Appliances, furniture, and home-improvement items don't usually come cheap, but like many other online retailers, The Home Depot has begun Black Friday sales extra early this year.
Between now and December 2, you can save up to 40% off major appliances and home improvement tools, along with steep discounts on seasonal accessories like fake Christmas trees. There are also additional savings of up to $700 if you buy one or more appliances.
If you can't wait to receive your delivery, there are more than 200 sale items eligible for free in-store pickup. They mainly comprise of tools and holiday decor.
Historically, the best Black Friday deals have been on TVs, smart home devices, gaming consoles, video games, and kitchen appliances. The Home Depot also offers big markdowns on tools and other home-improvement equipment and supplies.
How we select the best deals at The Home Depot
We only chose products that meet our high standard of coverage, and that we've either used ourselves or researched carefully.
We compared the prices against other retailers like Best Buy and Lowe's and only included the deals that are the same or better (not including promotional discounts that come from using certain credit cards).
All deals are at least 20% off, with the occasional exception for products that are rarely discounted or provide an outsized value.
We've seen many KitchenAid stand mixer deals come and go lightning fast as part of early Black Friday 2020 deals; if you're in the market for a stand mixer, we recommend acting quickly on these deals.
Black Friday is almost here and with it come amazing deals on countertop kitchen appliances like KitchenAid stand mixers. KitchenAid is synonymous with stand mixers and these appliances can last decades with proper care. If you need help deciphering between the many models or more information about what makes KitchenAid mixers so great, we've broken it all down for you here.
While we typically see huge discounts on many different KitchenAid stand mixer models over Cyber Weekend, retailers are kicking off deals early this year and the discounts on KitchenAid mixers are already rolling in. Keep in mind, all the deals we've seen have sold out faster than we can even update this post, so if you're in the market for a stand mixer, act quickly on these deals.
The best deal we've seen so far is on the KitchenAid Professional 5-Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer, which is on sale for $199.99 at Target as part of its early Black Friday deals. The usual MSRP is $500 but the street price, or usual retail price, is $400 — meaning this deal is a solid 50% off, and applies to Silver, Red, Ice Blue, Black, and Matte Black colors. Unfortunately, the deal is no longer available online, but you can enter your zip code to see if there is stock available in a nearby store.
Kohl's also has a stellar deal on our top pick stand mixer, The KitchenAid Artisan 5-Quart. The retailer is offering the Artisan bundled with the slicer/shredder attachment (regularly priced $429.99) for $279.99, a savings of $150. In addition, you'll get $75 Kohl's Cash to use between November 28 and December 9, in stores or online. The deal is good on the Red or Contour Silver color. Kohl's was previously offering the same pricing on 39 different colors of the Artisan (without the shredder attachment), a savings of $100. While that deal appears to be dead, we're keeping our eye out in case some units come back in stock. KitchenAid is also offering a comparable deal on the Empire Red color on its own website.
When you buy through our links, we may earn money from our affiliate partners. Learn more.
Made In
Black Friday officially begins on November 27, but some of our favorite startups are already offering discounts.
For many, these are the only discounts they offer all year.
Big box retailers can dominate the conversation surrounding Black Friday and Cyber Monday, but we encourage you to shop small businesses this year — particularly for unique gifts.
We love startups for their innovative ideas and problem-solving products, whether they're changing the way we eat, sleep, or get dressed. They also make particularly great gifts, since they feel a bit more unique than many others — and you get to introduce someone to a cool new brand.
While many don't usually offer sales, Black Friday and Cyber Monday are the exceptions — and startup deals are starting earlier than ever this year. You may be tempted to hold out for slightly better deals closer to Cyber Monday, but there's no guarantee that supplies will last — especially in a year where supply chains have been so disrupted. Here, we're tracking the best discounts offered by startups in 2020.
Below are the ones that you can already shop, and we'll be updating this in the future as more deals are announced. To save yourself time, bookmark this page and check back closer to November 27 for more deals.
11 of the best early Black Friday deals from startups:
Oregon Gov. Kate Brown attends a news conference Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2020, in Portland, Ore. Brown and Oregon health officials warned Tuesday of the capacity challenges facing hospitals as COVID-19 case counts continue to spike in the state.
Cathy Cheney/Pool Photo via AP
Oregon Gov. Kate Brown said residents should call the police on anyone who is not following the state's COVID-19 mandates, according to Fox News.
"This is no different than what happens if there's a party down the street and it's keeping everyone awake," Brown told KGW-TV in an interview Friday. "What do neighbors do [in that case]? They call law enforcement because it's too noisy. This is just like that. It's like a violation of a noise ordinance."
Brown announced a "two-week freeze" earlier this month to help slow down the spiking coronavirus cases in the state.
Oregon Gov. Kate Brown said residents can call the police on people who fail to follow rules meant to help slow down the spread of COVID-19 in the state, Fox News reported.
