing number of companies are joining a movement that's aiming to ensure that work schedules and demands are not among them come November 3.   

Through the "Time to Vote" campaign, a nonpartisan movement begun by Patagonia, Levi Strauss, and PayPal, more companies are making public commitments to giving their employees time to vote.

More than 1,300 companies have joined the movement so far. 

Here are the retailers and consumer companies that have added their name to the list and shared specific plans about how they're empowering their employees to vote: 

Patagonia has said it will close its stores, offices, and distribution centers for Election Day, as it did in 2016 and 2018.

Source: The New York Times

Levi Strauss is offering five hours of paid time off for all employees to vote on Election Day. It's also offering five hours of paid time off each month for workers to volunteer for voter engagement efforts.

Source: Time to Vote

J. Crew announced it would also join in supporting "Time to Vote," closing all J. Crew and Madewell stores, offices, and distribution and customer service centers for the whole of Election Day.

Source: J. Crew

Walmart store associates get three paid hours for voting if the timing of their shifts don't otherwise allow for it. They have to provide a day's notice to their supervisor, a company spokesperson told CNBC.

Source: CNBC

Apple is giving retail and hourly employees up to four hours off with pay, Bloomberg reported in July.

Source: Bloomberg

Best Buy said it would shorten its operating hours on Election Day. This includes stores, corporate offices, field offices, and in-home installation services. It said it would also make arrangements for distribution center and customer service employees.

Source: Best Buy

Nike's Election Day policies vary across the country, depending on the state's voting laws. Offerings could include paid time off, a meeting-free day, or resources about mail-in ballots.

Source: Nike

Hourly workers at Sweetgreen will get up to three hours of paid time off for Election Day or for voting early. The salad chain is also sharing resources to educate employees about the voting process, and it created a custom registration site.

Source: Sweetgreen

All US employees of The North Face and its parent company, VF Corporation, will get up to three hours of paid time off to vote. For corporate employees, Election Day is being designated an "Explore Day," which North Face uses to give workers time to live out the brand's values. Retail employees are also being offered staggered half-days off.

Source: The North Face

Gap Inc. will be giving all workers at its portfolio of brands — Gap, Old Navy, Banana Republic, Athleta, Intermix, and Janie and Jack — up to three hours of paid time off if their schedules do not allow for voting. At headquarters, workers will be encouraged to have a meeting-free Election Day.

Everlane is giving all of its employees paid time off for Election Day. It's also partnering with the ACLU to provide its workforce with resources about mail-in voting.

Source: Everlane

Ben & Jerry's is making Election Day an official day off for workers at headquarters and at its two manufacturing facilities in Vermont.

Source: Ben & Jerry's

The Coca-Cola Company has made Election Day a paid holiday for all US employees. The company has also curated resources around voting deadlines and guidelines and created nonpartisan volunteer opportunities for workers in the lead-up to Election Day.

Source: Time to Vote

Women's clothing brand Reformation is giving four hours of paid time off to employees who can't vote during their non-work hours.

Source: Reformation

Though not officially part of the Time to Vote coalition, Starbucks said on August 27 that it would give all employees "the tools and the time necessary to register" and vote, as part of its new Fuel Our Democracy initiative. Starbucks also created a portal with resources for employees to learn more about the process and the issues at hand.

Source: Nation's Restaurant News, Starbucks

Vineyard Vines announced on September 15 that it would be joining Time to Vote and giving its employees three hours of paid time off to vote if their work schedules did not allow for it. It also plans to reduce hours of operation in stores and corporate offices.

Source: Vineyard Vines

Away also announced on September 15 that it would close its 10 US stores and designate Election Day as a full day of paid time off for both corporate and retail workers.

The Body Shop said on September 30 it would close its stores, distribution center, and offices and give its employees a paid day off to vote.

• One of the best ways to figure out how far a virus like COVID-19 has spread in a community is to test for it.
• This step-by-step guide explains how coronavirus swab-the-nose-and-throat tests work, and why the laboratory-based ones often require more than a day to produce results.
• Don't assume that just because your test is negative, you are safe. Even if you have the coronavirus, the test may not turn up positive.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Do I have the coronavirus?

That seemingly simple question is tricky to answer definitively.

For one, the tell-tale symptoms of COVID-19 (the disease caused by the virus) can often mimic other illnesses, such as the flu or a common cold.

Getting tested for COVID is also not a surefire way to know one way or the other if you have the coronavirus.

The most precise type of testing for COVID-19, the molecular kind, starts by reaching deep inside a person's nose and throat to extract sputum — the gunk that gets ejected through coughing, sneezing, spitting, and even singing. That throat gunk, in turn, can be tested for the presence of some of the coronavirus' tell-tale genes. 

But if a sick person's infection isn't living in the spot where they are swabbed, their infection isn't caught at the right moment, or their sample isn't collected properly, their test could still come back negative.

Still, these types of laboratory-confirmed tests (not to be confused with the less accurate, rapid, 15 minute kinds of nasal swabs that are becoming increasingly available nationwide) work fairly well.

Generally speaking, molecular coronavirus tests catch more than seven out of every 10 COVID-19 infections they hunt down. 

Here's how these real-time RT-PCR* tests  actually work, from start to finish:

"Who you test, and when they test, and when you test them, and the specimen that you use to collect all really impact the performance of the test," Dr. Jana Broadhurst, director of the Nebraska Biocontainment Unit Clinical Laboratory, told reporters on a SciLine conference call in April.  

Broadhurst estimated then that roughly 30% of coronavirus tests may come back negative, even when a person actually has the virus in their body. Another scientific review of coronavirus PCR tests, published in May, suggested similarly that false negative results occur between 2% and 29% of the time. (The chances of a false positive test, which would alert a patient that they have the virus when in fact they don't, are much slimmer.)

That's why if you have COVID-19 symptoms, it's best to stay home for 14 days and self-quarantine, no matter what your test results may show.

Real-time RT-PCR tests can't tell if you've had COVID-19 in the past (blood tests that search for the presence of coronavirus antibodies do that). Instead, RT-PCR tests are designed to detect an ongoing infection. 

*RT-PCR stands for reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Reverse transcription turns viral RNA into DNA that polymerase enzymes can then properly amplify. The process is also called real-time RT-PCR, because the PCR reaction is measuring the amplification of coronavirus genes in real time.

Special thanks to Dr. Jeffrey SoRelle, Dr. Alex Greninger, and Business Insider's quantitative editor Andy Kiersz for their expert guidance on the inner workings of real-time RT-PCR.

This story was originally published on April 15, 2020. It has been updated with new information. 

When you buy through our links, we may earn money from our affiliate partners. Learn more.

• "Mulan" is now available to watch on Disney Plus, six months after forgoing its planned theatrical release in the United States due to the coronavirus pandemic.
• Premier Access for "Mulan" on Disney Plus costs $29.99, and you can watch the movie as often as you like once purchased.
• "Mulan" will also be released on Amazon, Vudu, and FandagoNow on October 6 for $29.99.
• All Disney Plus subscribers will be able to watch "Mulan" starting December 4 with the standard $6.99 per month or $69.99 per year subscription.
• For detailed impressions on Disney Plus, check out our Disney Plus review here.

Disney's "Mulan," a live-action reimagining of the Chinese folk hero, is now available on Disney Plus as the service's first $29.99 "Premier Access" title. On October 6, the movie will also be available on Amazon, FandangoNow, and Vudu for the same $29.99 fee, though you won't need to pay for a Disney Plus subscription on those platforms. "Mulan" will become available to all Disney Plus members on December 4.

The final trailer for the film showcases significant departures from the animated "Mulan" released in 1998, including a new witch character named Xian Lang and choreographed action scenes that exceed the imagination of the original film.

While 1998's "Mulan" was a family comedy with musical numbers and comedic characters, like the talking dragon Mushu voiced by Eddie Murphy, the new film is rated PG-13 and strikes a more serious tone. Also, unlike Disney's recent live-action remakes of "Aladdin" and "The Lion King," the new "Mulan" doesn't feature any musical performances from the cast.

The new film doesn't adopt the songs and musical stylings of the original, but the soundtrack does feature a new version of the song "Reflection" updated by the original artist, Christina Aguilera. "Reflection" was one of the first singles of Aguilera's career, and she's produced another song called "Loyal Brave True" for the new film's soundtrack as well.

"Mulan" was originally intended for a theatrical release and even had a Hollywood premiere event in March before the coronavirus pandemic forced theaters around the world to close. Now, the film led by Liu Yifei, Donnie Yen and Jet Li will be available online via Disney Plus, while countries where theaters have re-opened will still have the option for a theatrical release.

"Mulan" isn't the first Disney movie to find its way to Disney Plus after COVID-19 caused theaters across the United States to close, but it's the first to require an additional payment beyond the subscription fee. Pixar's "Onward" was also fast-tracked to Disney Plus in March after its theater run was cut short by the coronavirus. "Artemis Fowl" was scheduled to hit theaters in May but premiered on Disney Plus in June with disappointing reviews.

Marvel's "Black Widow" was due out in May but Disney has now delayed the movie a full year. According to Variety, Disney CEO Bob Chapek said the release of "Mulan" on Disney Plus is a special situation, rather than the company adopting a new business model. 

Updated on 10/1/2020 by Kevin Webb: This article has been updated with details on how to buy Mulan on additional digital retailers.

How to watch 'Mulan' on Disney Plus

"Mulan" is available now on Disney Plus. To watch on the service, you'll need a monthly or annual Disney Plus subscription and you'll have to pay the $29.99 "Premier Access" fee. With that said, "Mulan" is not a one-time rental. Instead, once purchased, Disney Plus members will continue to have access to "Mulan" for as long as they remain a subscriber.

The Premier Access purchase option will be available on Disney Plus through November 2. "Mulan" will then be available to stream for all Disney Plus subscribers without an extra fee starting December 4. The movie is also expanding to additional digital retailers on October 6 for customers who want to buy the movie without a Disney Plus subscription.

If you're interested in watching Disney's earlier interpretation of the Mulan story, the animated version of "Mulan" is available on Disney Plus for all subscribers.

How to watch 'Mulan' without Disney Plus

Starting October 6, "Mulan" will be available on Amazon, Vudu, FandangoNow, and other digital retailers for $29.99, and you won't need a Disney Plus subscription to watch on those platforms. You can preorder the movie now and then open the app on your service of choice to stream it as soon as it's released. 

"Mulan," $29.99 at Vudu [Preorders receive $3 credit]

"Mulan," $29.99 at Amazon Prime Video

"Mulan," $29.99 at FandangoNow

It's unclear if "Mulan" will still be available to buy on other platforms after the Disney Plus Premier Access period ends on November 4, but once purchased, you'll be able to keep the movie in your library regardless.

What is Disney Plus and how does it work?

Disney Plus is a subscription streaming platform with on-demand access to Disney's iconic library of movies and TV shows. Along with "Mulan," "Toy Story 4," "Frozen 2"  and Disney's other latest theater releases, you'll find classic franchises like "Star Wars," "The Simpsons" and Marvel's "Avengers."

A monthly subscription costs $6.99 per month while an annual subscription gives a small discount at $69.99 per year. Those looking for additional streaming content can sign up for a bundle with Disney Plus, ESPN+ and Hulu. The bundle costs $12.99 per month, which is about $5 less per month than it would cost to subscribe to each service separately.

Disney Plus is available to stream on Apple, PC, iOS, and Android devices, Xbox One and PlayStation 4, and streaming devices from Amazon, Roku, and Chromecast. Disney Plus is also supported on smart TVs, including those from Samsung, LG, Sony, and Vizio. An internet connection is necessary to stream, but Disney Plus does provide an option to download movies and shows for offline viewing

All Disney Plus subscriptions include ad-free streaming and unlimited downloads for a growing library of films and TV series. Disney Plus supports up to 4K resolution video on select titles, as well as Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos audio with applicable devices. 

What other brand-new movies can I rent at home?

Disney isn't the only movie studio to make its planned theatrical releases available on streaming services. Universal Studios debuted "Trolls World Tour" as premium rental on multiple services for $20. Following the film's success, Universal announced a new deal to bring future theatrical releases to streaming services less than a month after they reach theaters.

At $29.99, "Mulan" costs $10 more than "Trolls World Tour" before including the cost of a Disney Plus subscription. During the company's most recent earnings report Disney announced that Disney Plus now has more than 60 million subscribers worldwide. However, Disney Plus isn't earning nearly as much money per subscriber as Netflix, its top competitor, and the company has suffered heavy losses in its live entertainment and theme park business due to the pandemic.

Other studios, like Sony, Lionsgate, Paramount, and Warner Brothers, have also been offering streaming rental or purchase options for select titles that were originally planned for theaters. "In-theater" digital rentals or purchases can be made through a variety of services, including Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Vudu, FandangoNow, and Google Play. For more information about digital rentals, check out our guide to streaming rental services.

The legal industry has seen its fair share of disruption from the coronavirus pandemic: Many law school graduates were — and still are — stuck in a state of limbo, while top law firms have seen pay cuts, layoffs, and furloughs. 

Still, there have been some bright spots. Restructuring lawyers have seen a surge in activity as clients looks to navigate the crisis, and firms with strong labor and employment practices are getting a boost as clients navigate cutting jobs and workplace safety issues. 

And the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported in July that the legal industry added 1,900 jobs since the past month, continuing an upward trend that may be indicative of the industry's growth and recovery.

We've been tracking hot practice areas, how revenues are shaping up for Big Law firms, and start dates for 2020 associate classes. Here's everything we know. 