"This is no different than what happens if there's a party down the street and it's keeping everyone awake," Brown told KGW-TV in an interview Friday. "What do neighbors do [in that case]? They call law enforcement because it's too noisy. This is just like that. It's like a violation of a noise ordinance."
However, Brown said it doesn't need to go that far.
"This about saving lives and it's about protecting our fellow Oregonians. It's about protecting our families. It's about protecting our vulnerable community members and frankly, it's about protecting the entire state of Oregon."
Earlier this month, Brown issued a two-week freeze from November 18 to December 2 to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 as cases continue to spike in the state. The freeze implements many restrictions including; limiting six people to social gatherings from no more than two households, allows only 75% capacity at essential establishments like grocery stores and pharmacies, and closure of fitness centers and other indoor recreational activities. Residents who don't follow the restrictions could spend some time in jail, face a $1,250 fine or both, KGW-TV reported.
"Oregon's doctors, nurses, and physician assistants are asking for our help, saying that Thanksgiving gatherings would be 'dangerous and irresponsible,'" Brown tweeted on Monday. "Please read their message."
A version of the website building service has been around since 2008, but Google Sites has been updated over the years. Older websites are referred to as "classic Sites" and need to be updated and converted to a contemporary Google Site before September 2021 to remain viable. In November 2020, Google discontinued the option to build a classic Site.
It's easy to delete a Google Site. But if you change your mind, you can quickly restore it by removing it from the trash in your Google Drive. You can do the same with a classic Site, but you cannot create a new one.
Remember, Google recently announced that anything in your trash cans will be deleted after 30 days. So don't let a website linger too long there unless you're sure you won't need it.
How to delete a new Google Site
Deleting a Google Site is not an instant act. The site will be sent to your Google Drive once deleted and will remain there for 30 days before the trash is automatically emptied.
3. Click "General" and then hit "Delete this site."
4. Click "Delete" again.
How to restore a classic Google Site
You can restore a deleted classic site, but you also may want to consider updating it to a new Google Site because the classic sites won't work by September 2021.
When you buy through our links, we may earn money from our affiliate partners. Learn more.
LG
Black Friday 2020 doesn't officially kick off until November 27, but many stores are already offering great deals on TVs.
Entry-level, midrange, and flagship models from brands like Sony, LG, Vizio, Samsung, TCL, and Insignia are available right now for some of their lowest prices ever.
Black Friday 2020 is the perfect time to save big on all kinds of tech products, including TVs from every major brands. And best of all, many of these discounts are available right now.
Below, we've highlighted some of the best TV deals you can get right now, including big discounts on flagship OLED and QLED models. We'll update this page with additional deals as they become available.
For details on upcoming TV deals that won't be active until November 27, check out our full guide to all the best Black Friday TV deals here.
The best early Black Friday TV deals
Early Black Friday TV deals are available on several display models from Sony, LG, Vizio, Samsung, TCL, and Insignia. Deals cover a variety of budgets from flagship 4K sets to entry-level smart TVs. Sizes range from a modest 24-inch model for just $80 to a huge 75-inch NanoCell display.
For shoppers looking for a truly high-end 65-inch display, the best deals you can find right now are on Sony's A8H 4K OLED TV, Vizio's OLED 4K TV, and LG's CX 4K OLED TV. All three models deliver some of the best picture quality on the market, and all three deal prices match the lowest we've ever seen for each respective model.
The LG 65-inch CX is the brightest of the bunch and is on sale for $1,900, but it's currently sold out at most stores. Meanwhile, the Sony 65-inch A8H offers the most accurate color and is available for $1,800. Finally, the Vizio 65-inch OLED is the most affordable at just $1,500, but it doesn't include built-in voice search.
I'm actually testing the Vizio model right now, and though I've been impressed by the gorgeous picture, I 've run into some signal issues with my Onkyo AV receiver and the TV's HDMI ARC connection. I've reached out to Vizio about the problem and will update this article when I hear more. As it stands, buyers with Onkyo receivers may want to hold off on this model.
In addition to OLEDs, there are a ton of worthwhile QLED, LED, and budget-friendly displays on sale right now too. Check out all the best early TV deals below.
Check out our TV buying guides
If you're in need of more TV recommendations, be sure to read our various TV guides for detailed buying advice:
Vladimir Putin seen in Moscow, Russia, on September 28, 2020.
Alexei Druzhinin\TASS via Getty Images
Russian President Vladimir Putin has wasted no time in seizing on US President Donald Trump's conspiracy theories about the 2020 election to boost Russia's strategic goals.
In addition to saying he will not congratulate President-elect Joe Biden while claiming the results are not clear, Putin said the "problems in the US electoral system" mean the US doesn't have the right to criticize how other countries run their elections.