Career prospects

• 9 practice areas that can help young attorneys recession-proof their careers, according to top lawyers and recruiters
• Big Law may have dodged a catastrophe in 2020, but the next 6 months are critical. Law firm leaders predict how the rest of the year will play out.
• We talked to 6 legal recruiters about the top hiring trends at major law firms if you're thinking of making a move in the middle of the recession

Delayed start dates for first-year associates

• We're tracking which top law firms are delaying their first-year associate classes. Here's what you need to know about new start dates, pay, and benefits so far.
• Top law firms are delaying their first-year associate classes. Here are 3 ways law school graduates can stay on top of their game in the meantime.

Summer associate programs

• No Yankees games, schmoozing, or steak dinners. Here's what summer associates at Big Law firms can expect this summer.
• Law firms are starting to cancel summer associate classes entirely as they scramble to cut costs
• Top law firms are delaying start dates for summer associates — here's everything we know so far

Compensation and headcount

• Davis Polk announces surprise associate bonuses of up to $40,000, becoming the latest firm to tout its financial strength amid the pandemic
• Female partners in Big Law make $332,000 less than male partners on average. But 1 change has been shown to increase women's salaries by more than 40% — and boost their happiness as well.
• Davis Polk just abandoned its strict seniority-based pay scheme, putting pressure on holdout law firms still using an 'old school' lockstep structure to follow suit
• There's a 'fundamental shift' happening at Big Law firms, which are laying off workers even as they're raising pay
• Law firms cut pay by as much as 50% at the height of the pandemic. Now at least 6 are bumping comp back up.
• Law firms are pulling the trigger on pay cuts and layoffs — and they're already rethinking tech, office space, and recruiting for the long term
• Major law firms are weighing pay cuts for partners against unseemly staff layoffs as billings plunge

How law students are grappling with uncertainty 

• Here's how Columbia, NYU, and 4 other law schools are reworking high-stakes job interviews for students this year
• Students are weighing the pros and cons of virtual law school. Here's why some are deferring, and what that means for job prospects.
• New York's bar exam is cancelled. Here's why calls are mounting for the test to be canned completely.
• The coronavirus just delayed the country's No. 1 bar exam, and that could be a huge setback for law students seeking jobs at smaller New York firms
• The coronavirus is disrupting law students' path to $200,000 full-time gigs

Winners and losers

• Labor and employment attorneys are seeing a surge in business, and big firms are setting up coronavirus task forces to help clients navigate layoffs and workplace safety
• 10 lawyers who navigated the biggest bankruptcies in history are set for a boom in business as the coronavirus fuels a restructuring surge
• Activist investors are scooping up 'ridiculously cheap' shares during the coronavirus crisis, setting off a war of words involving top law firms and Wall Street titans like Carl Icahn
• Big Law M&A work is evaporating as coronavirus spreads, but some firms are about to make bank. Here are the winners and losers.

If you have any additional information for us, contact this reporter at csullivan@businessinsider.com, DM on Twitter @caseyreports, or Signal message at 646 376 6017.

• While some parents might not think a changing pad is a necessity, you'll likely want to place your baby on something soft and secure for diaper changes.
• Like all things baby, changing pads come in different sizes. Remember to measure your furniture to ensure the pad fits securely on top of your changing table or dresser.
• Changing diapers is also messy, so you'll want something that can catch accidents and clean up in seconds.
• The Summer Infant Contour Changing Pad is our top pick because it's affordable, durable, and securely fits most changing tables and dresser tops.

When it comes to changing your baby's diaper, there are a few essentials you need to make it safe and secure. A changing pad is one of them.

Changing pads come in different shapes, but generally, resemble rectangular foam mattresses with deep sides. You attach them to a changing table or dresser or place them on the bed or floor when changing a diaper. You then secure your baby or toddler on the pad.

A changing pad is a necessity, not only because it's soft and secure for your baby, but also because changing diapers is messy. You'll want something that can catch accidents and clean up in seconds.

Like all things baby, changing pads come in different sizes, materials, and prices. Keep size in mind and measure your furniture to ensure the cover is the same size as the pad. Additionally, some changing pads are water-resistant but still need a cover. Others are waterproof and don't require protection.

When I considered changing pads for this guide, I evaluated each one based on material, design, ease of cleaning, and cost. I analyzed hundreds of reviews, spoke to other moms, and used my personal experience to select the best changing pads.

Here are the best changing pads:

• The best overall: Summer Infant Contour Changing Pad
• The best portable changing pad: Skip Hop Pronto Signature Portable Changing Pad
• The best with four sides: LA Baby Waterproof 4-Sided Cocoon Style Changing Pad
• The best organic changing pad: Naturepedic 4-Sided Contoured Changing Pad With Organic Cotton
• The best easy-to-clean changing pad: Keekaroo Peanut Changer

Updated on 10/1/2020 to edit prices, links, add links to related buying guides, and remove references to third-party reviews because we're found them to be unreliable in the past.

The best overall

The Summer Infant Contour Changing Pad is our top pick for an affordable yet durable changing pad. It securely fits most changing tables and dresser tops.

When it comes to choosing a high-quality, secure changing pad, the Summer Infant Contour Changing Pad is our top pick. At under $20, it delivers across the board.

The pad has walled sides and a safety belt (with a quick-release buckle) to prevent rolling and falls. In addition, there is a security strap and non-slip bottom to keep it stable on furniture. I attached mine to a dresser top, and since the pad measures 32 inches by 16 inches by 3.5 inches, it will fit safely on most changing tables.

The Summer Infant Contour Changing Pad has a double-layered, chlorine-free vinyl cover that is waterproof and a polyurethane form core. While this pad can be used without a cover, some Amazon reviewers note that tiny holes can form in the vinyl, making it difficult to clean. You'll want to consider purchasing machine washable liners to avoid this issue. I covered mine with the Summer Infant Ultra Plush Changing Pad Cover and always kept a few on hand for accidents. 

Pros: Budget-friendly, fits most changing tables, secures to furniture

Cons: Tiny holes in cover may collect germs

The best portable changing pad

The Skip Hop Pronto Portable Changing Mat is ultra-convenient, easy to clean, and great for travel.

I've seen this portable pad on numerous baby registries and for good reason. Whenever you take your baby out of the house, chances are a diaper change will be needed somewhere along the way.

The Skip Hop Pronto Signature Portable Changing Mat is built for diaper changes on the go. When folded up into a clutch, it measures 11.75 inches by 8.25 inches by 4 inches and has a carry strap as well as a clip that can be attached to a stroller or purse. Or you can slip this mat into a larger diaper bag or tote. It's also convenient to keep in your car for emergencies.

Unfolded, the mat measures 23.5 inches by 21.75 inches. It includes a cushioned area at the top to ensure the baby's head is supported when changing on harder surfaces. To remove the pad, simply unzip it from the clutch portion. You can wipe the polyester material clean with a damp cloth, let it air-dry, then fold it back up.

This is more than a changing pad though. The Skip Hop Pronto doubles as a mini diaper bag with an interior mesh pocket that comfortably holds four diapers plus cream and wipes (plastic wipe holder included). If you choose to remove the changing pad, you'll have more room to carry additional items.

The quality of the bag is excellent too. I used mine for a few years between two babies, and it held up nicely. 

Pros: Complete changing station, removable pad, multiple carrying options

Cons: A bit bulky

The best with four sides

The LA Baby Waterproof 4-Sided Cocoon Style Changing Pad offers extra security and comfort.

Anytime you change a baby on top of a piece of furniture, you run the risk of an accidental roll-off. The LA Baby 4-Sided Cocoon Style Changing Pad has deep 4-inch sides and a safety harness to keep wiggly babies comfortably and safely in place during diaper changes.

Designed for babies one month and older (the deep sides are not safe for newborns), this pad measures 30 inches by 16 inches by 4 inches and can be easily mounted to most standard-size changing tables and dresser tops.

While this pad has a non-skid bottom, it may still slide on smooth surfaces. It's recommended that you secure it to whatever piece of furniture it is placed atop using the two attached tabs and provided screws. You will need to insert the screws into the back of your changing table or dresser, which may not be ideal for some users.

The nontoxic vinyl cover is waterproof and can be cleaned with soap and water. You can also purchase pad covers if you want an added layer of softness.

Pros: Four-sided for added security, easy to clean, fits most changing tables

Cons: Unsecure bottom

The best organic changing pad

The Naturepedic 4-Sided Contoured Changing Pad With Organic Cotton is a nontoxic, hypoallergenic option that provides comfort and safety.

If you're looking for a changing pad made with organic cotton and without chemicals like flame retardants, the Naturepedic 4-Sided Contoured Changing Pad is our top pick. It has the Global Organic Textile Standard seal of approval and Green Guard certification. These certifications guarantee you're buying a nontoxic changing pad made with certified organic cotton.

The pad measures 31.5 inches by 16.5 inches by 4 inches and consists of three parts: an organic cotton covering with a coating of 100% food-grade polyethylene to provide waterproofing, an organic cotton filling, and a support layer of closed air pockets also made from 100% food-grade polyethylene. That's it — nothing more. This makes it an ideal choice for babies with sensitive skin or allergies.

The Naturepedic 4-Sided Contoured Changing Pad will fit standard changing tables. Like the other pads featured in this guide, it has safety features to keep baby secure while diapering, including a safety belt with a quick-release buckle and two snap screws to secure the pad to a changing table or dresser. The pad can be easily unsnapped and removed if you'd like to free up space on the top of your dresser or changing table, too.

The pad can be cleaned with a wet cloth and mild soap, but many parents want the convenience and added assurance of a cover, and Burt's Bees makes one that fits well. If you plan to use it without a cover, rest assured it will be gentle on your baby's skin.

Pros: Certified organic cotton, nontoxic, four-sided

Cons: Mattress may sag in the middle, no non-slip material on the bottom, expensive

The best easy-to-clean changing pad

The Keekaroo Peanut Changer is super easy to clean, limits bacteria growth, and withstands a lot of wear and tear.

One essential consideration in purchasing a changing pad is how easy is it to clean. On average, you can change eight to 14 diapers per day for a newborn. The possibility of a mid-change blowout is real, so if you're looking for a changing pad that makes it easy to sop up messes, you'll love the Keekaroo Peanut Changer.

This changing pad has a peanut-shaped design that measures 32 inches by 17 inches by 4 inches. It comfortably cradles a baby and secures them with a quick-release buckle belt. Designed for hospitals, it is made from soft yet resilient polyurethane that is nontoxic.

The changing pad's outer shell is waterproof and can't be penetrated by fluids, making it harder for bacteria and mold to grow and ultimately adding to the pad's longevity. On top of that, you don't need to secure it to a changing table or dresser because it's slip-proof.

When you purchase a Keekaroo Peanut Changer, it comes with a five-year limited warranty and carries the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA) approval for safety. 

Pros: Easy to clean, durable, five-year limited warranty, available in four colors

Cons: Expensive, may stain

Check out our other guides to the best baby gear

The best breast pumps

Whether you're running an errand, taking a short trip or heading back to work full-time, you'll need a good breast pump to get you through those times when you can't breastfeed your baby directly. These are the best breast pumps you can buy.

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The best bottle warmers

When your little one is screaming in the middle of the night for warm milk, having a baby bottle warmer will save your sanity, and hopefully, some sleep. Pop a bottle in one of these warmers, and you'll have a ready-to-go meal at an ideal temperature. 

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The best baby monitors

A great baby monitor is one of the most important and expensive purchases you'll make when you're outfitting your nursery. There are three main types of monitors: audio baby monitors, video baby monitors with dedicated viewers, and Wi-Fi baby monitors, and we've rounded up the best of each. These are the best baby monitors you can buy.

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The best baby swaddles

While swaddling does come with some controversy, it's hands-down one of the best ways to get a fussy baby to sleep. But like all baby products, swaddles come in all shapes and sizes, so we did the research to find the best for a variety of needs.

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The best cloth diapers

Cloth diapers are easy to use, offer money-savings, and are nothing like the ones your grandma used to use. When you get down to finding the perfect cloth diaper, it comes down to four factors: cost, sustainability, absorbency, and cuteness (your baby has to look good, after all). 

---

The best strollers

With the right stroller, you and your young one are ready for anything, from a quick trip to the store to a week-long overseas vacation. Whatever your needs may be, we've done the research and testing to find the best strollers you can buy.

• NASA plans to use its Orion spacecraft to fly astronauts to the moon.
• But first, engineers have to figure out how to make the capsule's toilet less stinky.
• A model of the toilet is launching to the International Space Station on Thursday night, where astronauts will test it out.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

On Thursday evening, NASA is sending a new, $23 million toilet to the International Space Station. 

It's meant as a test: Astronauts on the ISS will test the toilet out before NASA installs an upgraded version on its Orion spaceship, which is slated to fly a crew to the moon as early as 2023. 

Called the Universal Waste Management System (UWMS), the toilet is designed to be easier for women to use than prior space toilets. It's also made of strong metals that can withstand a highly acidic solution that NASA uses to treat astronauts' urine. 

But Jason Hutt, the Orion spaceship's engineering lead, said there's still one kink with the UWMS: It's too stinky.

"If you want to recreate that used spacecraft smell, take a couple dirty diapers, some microwave food wrappers, a used airsickness bag, and a few sweaty towels, put them in an old-school metal trash can, and let it bake in the summer sun for 10 days," Hutt wrote on Twitter in August. "Then open the kid and breathe deep."

Astronauts' pee could float in space forever

On the space station, the UWMS is slated to be installed next to one of the current ISS toilets. Though it's a demo model, the toilet is expected to stay on the station and be used there indefinitely. 

Because there's no gravity in space to help flush waste downward, the UWMS uses motorized fans to suction away astronauts' urine and feces. On Orion, their poop would remain stored away until the ship returns to Earth. But there won't be room to store pee, and the spaceship can't recycle it into water the way the space station can —there's not enough space for a filtration system.