The remarks are a stark representation of how Trump's unsubstantiated claims of voter fraud and election-rigging enabled Putin to use a classic Soviet propaganda tool known as "whataboutism" to undermine US principles about free and fair elections.
Trump's attempt to paint the US election as rigged "plays directly into Putin's primary objective, which isn't necessarily to get a specific person elected, but to sow discord and reinforce the view that American democracy doesn't work well," said John McLaughlin, the former acting CIA director.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has wasted no time in seizing on the discord that US President Donald Trump and his allies have sowed about the 2020 election.
On Monday, Putin said he will not congratulate President-elect Joe Biden on his victory, claiming the election results are not clear. Biden has been the projected winner for more than two weeks, and multiple states have since certified their election results.
More importantly, Putin weaponized Trump's conspiracy theories about the election to denigrate the US's support of free and fair elections around the globe.
Since Trump lost the election, he and his loyalists have made baseless claims of widespread voter fraud and election-rigging, and they've concocted a vast conspiracy in which the Democratic Party worked with "big tech" and "big media" to hand Biden the election.
None of these claims hold merit, and as Insider previously reported, this election was the safest and most secure in US history because of the use of paper ballots and voting machines with verifiable paper trails. The Trump campaign and Republicans have also filed nearly two dozen legal challenges seeking to overturn the election results and haven't won a single case.
But that hasn't stopped Putin from putting his thumb on the scale in favor of Trump's allegations. "It's totally obvious, it's clear for everyone in the world, it seems to me, that for Americans it's clear that there are problems in the US electoral system," he said on Russian state television, according to The Wall Street Journal. Putin added that those purported issues take away the US's right to "point their finger at flaws in other political systems."
The Russian leader, who has been in power for two decades and who in July got one step closer to being president for life, has long been criticized by the US for his antidemocratic principles and violent crackdowns on opposing political parties, dissidents, and independent journalists. In retaliation, Putin often employs a classic Soviet propaganda tool known as "whataboutism" to portray the US as being on the same moral plane.
"Whataboutism" serves Putin by allowing him to take the position that it's not America's role to "lecture Russia on democracy when it has had such a poor track record of establishing them on its own watch," Vadim Nikitin, a Russia analyst and freelance journalist, told Insider in a previous interview. Most of all, Putin's finger-pointing at the US' own foibles is part of an effort to force others to "accept all sides as morally flawed," he added.
Trump's refusal to concede the election and paint the US system as rigged and unfair "plays directly into Putin's primary objective, which isn't necessarily to get a specific person elected, but to sow discord and reinforce the view that American democracy doesn't work well," John McLaughlin, the former acting director of the CIA, told Insider. "If he can make the point that our system doesn't work well, that takes the pressure off of him to go to a really democratic system, because he can point to the United States and say, 'Well, if it doesn't work there, why would you want me to do that?'"
That's especially true now, given that Putin's approval rating in Russia has been in steady decline and is currently somewhere near 60%, down from where it used to be in the high 80s and 90s. The US's electoral turmoil and rocky transition period are "absolutely a welcome distraction" for Putin, McLaughlin said. "He can take the heat off of himself by getting us to fight each other after what we would like to think of as one of the safest and fairest elections, but one that the president of the United States is saying is rigged."
Moreover, "Russia has long wanted to revise the international order" that the Obama administration spearheaded, said Michael David-Fox, a professor at Georgetown University and an expert on modern Russia and the USSR. "It is clear to Putin and the Russian foreign policy establishment that the Biden administration represents a return" to that approach.
Obama's administration emphasized a foreign policy that supported an international system governed by independent institutions and global alliances. That system, which the US has spearheaded since the Cold War, frequently stands in opposition to Putin's interests, which are geared toward fracturing western alliances, spreading communism, and bringing sovereign nations like Ukraine back into the Soviet sphere of influence.
Conversely, the Trump administration's foreign policy has yielded huge returns for Russia.
"They want to protect their boy in the White House, because Trump's policies have been strategically fantastic for Russia," Glenn Carle, a former CIA covert operative, told Insider in an earlier interview. "He alienated the United States from NATO and turned a blind eye to Russian influence in Crimea. His actions in the Middle East, especially in Syria and Libya, helped Russia gain a significant presence in the region for the first time in 48 years."
Trump also often heaps praise on Putin, describing him as a "strong" and "powerful" leader — comments that Russian state media uses to portray Putin as a global strongman and Trump as a puppet dancing to his master's tune.
In the wake of the 2020 election, "having a weak, divided US that lacks legitimacy and cannot get its own house in order" will strengthen Russia by hurting the Biden team's efforts to "move past the disastrous decline in the US' international standing" that the Trump administration has produced, David-Fox said.
This time, he added, other Republican lawmakers are also aiding Russia by supporting Trump's efforts to undermine the democratic process.