So the plan is for Orion astronauts to vent their pee into space, where it could float frozen forever (the temperature is -455 degrees Fahrenheit).

NASA has vented astronauts' pee into space before — the Space Shuttle toilet did the same thing. But during those flights, the urine froze onto the vent. This time, engineers are adding heaters into the system to prevent immediate freezing. 

Because weight requirements for anything launching off of Earth are extremely strict, all space toilets have to be lightweight. But relying on small motors for powerful suction forces them to work hard. That means they're noisy. Because Orion is mostly made of aluminum alloy – it's "a big aluminum can," Hutt Business Insider – the noise of the toilet's whirring fans, clicking valves, and clanking machinery machine will reverberate throughout the ship. 

But there's an upside: The loud sound gives toilet some privacy, since Orion's bathroom has only a thin door.

Astronauts can't use Febreze 

Because Orion is only the length of a small powerboat and must house four waste-expelling adults for nearly a month, its toilet has to be compact and relatively odorless. The prospect of storing human waste for weeks at a time also requires engineers to figure out ways to tamp down the stench. 

Engineers have nailed the first two elements, but are struggling with the third, Hutt said.  

"Odor is really caused by the chemical compounds released from human waste breaking through the filter that's supposed to remove those compounds," he said. 

Of course, any filters NASA uses must also be light and compact.

If odors do escape, astronauts have very few options to combat them.

"You can't just open a window whenever something smells bad," Hutt said.

NASA also can't allow chemical deodorizers, like Febreze, on spacecraft — they would pollute the air too quickly, potentially harming the astronauts inside. Plus, pressurized canisters aren't allowed given the risk they could explode. 

"Spaceflight has its share of bumps, and we don't want anything in the cabin that could become a hazard," Hutt said.

So his team has been testing many potential deodorizer options. The tests require human noses, so NASA has "certified sniffers" at its White Sands Test Facility in New Mexico. True to their title, these employees are paid to smell the toilets after they've been used to evaluate whether odor-control measures are working.

These sniffers are the "unsung heroes of the space program," Hutt said. 

So far, the safest deodorizer the team has experimented with is activated charcoal, a powdered charcoal that absorbs odors without requiring electricity or chemicals. The substance can be put into a filter in the ship's ventilation system.

This story has been updated with new information. It was originally published September 23, 2020.

• The upcoming US presidential election could be one of the most uncertain elections in the nation's recent history, making current investing decisions difficult.  
• UBS says that a contested outcome is possible, and investors should head into safe assets right now. 
• Here's what four market experts are saying about how to invest heading into the election.

• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.
  

The upcoming US presidential election is said to be one of the most uncertain elections in the nation's recent history. Some Wall Street firms, like UBS, are even saying that the outcome of the election will be contested for quite some time after November 3.

Markets don't like uncertainty, but there are a number of  portfolio strategies to prepare for what's ahead. Here's what four market experts are saying about how to invest heading into the election.

1. UBS: Expect a contested election, buy safe assets.

In a note published Monday, UBS said that the outcome of the election is far from certain, and investors should head into safe assets like gold. 

"A contested outcome is still a possibility, which could add to further volatility and result in safe-haven flows, though more into gold, the Swiss franc, and the Japanese yen than into the US dollar, in our view." 

Investors should use the current drop in gold prices to add exposure to the precious metal, Mark Haefele, chief investment officer of UBS Global Wealth Management, said.

2. Goldman Sachs: Seek opportunities in healthcare options trades.  

"Stocks exposed to tax reform and the health care sector appear to be most clearly demonstrating their sensitivity to the election outcome," a team of Goldman Sachs strategists wrote in a Tuesday note. "Our options strategists pointed to the opportunity they see in health care call options given the sector's unusual implied volatility discount and depressed valuations."

Read more: UBS says the chances of a Democratic sweep have risen to 50% as Trump and Biden square off in their first debate. These 9 assets will help investors profit if a blue wave comes crashing in.

3. JPMorgan: Go underweight US stocks.

John Normund, JPMorgan head of cross-asset fundamental strategy, suggested investors be underweight in US assets, like domestic stocks.

"If your baseline assumption is that there's going to be a contested election ... recognize that this is a US-specific event and therefore that argues for underweighting US assets versus other assets," he said  in an interview with Bloomberg on Tuesday. 

4. Morgan Stanley: Skew your portfolio based on the outcome. 

Mike Wilson, chief investment strategist at Morgan Stanley, told CNBC on Tuesday that the stock market will go up no matter which candidate wins the election. But investors should be ready to skew their portfolios depending on who wins the election.

In a Democratic sweep, sectors like financials and energy may fare poorly because of increased regulation. Technology stocks may still perform well in a blue wave, though, because Wilson said Democrats "won't be as tough" on tech regulation.

• The S&P 500 is flirting with a "line in the sand" that will determine whether the worst of the September market correction is behind us, Tom Lee said in a note on Wednesday.
• That line in the sand is 3,363.31 for the S&P 500, which represents the 38% Fibonacci retracement level of the June 29 low and the September 2 high.
• The S&P 500 closed just below 3,363.31 on Wednesday and traded slightly above that key resistance level in Thursday trades.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

The S&P 500's 11% peak-to-trough sell-off in September has tested bullish investors as a resurgence in daily COVID-19 cases and uncertainty about additional stimulus and the November election hang over the stock market.

But according to a Wednesday note from Fundstrat's Tom Lee, investors can rest easy if the S&P 500 manages to close above a "line in the sand" of 3,363.31, or the 38% Fibonacci retracement level of the June 29 low and the September 2 high.

If the market is able to close decisively above that level, investors would have "a greater sense the worst is indeed behind us," Lee said.

Read more: US Investing Championship hopeful Evan Buenger raked in a 131.9% return through August. He shares the distinct spin he's putting on a classic trading strategy that's led to his outsize returns.

In technical analysis, traders use the Fibonacci retracement tool to help identify levels of support and resistance that the market might encounter during a sell-off or rally. The tool is based on the Fibonacci "golden ratio" and focuses on the 61.8%, 50%, 38.2%, and 23.6% levels of a market move.

The S&P 500 managed to find support in September at the 61.8% retracement level of the rally from late June to early September. Put another way, September's 11% sell-off in the S&P 500 retraced 62% of its summer rally.

Read more: A portfolio manager who's outperforming nearly all of her peers this year shares 4 high-conviction stocks driving her strong performance across 2 funds

Throughout this week, the S&P 500 has struggled at the 38% retracement level of 3,363.31. On Wednesday it closed at 3,363.00, a third of a point below the key technical level.

On Thursday afternoon, the S&P 500 traded 15 points above the key level, signaling that a close above the level may be imminent.

From there, the next level of resistance traders will have their eyes on is the record high of 3,588 reached on September 2, which represents potential upside of 6% from current levels.