While some Republicans have privately congratulated Biden on his victory and cautiously urged the incumbent to give his successor access to intelligence briefings and transition materials, the vast majority of the party has either stayed mum or amplified Trump's bogus claims about a rigged election.
Their actions "bolster Russia's longstanding objections against meddling in internal political affairs," David-Fox said. He added that the only way for the US to overcome "the current wave of disinformation and authoritarianism orchestrated by the loser of the presidential election and reinforced by the silence of most of the Republican Party" is to "uphold the will of the voters and eject the current administration, as our constitutional system requires."
A host of conservative-leaning executives from TV, streaming and radio are looking to shore up cash and talent to take advantage of disgruntled Trump voters thirsty for their own flavor of news.
Wonder and Vic.ai are two startups using technology to bring experts directly to clients and to automate accounting tasks.
Wonder is a consulting startup that connects clients directly with business strategy experts, and Vic.ai uses artificial intelligence to automate accounting tasks.
Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, a lawyer for President Donald Trump, speaks during a news conference at the Republican National Committee headquarters, Thursday Nov. 19, 2020, in Washington.
Jacquelyn Martin/AP Photo
President Donald Trump is upset with how his legal team has handled his challenges to the election, according to NBC News.
Trump is worried that they are "fools that are making him look bad," one official told NBC.
He also reportedly complained about Rudy Giuliani's appearance at a news conference last week.
President Donald Trump is frustrated with how his legal team has been handling the election fight, according to an NBC News report on Monday.
Trump has become worried that his team is made up of "fools that are making him look bad," one official told NBC.
The team, which includes his personal attorney Rudy Giuliani, is in charge of overseeing Trump's ongoing lawsuits over the election results.
Several officials familiar with the president's reactions told NBC that Trump was upset with Guiliani's appearance at chaotic news conference held last week at the Republican National Committee headquarters.
The president took umbrage with Giuliani's hair dye dripping down the sides of his face while he was speaking at the nearly 2-hour-long event, one source told NBC.
Giuliani, along with Trump's legal adviser Jenna Ellis and the now-fired lawyer Sidney Powell, defended Trump's baseless claims of voter fraud at the conference.
Trump's legal team also pushed conspiracy theories about politicians being paid to hack voting machines and foreign countries trying to steal the election. The Trump campaign has since tried to distance itself from the scene and released a statement on Sunday that Powell is no longer part of the president's legal team.
"Sidney Powell is practicing law on her own. She is not a member of the Trump Legal Team," a statement attributed to Giuliani and Ellis read. "She is also not a lawyer for the President in his personal capacity."
Trump has not publicly acknowledged his election loss and has refused to concede. His campaign remains steadfast in its pursuit of overturning the election outcome, though has yet to win any of the 22 lawsuits filed in several states. President-elect Joe Biden became the projected winner of the race more than two weeks ago.
Cyber Monday is coming up on November 30, and Nordstrom's sale will have deep discounts on women's, men's, and children's clothing, as well as accessories, skincare, makeup, home goods, and more.
Many Black Friday deals will roll over to Cyber Monday, so if you're a habitual procrastinator or you'd rather wait to see if the prices drop even more, Cyber Monday is the day you'll want to make a purchase.
We don't know the specific deals just yet, but we rounded up some of the best early deals and answered all of the questions you might have before the big shopping day.
These discounts aren't technically associated with Nordstrom's Black Friday or Cyber Monday sale, but they're great deals nonetheless.
Ultraboost x Clima Running Shoe (medium, Preferred: Nordstrom)
How do we select Cyber Monday deals from Nordstrom?
We only choose products that meet our standards for coverage. These items come from trusted brands that we know and use or have tested.
The deal price must be better than the retail price or the normal sale price.
We anticipate many deals from Black Friday to roll over to Cyber Monday.
When does Nordstrom's Cyber Monday sale start?
Black Friday 2020 is November 27 and Cyber Monday is November 30, but Nordstrom will likely have early deals before the shopping holiday officially begins.
What is Nordstrom's return policy?
Nordstrom doesn't have a traditional return policy. Instead, returns are handled on a case-by-case basis, and the company tends to be very accommodating.
Can I shop at the Nordstrom store near me?
Yes. Nordstrom's Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals will also be available in stores. You can also order online and choose in-store pick-up or curbside pickup. If you do decide to shop in the store, Nordstrom has taken measures to help keep customers and employees safe by requiring face masks and encouraging social distancing.
What should I buy from Nordstrom this Cyber Monday
Nordstrom's Cyber Monday sale is a great time to stock up on everything from essentials like socks, underwear, and winter coats, hats, and gloves, to splurge items like sunglasses, handbags, jewelry, and beauty products. You'll also find home goods like pillows, candles, diffusers, and more.