What could drive the market higher from here? "Over the next 30 days, we could see therapeutic/vaccine news," Lee said.

Additionally, Lee pointed to the high level of cash on the sidelines ($4.3 trillion) and negative AAII retail investor sentiment, signaling that the pain trade is likely higher, not lower, from here.

Read more: Sustainable-stock funds are snapping up shares of these 20 companies — and most of them beat the market during September's turmoil, RBC says

• The demand for user experience and product design in tech are growing, and apps like Instagram, Uber, Slack, TikTok, and even Starbucks have become popular largely because of their design.
• Figma CEO Dylan Field launched the design software company to help teams better collaborate on their designs online.
• The growth in design and cloud collaboration has helped propel Figma to a $2.05 billion valuation, and helping it take on giants like Adobe.
• Here's how Field went from an intern at Flipboard to the CEO of an increasingly popular tool for designers to create and collaborate on the next generation of great-looking apps.
• Because of his work, Business Insider named Field to our annual list of the 10 leaders transforming enterprise tech.
• Visit Business Insider's Transforming Business homepage for more stories.

In 2013, Fortune Magazine's Brian O'Keefe reported that IBM had recently undergone a big change: It went from one designer for every 72 coders to 1 for every 8, in a bid to aggressively build better products.

That was welcome news for Dylan Field, who had the year prior started his company Figma, with a mission to help designers collaborate on their projects. When Figma first started up, Field privately feared that designers would be too small a market to go after, but IBM's big hiring spree proved to him that there was pent-up demand.

Now, Field says, users have become "spoiled" by well-designed apps like Instagram, Uber, Slack, TikTok, or any number of others, which are both more visually appealing and easier to use than anything found in the earlier days of the internet. In a crowded market, the apps that win are the ones that are the best-designed, he said.

"It's not enough to build something anymore," Field said. "We have to make sure the design is great. The entire world is becoming more digital now. As we're going through that transformation, the companies that are going to win are the ones that are best designed and have the best design practices."

Field — one of Business Insider's 10 people transforming the enterprise technology industry in 2020  —  sees that as an opportunity for Figma, which allows designers to create, share, and collaborate on their designs with its cloud-based software. Figma, now valued at $2.05 billion, has raised a total of $132.87 million, even as it places competitive pressure on leading incumbent Adobe and its Creative Cloud suite.

In April, it closed a $50 million round of funding led by Andreessen Horowitz, even as the COVID-19 pandemic hit the US in full force. Figma impressed investors with its revenue growth and major customer wins, including teams at Microsoft, Airbnb, GitHub, Square, Zoom, and Uber.

"The metrics mostly spoke for themselves," Field said of raising new funding in such turbulent times. "We're fortunate to show investors our metrics and have them get excited. The big thing is, it's a little weird, picking partners at a time when you can't meet in person." 

In fact, Field said that the pandemic has been a big moment for Figma and its future. Signups are spiking, and so is time spent with the tool, Field said, with people using Figma for everything from whiteboarding and diagramming to making slideshow presentations. It's even being used for art projects.

"We're seeing more people use Figma for things that are not necessarily interface design," he said. "That's the way we see ourselves long term. There are more products around visual communication."

Ultimately, the traction that Figma has seen is a reflection of the increased importance of design as a competitive advantage, Field said.

"People are switching their buying behaviors based on design," Field told Business Insider. "Companies are realizing that."

How Field went from intern to CEO

Field has been interested in design since middle school, but studied computer science at Brown. While still an undergraduate, he started to question if his plan to major in computer science and math was the right move, and so he took a semester off his junior year for a six-month internship at news-sharing service Flipboard.

He had interned in the software engineering department the previous summer, but that semester, he made the switch to product design. 

"They have an amazing design team," Field said. "People have gone on to do incredible things. As part of that internship, as I was going through it, I realized I wanted to work on these kinds of problems full time."

When he was 19, Field applied for and received a Thiel fellowship for entrepreneurs because he and cofounder Evan Wallace had been talking about starting a company. Originally, his pitch was focused on drones, but eventually his company concept morphed into what would become Figma.

"This is an amazing opportunity," Field said he remembers thinking. "Even if there's a 5% chance, we should take it."

A rocky path to debut

Even with the big idea in mind, it took a long time for Figma to actually become a reality. Founded in 2012, Figma didn't start actually shipping its software to beta users until 2015, with general availability taking another year. Even then, it was only in 2017 that it started offering a paid plan. As much as it was a journey just to start generating revenue, Field said, that long availability as a free product also helped it acquire its first customers.

"As word got around about that and realized it's more efficient, that's when we started to see the hypergrowth," he said.

Meanwhile, Field had a lot to learn about being a CEO, after only having ever been an intern. At one point early into Figma's existence, Field said he once faced the very real risk of an exodus of disaffected employees. He had to learn, quickly, how to be more open to feedback and to empower his teams, while also hiring experienced managers. 

"I didn't know how to manage effectively," he said. "I didn't know the basics around how to have good judgment around who to hire. When we were 10 people, I was a year into management. Usually if you are a new manager, you manage a few people. I was trying to do this at the same time and get the product to market."

Raising funding was a challenge for similar reasons. Field says that the Figma team wasn't clear enough in its pitch to investors about what the product is and what problems it can solve. A turning point came when John Lilly, investor with Greylock Partners, turned down the chance to invest in Figma's seed round.

"He said, 'I don't think you know what you're doing yet,'" Field said. "That was a wake up call for me."

Over time, Figma figured out its approach and refined its pitch. Lilly would go on to lead Figma's Series A funding round in December 2015.

Figma's goals in creation, collaboration, and community

Now, with its recent funding and increased customer traction, the next step is growth. Part of it means expanding its suite of tools for designers, including a recent focus on "design systems" — the industry term for reusable components like buttons and sliders that can be repurposed by different teams to keep an app design consistent.

"[An] app would have six different styles of buttons," Field said. "We're now seeing people trying to standardize more."

Other priorities include new tools to help designers hand off their projects to the software development team, and an expanded Figma Community for users to share features and templates.

In terms of its business, Figma is also working on staffing its team and eventually making acquisitions of smaller startups. These will likely be "acqui-hires," Field said, meaning that they will acquire certain companies as a speedy way to hire more employees.

"We're looking for people who are excited about Figma's mission and want to make a big impact," Field said. "It's much more on the talent side and can be across any sector."

All this can help Figma take on Adobe, which has itself been making greater efforts in improving designer collaboration. Customers have already been switching over from other design platforms like Abstract and InVision to Figma, said Forrester Principal Analyst Andrew Hogan.

There are areas where Adobe, as the incumbent, has some advantages: It has more advanced AI, and has features specifically geared toward helping marketers create and measure their campaigns. Still, while Adobe has certainly noticed Figma — to the point where it released its own similar XD tool — Hogan suggested that Figma's focus on app designers working on interfaces sets the two apart.