How does Nordstrom stand up to the competition on Cyber Monday?
While other department stores will also have Cyber Monday sales, Nordstrom stands out for its great range of affordable brands and luxury brands. Nordstrom's lenient return policy is also a major plus for shopping during the holiday season. You won't have to worry about strict return windows.
The GameStop Black Friday countdown sale is already underway with discounts on more than a dozen games, and special offers on Funko Pop! dolls, apparel, and other merchandise. The retailer's full Black Friday sale will kick off on November 25, bringing more door buster deals and limited quantities of the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X.
Below, we've rounded up some of the best GameStop deals you can snag right now. We'll update this page as more early discounts are announced.
The best early Black Friday GameStop deals
GameStop's early Black Friday sale includes up to 50% off select video games. In addition to discounts on some of this year's most popular titles, console exclusives for the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 are on sale too.
For Nintendo Switch, GameStop is offering $20 off "Super Mario Maker 2," "The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening," and "Luigi's Mansion 3," and $30 off Yoshi's Crafted World," "Mario Tennis Aces," and "Fire Emblem: Three Houses."
All Funko Pop! Vinyl dolls priced under $15 are being discounted by 25%, and all board games are 25% off too. Video game related holiday decorations are available for 40%, and advent calendars are 20% off.
During the countdown sale, GameStop is also offering a "buy one get one free" deal on all apparel, and 20% off branded merchandise from "Star Wars," Marvel, "Fortnite," and "Minecraft."
GameStop's current set of early Black Friday deals are guaranteed until November 25, when even more games and accessories will go on sale.
Note: If another retailer is currently offering an even better discount than GameStop on an item, we've included a link to that store instead.
When does GameStop's full Black Friday sale start?
GameStop's full Black Friday sale will start online at 9 p.m. ET on November 25. GameStop stores will be closed on Thanksgiving Day but will re-open at 7 a.m. on November 27, with the Black Friday sale running through November 29.
GameStop also offered Cyber Monday sales last year, but nothing has been announced for Cyber Monday 2020 so far.
Check out our gaming buying guides and reviews
For more video game, console, and computer recommendations, check out our various gaming reviews and buying guides.
Charles Koch says we need CEOs who practice doing well by doing good.
Bo Rader/Wichita Eagle/Tribune News Service via Getty Images
Charles Koch is chairman and CEO of Koch Industries, one of the largest privately held American companies, and an influential philanthropist for more than 50 years. Brian Hooks is president of the Charles Koch Foundation, and chairman and CEO of Stand Together.
In it, Koch and Hooks explain how corporate welfare stunted innovation in the economy and hope to empower young entrepreneurs and Americans to protect the business community from these destructive policies.
They share examples when Koch Industries actively fought corporate welfare, including persuading the federal government to end direct ethanol subsidies and opposing tax provisions that would benefit its company, but harm its customers.
"While this hurt our bottom line in the short term, it was the right thing to do, and it contributed to a better business environment in the long term," Koch and Hooks wrote.
Corporate welfare is so ingrained in the economy and the business community that it seems difficult, if not impossible, to eradicate. But we must eradicate it if we are to have a just and prosperous society. If we do, more people will be able to find jobs that match their abilities. More businesses will focus on helping their employees flourish and contribute, spurring innovation and progress. If we eliminate corporate welfare, we can begin building a culture of mutual benefit and an economy that works for all.
"Believe in People: Bottom-Up Solutions for a Top-Down World," by Charles Koch and Brian Hooks.
Courtesy of St. Martin's Press
So, where should a Social Entrepreneur start? What can you do to transform the institution of business? What is a better way, and how can you help bring it about?
The first thing we need are business leaders to take a stand. We need CEOs who practice Principled Entrepreneurship™ — the practice of doing well by doing good. This means building a company that empowers employees and contributes to communities. I know many CEOs who feel this way.
And we strive to do this at Koch Industries by applying Market-Based Management®. Other companies have begun applying MBM, and for many, it has made a real difference. Whatever management or business framework you use, or whether you use one, I encourage business leaders to focus relentlessly on creating an environment where people can self-actualize.
No company will succeed in the long run if its team members don't first succeed by contributing. If a culture of contribution is essential, then corporate welfare cannot be tolerated.
The best advocates against it are business leaders who don't want it. This is a bigger pool than you might think: 84% of the leaders at companies that don't benefit from such favoritism logically oppose it.
If this describes you, one practical thing you can do is to publicly criticize corporate welfare and explain why. Don't stay quiet.
We're doing our part at Koch Industries. We participate in industries where subsidies, mandates, and favoritism are part of the legally mandated system and can't be avoided. We nonetheless oppose corporate welfare in all its forms and lobby against it. We know that ending it will help us more in the long term.
What is true for us is true for every business, no matter how much its owners or managers think they need special treatment to survive. Corporate welfare has been around since well before I returned to the company, and I made an early point to oppose it.