"There's a certain kind of designer that has a real love for Figma that they don't have for Adobe," Hogan told Business Insider. "Those folks are saying, maybe Adobe isn't the right fit for what I'm trying to do, but maybe Figma feels the correct fit. Figma has a love for interaction product design folks."

As for Field, he believes Figma's collaboration features are further ahead than its competitors, and set it apart. 

"[Adobe has] been the giants in the space for decades now," he said. "They understand that design and interface design is a key part of why people use their products. That's not a fight they're not willing to put up quietly."

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• The American TV audience watches more NFL Football than any other sport, so I probably don't have to remind you that the 2020-21 season has begun.
• However, it's still not that easy to figure out how to watch your favorite teams without a cable subscription.
• Broadcast rights continue to be spread across several networks, with a few games per week shown exclusively on different channels, including ESPN, NBC, Fox, CBS, and the NFL Network.
• HD antennas and streaming services, like Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV, FuboTV, YouTube TV, Amazon Prime Video, CBS All Access, and NFL Sunday Ticket, all offer select NFL games without the need for a cable subscription.
• If price is no concern, we recommend a combination of either Fubo TV or YouTube TV with the NFL RedZone add-on, and a separate NFL Sunday Ticket subscription in order to stream the most games all season long.

Whether you're interested in watching Tom Brady whip the pigskin in his new Florida digs, checking out how professional football looks in Las Vegas, or you happen to be a fool like me still holding out hopes that the Detroit Lions can win a Super Bowl (cue the uproarious and hurtful laughter), you can use at least one of the methods outlined below to watch the 2020 NFL season.

With that said, the right NFL streaming option for you will vary depending on your fandom priorities. Basically, the games are spread across five primary networks: ESPN, NBC, Fox, CBS, and the NFL Network. Your location also determines which games get aired on your local stations. Additionally, you can stream all your local in-market games on your mobile device for free using the Yahoo Sports app or the NFL app.

To help ensure you get access to all the games you'd like to watch, we've broken down the ins and outs of watching the NFL without a cable subscription.

Updated on 10/1/2020 by Danny Bakst: Added details about key games to watch during week four of the NFL 2020-21 season.

How to watch live NFL games without cable

The 2020-21 NFL season began on September 10 with a Thursday night game between the Houston Texans and Kansas City Chiefs on NBC. Subsequent games are being spread across different channels, and there are several options available to stream each network.

Sunday afternoon games with an NFC home team are being aired on Fox, and Sunday afternoon games with an AFC home team are shown on CBS. Meanwhile, Sunday Night Football airs on NBC, and regular Thursday Night Football is broadcast on NFL Network all season long. Thursday Night Football will also be shown on Fox and streamed via Amazon Prime or Twitch starting week five through the end of the season. Finally, Monday Night Football is on ESPN. 

You can access many of these channels without a cable subscription via several streaming services, like Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV, FuboTV, YouTube TV, CBS All Access, and NFL Sunday Ticket. Additionally, some services offer NFL RedZone as an add-on for fans who want to watch all the best action from across the league simultaneously rather than sit through one game. If you want to watch games on your local stations without cable, you can also opt for an HDTV antenna.

Depending on the service, you can stream through smart TVs, game consoles, and streaming devices, like Apple TV, Roku, and Amazon Fire TV. Some platforms can also be streamed on-the-go via smartphones, laptops, and tablets. 

Week four NFL games to look out for

Week four of the 2020-21 NFL season kicks off with a Thursday Night Football game between the Denver Broncos, a once hopeful team that's been littered with injuries, and the New York Jets, by far the worst performing team in the NFL over the season's first three weeks.

Beyond this underwhelming Thursday night matchup, there are some fascinating storylines heading into Sunday's action. Most notably, the reigning Super Bowl champs in Kansas City will host the New England Patriots for the first time since Tom Brady's departure to Tampa Bay. While it's hard to imagine anyone beating the Chiefs, the strong pairing of New England's new quarterback Cam Newton with the team's Offensive Coordinator Josh McDaniels could present Kansas City with a genuine challenge.

Another Sunday game to look out for is the matchup between the Minnesota Vikings and Houston Texans. Both teams traded their top receivers from last season in controversial deals, and both have yet to win a game. An 0-4 start for either team would further derail the goals they had entering the season.

Here's a full roundup of all the services you can use to stream NFL games without cable.

HDTV Antenna

You can purchase an antenna, like this Dynex model, to add to your TV for under $10, giving you access to local channels within a certain distance. 

What you get:

Hooking up an HD antenna to your TV gives you access to local over-the-air (OTA) signals in your location. This means that you will be able to access the local affiliates of major broadcast networks, like Fox, CBS, and NBC.

This lets you watch all the regional games broadcast from wherever you're located. You also get the Sunday Night Football matchup that airs on NBC. Because it's only a one-time payment, this is a great option if you're solely interested in watching the team in your area. However, you will not get access to any out-of-market games or games that air on ESPN or the NFL Network.

Sling TV

If you're looking for a live TV streaming service to watch football, Sling TV is a great budget option that gives you most of the channels you need at a cheaper price than Hulu or FuboTV.

There are three different plans, depending on what channels you prioritize. Sling Orange and Sling Blue each cost $30 per month, while the combined Sling Orange + Blue plan costs $45 per month. Additionally, you can purchase the Sports Extra package to add NFL RedZone to your plan for $10 per month.

What you get:

Sling Orange has ESPN, while Sling Blue has Fox and NBC in select markets as well as the NFL network. CBS is not currently offered by Sling. While there is a Sports Extra package, it does not include any channels that air live NFL games. 

Your best bet to get access to the most NFL games via Sling is to sign up for the Sling Orange + Blue plan and cash in on Sling's current promotional offer of a free antenna for local channels. The free antenna requires that you prepay for two months of the Sling service. Plus, if you want RedZone you can add the Sports Extra package to the Orange + Blue Plan for a total of $60 per month.

If you don't want it all, you can just sign up for Sling Blue to gain access to Sunday afternoon games on Fox and Sunday Night Football games on NBC, or just Sling Orange to gain access to Monday Night games on ESPN, in addition to the local offerings included with the antenna. As with all streaming services, game availability is subject to blackouts.

With Sling's channel listings, add-ons, and the fact that they provide a free antenna, you can gain access to all local channels, the NFL Network, ESPN, and NFL RedZone, making it one of the most cost-effective ways to watch the NFL without cable. 

Hulu with Live TV

In addition to all of its other offerings, Hulu + Live TV has nearly everything you need to stream NFL games for $54.99 per month. However, like Sling TV, there's no option to add the NFL Network or NFL RedZone as a channel, which could be a deal-breaker if you're hoping to watch and monitor action across the league.

What you get: 

Like an HD antenna, Hulu + Live TV gets you access to all the local affiliates of the major broadcasts, meaning Fox, CBS, and NBC. These will show the games that are within your regional broadcast map with the exception of any blackouts. In addition, you also get ESPN, which gives you access to all Monday Night Football games, and some of the best NFL coverage and analysis on TV. 