In 1971, Richard Nixon's Committee to Re-elect the President — aptly nicknamed CREEP — asked our company for an illegal donation. The implication was clear: support us, and you'll get favors; don't, and you'll get the opposite. I immediately turned down Nixon's agents.
Other businesspeople succumbed, and suffered the legal consequences.
Of course, most corporate welfare isn't illegal, although it is always wrong and harmful to its recipients and to society. Here are two examples of where we vocally oppose such policies in our own industries.
Our company is one of America's largest producers of ethanol, a substance with a wide range of uses, including as fuel. Ethanol is essential to innovation on better fuel economy, which is part of why we are in the industry. Yet that doesn't mean ethanol should be propped up. Unfortunately, over the years, other ethanol producers successfully lobbied for federal ethanol mandates and subsidies — blatant handouts that we fought tooth and nail.
In 2011, we helped persuade the federal government to end direct ethanol subsidies. While this hurt our bottom line in the short term, it was the right thing to do, and it contributed to a better business environment in the long term. We continue to oppose other ethanol policies that act as special favors to producers, such as the Renewable Fuel Standard, which mandates the blending of ethanol into gasoline. Like the subsidies, the current policy benefits Koch short term — ensuring that we always have a market for our product — but it hurts us long term, along with everyone else.
Policymakers recognize these issues yet are unwilling to abandon the RFS mandate. The reason is easy to discern: corn farmers in Iowa — the first state in the presidential primary process — support it.
Politicians sometimes try to have it both ways, preserving the mandate while giving exemptions to other companies and certain refiners. This is just one more handout. We remain convinced that ethanol can succeed and improve people's lives without government support. And so Koch will continue advocating an end to the RFS.
Another example of egregious corporate welfare that we vigorously and successfully opposed was the so-called border-adjustment tax in the 2017 federal tax reform bill. This provision would have created a new taxation system designed to benefit select US companies, including manufacturers like us. It would have done so on the backs of the American people.
Koch Industries would have profited handsomely from the BAT. For example, while one of our refineries would have been subject to higher-priced imports from Canada, our refinery in Texas would have gained a big advantage on our competitors because we purchase our raw materials domestically.
Another Koch company, Georgia-Pacific, primarily uses domestic southern pine trees to produce paper products, while its primary competitors rely on imports. In both cases, the BAT would have allowed us to raise our prices on consumers and capture a much bigger profit and market share.
We opposed it anyway.
If it would make us money in the short term, why would we reject this policy? Because harming your customer is an excellent way to go out of business. Sure, the BAT would have given us potentially billions of dollars in profit, but consumers would have paid more than a trillion dollars in higher costs on imported goods. We would have made plenty of profits short-term, but in the long run, it would have made those who could least afford it poorer.
That is no recipe for long-term success. A company that disrespects customers will lose its customers. Either people will turn against it or creative destruction will overtake it. The better path is to strive to supply what customers value, giving them better products at better prices and rejecting mandates, subsidies, and measures to handicap competitors.
Are you a business leader? Do you know one? You can advocate against corporate welfare too. I have a colleague who calls it "being the skunk at the garden party."
When the city council proposes a tax credit for companies that move to or expand in your community, go to the council meeting and object. Tell them the handout corrupts business, which should only profit by creating value for, not harming, others. Let your local member of Congress know that your support depends on whether they treat all businesses equally — and the best way to lose your support is to offer you a subsidy. If you don't, who will?
Charles Koch is chairman and CEO of Koch Industries, one of the largest privately held American companies. An influential philanthropist for more than 50 years, he supports education, a community of organizations addressing persistent poverty, and public policy research focused on developing effective solutions to social problems. He has founded numerous nonprofit organizations, including Stand Together. He holds two masters degrees in nuclear and chemical engineering from MIT and lives in Wichita, Kansas with his wife Liz.
Brian Hooks is president of the Charles Koch Foundation and chairman and CEO of Stand Together, a philanthropic community that works with more than 700 business leaders and philanthropists to empower people to realize their unique potential and help every person rise. Previously, Brian served as executive director and COO of the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, where he led strategy and operations for a growing research, education, and public policy center. Brian is a graduate of the University of Michigan and lives in Alexandria, Virginia with his wife and daughter.
Jupiter and Saturn are about to line up perfectly in the night sky — the two planets will get so close on December 21 that they seem to touch.
The last time they looked this close from Earth's vantage point was nearly 800 years ago, on March 4, 1226.
An astronomical event in which celestial bodies align is called a conjunction. Since this conjunction involves the two biggest gas giants in our solar system, it's known as the "great conjunction." It happens to some degree once every two decades.
"But it is fair to say that this conjunction is truly exceptional in that the planets get very close to one another," Patrick Hartigan, a professor of physics and astronomy at Rice University, explained on his website.
"In fact, they will be so close it may be a challenge to separate them with the unaided eye for many people," he added.
Here's how to see this rare conjunction.
How to view a 'double planet'
A photo of Jupiter captured by NASA's Hubble Space Telescope on August 25, 2020.
NASA, ESA, STScI, A. Simon (Goddard Space Flight Center), and M.H. Wong (University of California, Berkeley) and the OPAL team
On the night of the winter solstice, Jupiter and Saturn will be separated by a distance in the sky equal to about one-fifth of a full moon's the diameter, according to Hartigan. They'll look like they form a "double planet."
Of course, the two planets are much farther apart than that — more than four times the distance between Earth and the sun. But to our naked eyes, they'll look like a single point of bright light.
If you peek through a small telescope, Jupiter and Saturn will appear in the same field of view, along with some of their moons.
How Jupiter and Saturn will appear in a telescope set up in Houston, Texas, on December 21, 2020 as they approach each other in the sky.
Patrick Hartigan/Rice University/Adapted from Stellarium graphics
However, it will be challenging to see this conjunction in the United States, Canada, and Europe, Hartigan said, due to how low it will be on the horizon in the Northern Hemisphere.
"Viewing conditions are best close to the equator, though no matter where you are, there is maybe an hour or so to observe this conjunction before the planets sink into the haze," he added.
If you head out around twilight — the hour after sunset — and point your telescope toward the southwestern sky, you can spot the event, Hartigan said. (Websites like Stellarium can help you orient your telescope towards the planets' meeting point.)
"You will need to have a clear southwestern horizon and no low clouds in the distance," Hartigan said.
He recommends setting up your telescope before it gets fully dark and bringing binoculars.
If the night of the solstice ends up being cloudy where you are, Hartigan said, don't worry: The conjunction is an ongoing event from December 17 to 25. The 21st is just when the two planets will be the very closest in the sky.
Another conjunction like this will come in 2080
In the last 2,000 years, there were just two times that Jupiter and Saturn came closer in the sky than they'll get this year.
One of those was in 1623, but the sun's glare made it impossible to see. However, if you miss this upcoming rare conjunction, another will come in 60 years.
A photo of Saturn and two of its moons, taken by Voyager 1 in 1980.
SSPL/Getty
On March 15, 2080, Jupiter and Saturn will look just as close as they do this year. That event will be much easier to see, according to Hartigan, because it'll take place higher above the horizon.
"The major challenge there is you'll have to stay alive for another 60 years to see it!" he said.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo sits with his mother, Matilda, and daughter Cara, on the floor of the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pa., on the final night of the Democratic National Convention, July 28, 2016.
Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo will not be having Thanksgiving dinner with his 89-year-old mother and two of his three daughters, contrary to what he alluded to a radio interview on Monday.
"The story is, my mom is going to come up and two of my girls. But the plans change," Cuomo told WAMC radio.
However, later on Monday, a senior adviser for Cuomo told Insider the dinner will be off "given the current circumstances with COVID."
"Don't tell his mom — she doesn't know yet," added Rich Azzopardi, a senior advisor to Cuomo, said in a statement.
The internet was quick to drag Cuomo, given that he's been urging New Yorkers to stay home and limit travel this Thanksgiving due to the coronavirus pandemic.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo will not be having his 89-year-old mother and two of his daughters over for Thanksgiving, according to a senior adviser.
On Monday afternoon, Cuomo indicated he would be having a small dinner when asked about his plans in an interview on a local radio station.
"The story is, my mom is going to come up and two of my girls, but the plans change," Cuomo told WAMC radio, the NPR affiliate in New York's Capital Region.
A few hours later, Rich Azzopardi, a senior adviser to the governor, told Insider the dinner is off.
"As the Governor said, 'The story is my mom is going to come up and two of my girls is the current plan, but the plans change. That's my plan. I'm going to work — I've got a lot of work to do between now and Thanksgiving,' and given the current circumstances with COVID, he will have to work through Thanksgiving and will not be seeing them," Azzopardi told Insider in a statement early Monday evening.
He added: "Don't tell his mom — she doesn't know yet."
The internet was quick to dunk on Cuomo, given how much he's been telling New Yorkers to stay home and forsake a normal Thanksgiving due to the coronavirus pandemic and cases surging nationally.
In the Empire State, people are required to limit gatherings to no more than 10 people. While Cuomo's gathering of four would not violate any rules, the age of his mother and the notion that he would still proceed with a holiday dinner angered people online.
During Cuomo's press briefings, for which he won an International Emmy award on Monday, the governor has addressed his own family's struggles with whom to invite for Thanksgiving.
Last week, he said he told his mother "we can't get together for Thanksgiving."