While you don't get access to watch out-of-network games from across the country like you do with NFL RedZone or NFL Sunday Ticket, this is a comprehensive way to tune into most locally and nationally televised games. Hulu does not offer a way to watch the first three regular Thursday Night Football games, however, since those will be aired on NFL Network. 

FuboTV

At $64.99 per month for the Family Plan, FuboTV is one of the most comprehensive yet expensive live streaming options for NFL football. You can also spend an extra $10.99 per month to add the Sports Plus with NFL RedZone package or sign up for the Ultra Plan, which includes NFL Redzone and several other extra channels, for $84.99 per month.

What you get:

In terms of NFL games, the Family Plan includes access to local CBS, NBC, and Fox stations (regional availability and blackout restrictions apply). FuboTV's Family Plan also grants you access to ESPN to watch Monday Night Football, and NFL Network to stream Thursday Night Football all season long. 

YouTube TV

With a base price of $64.99 per month, YouTube TV is another service that offers access to most NFL games. Additionally, the service just announced an agreement with the NFL to offer NFL Redzone as an add-on included in their Sports Plus package for an additional $10.99 per month. 

What you get:

Like other services at this price range, YouTube TV offers access to all the local channels you need to watch NFL games, including CBS, Fox, and NBC. YouTube TV also offers ESPN and NFL Network in their base package, so you'll be able to watch all Monday Night Football and Thursday Night Football games. And with the news of the new Sports Plus package, you can also watch NFL Redzone for an additional $10.99 per month.

NFL Sunday Ticket

NFL Sunday Ticket used to only be available with a cable subscription, but NFL fans in non-DirecTV markets anywhere in the country can now gain access to every Sunday afternoon game.

There are two separate plans available: The NFL Sunday Ticket To Go plan costs $73.49 per month for four months, which is $293.96 total. There is also the NFL Sunday Ticket Max plan for $99 per month for four months, adding up to $396 total.

What you get:

Both plans give you access to all out-of-market Sunday afternoon games. This means that you do not get access to Thursday, Sunday, or Monday night games. You also won't be able to stream locally televised games with only an NFL Sunday Ticket subscription. However, this is the only way for people hoping to watch full live games of their favorite teams out of market. A fun feature included in both plans is that you can watch four games at once on your screen.

In addition to the normal features, NFL Sunday Ticket Max adds in NFL RedZone and the DirecTV Fantasy Zone, which is a new channel solely dedicated watching games through the lens of fantasy football. 

CBS All Access

If you're just interested in watching locally televised AFC home games, then a CBS All Access subscription could be all you need. The service lets you stream live CBS television, as well as a growing library of on-demand shows and exclusive titles. CBS All Access is available for $5.99 a month with commercials or $9.99 a month with ad-free streaming. With that said, all live broadcasts, including NFL games, still feature commercials with the ad-free plan.

What you get:

CBS All Access offers live streaming for every NFL game that airs on the regular CBS channel in your local market. However, since CBS All Access only offers CBS content you won't be able to watch any games that air on other networks or any out of market matches. You can see a full schedule of NFL games set to air on CBS here.

 

Amazon Prime Video

Though yon won't get local channels, NFL Network, or in-depth analysis, Amazon Prime Video members can watch select Thursday Night Football games with their subscription for no additional cost. A standalone Amazon Prime Video membership costs $8.99 a month, and the service is included as part of an Amazon Prime subscription for $119 per year.

What you get:

Amazon Prime Video will stream 11 Thursday Night Football games staring the week of October 8. These game will also be broadcast on NFL Network and Fox. Since Amazon won't be streaming any additional games, Prime Video on its own is really only suitable for very casual football fans who just want to stream a few games this season. 

 

Yahoo Sports app and NFL app

If you're only interested in watching in-market games without cable or an antenna, then you can stream live local and primetime games on a mobile device using the Yahoo Sports or NFL app. Both options are free and each app is available on iOS and Android smartphones and tablets. 

What you get:

These apps provide live streaming for regular season local and primetime games, playoffs, and the Super Bowl. With that said, you can only watch the games on a mobile device. You'll also need to ensure that your location services are activated on your phone or tablet.

• US stocks climbed on Thursday on continued fiscal stimulus negotiations, led by mega-cap tech giants like Alphabet, Amazon, and Microsoft.
• House Speak Nancy Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin had multiple conversations on Thursday, as the two try to work out a fiscal stimulus deal before the upcoming recess in Congress.
• Any fiscal stimulus deal will include another round of direct stimulus checks, according to Mnuchin.
• Initial weekly jobless claims fell to 837,000, which was lower than expected and suggested that the economic recovery is trudging along.
• Watch major indexes update live here.

US stocks climbed on Thursday, led by mega-cap tech giants like Alphabet, Microsoft, Apple, and Amazon.

Stocks were boosted by continued hope of another round of fiscal stimulus being passed by Congress ahead of their upcoming recess. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin had multiple conversations throughout the day.

Any fiscal stimulus deal will include another round of direct stimulus checks, according to Mnuchin.

Also helping the markets on Thursday was a Labor Department report that said initial weekly jobless claims fell to 837,000 last week, better than the consensus estimate of 850,000 and lower than the previous week's reading of 873,000.

Here's where US indexes stood at the 4 p.m. ET close on Thursday:

• S&P 500: 3,380.80, up 0.5%
• Dow Jones industrial average: 27,816.90, up 0.1% (35 points)
• Nasdaq composite: 11,326.51, up 1.4%

Read more: US Investing Championship hopeful Evan Buenger raked in a 131.9% return through August. He shares the distinct spin he's putting on a classic trading strategy that's led to his outsize returns.

The SPAC craze continued on Thursday, with Playboy set to go public on Thursday via a merger with Mountain Crest valued at $381 million. Additionally, the first SPAC ETF began trading today under the symbol SPAK. The ETF owns a basket of blank check companies that have and have not found a target deal.

Shark Tank investor Kevin O'Leary laid out his strategy for investing in SPACs and highlighted the managers he would invest with, including Bill Ackman.

Read more: A portfolio manager who's outperforming nearly all of her peers this year shares 4 high-conviction stocks driving her strong performance across 2 funds

Bed Bath & Beyond surged on Thursday after it reported second quarter earnings that topped analyst expectations, thanks in part to a surge in its digital sales channel.

Elsewhere, the Federal Reserve said on Wednesday that it would extend limits on banks' ability to buy back stock and issue dividends until the end of 2020.

Gold rose as much as 1.4%, to $1,912.01 per ounce.

Oil prices traded lower. West Texas Intermediate crude fell as much as 6.5%, to $37.61 per barrel. Brent crude, oil's international benchmark, fell 2.5%, to $39.92 per barrel, at intraday highs.

Read more: Sustainable-stock funds are snapping up shares of these 20 companies - and most of them beat the market during September's turmoil, RBC says