"Your family sounds safe, doesn't it?" Cuomo said. "No, you won't be safe. It's an illusion. My sister loves me. My sister could infect me — not maliciously, but accidentally."
During his Monday briefing, Cuomo said one of his daughters, Mariah, will not join the family for Thanksgiving because it would involve traveling from Chicago. The governor, who has been urging New Yorkers to limit their travel this Thanksgiving, recalled that his daughter cried during their phone call.
"When your child cries it kills you," he said. "You feel pain worse than they feel pain."
Black Friday officially falls on November 27, but Nordstrom's sale is already happening. Now through December 1, the popular department store will have deep discounts on women's, men's, and children's clothing, accessories, skincare, makeup, home goods, and more.
Whether you're shopping for the holiday season or you just can't pass up good deals, you'll definitely want to check out Nordstrom's Black Friday Sale.
To help you shop, we rounded up some of the best deals and go-to categories below.
How do we select Black Friday deals from Nordstrom?
We only choose products that meet our standards for coverage. These items come from trusted brands that we know and use or have tested.
The deal price must be better than the retail price or the normal sale price, and if we write about it, we've made sure it's not available somewhere else for cheaper.
When does Nordstrom's Black Friday sale start?
Black Friday 2020 is November 27 and Cyber Monday is November 30, but Nordstrom's Cyber Week sale is running now until December 1.
What is Nordstrom's return policy?
Nordstrom doesn't have a traditional return policy. Instead, returns are handled on a case-by-case basis, and the company tends to be very accommodating.
Can I shop at the Nordstrom store near me?
Yes. Nordstrom's Black Friday deals will also be available in stores. You can also order online and choose in-store pick-up or curbside pickup. If you do decide to shop in the store, Nordstrom has taken measures to help keep customers and employees safe by requiring face masks and encouraging social distancing.
What should I buy from Nordstrom this Black Friday?
Nordstrom's Black Friday sale is a great time to stock up on everything from essentials like socks, underwear, winter coats, hats, and gloves, to splurge items like sunglasses, handbags, jewelry, and beauty products. You'll also find home goods like pillows, candles, diffusers, and more.
How does Nordstrom stand up to the competition on Black Friday?
While other department stores will also have Black Friday sales, Nordstrom stands out from others for its great range of products that includes both affordable brands and luxury brands. Nordstrom's lenient return policy is also a major plus for shopping during the holiday season.
Emily Murphy, administrator of the General Services Administration, said in a letter on Monday that she would make "resources and services available" to help President-elect Joe Biden begin the presidential transition.
"The actual winner of the presidential election will be determined by the electoral process detailed in the Constitution," Murphy wrote.
The news comes after congressional Democrats expressed outrage that Murphy was refusing to recognize Biden as the "apparent president-elect," delaying his transition.
The General Services Administration will provide President-elect Joe Biden with the "resources and services" he needs to begin his transition to the White House, Administrator Emily Murphy said in a letter on Monday.
Murphy, who his required by US law to provide office space and equipment to the "apparent president-elect," stopped short of declaring Biden the victor.
"The actual winner of the presidential election will be determined by the electoral process detailed in the Constitution," she wrote.
In a statement, Yohannes Abraham, executive director of the Biden-Harris transition team, welcomed the news.
"Today's decision is a needed step to begin tackling the challenges facing our nation, including getting the pandemic under control and our economy back on track," Abraham said. He characterized it as a "final decision."
"In the days ahead, transition officials will begin meeting with federal officials to discuss the pandemic response, have a full accounting of our national security interests, and gain complete understanding of the Trump administration's efforts to hollow out government agencies," Abraham said.
For his part, outgoing President Donald Trump took credit for Murphy's decision, despite her letter asserting that she "came to my decision independently."
While projecting confidence he would ultimately be declared the winner of an election that he lost, Trump said on Twitter that he was "recommending that Emily and her team do what needs to be done with regard to initial protocols, and have told my team to do the same."
Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden makes a stop at The Warehouse, a community center for teens in East Wilmington, on November 03, 2020 in Wilmington, Delaware.
Drew Angerer/Getty Images
Joe Biden was elected president in large part due to support from Black voters.
Biden should pay back this trust from Black voters by fighting for racial justice and reforming the racist criminal justice system.
One way to do that is to advocate for the BREATHE Act, which would reshape our prison system and undo some of the damage of incarceration on communities of color.
Ashish Prashar is the Senior Director of Global Communications for Publicis Sapient, Board Member of New York-based Exodus Transitional Community and Getting Out and Staying Out, and Fellow at the Royal Society of Arts.
This is an opinion column. The thoughts expressed are those of the author.
When the story of the 2020 election is written, one of the biggest takeaways will be just how much Black voters came through for President-elect Joe Biden.
When Biden's primary campaign was written off by many, Black voters in South Carolina handed him a big win that catapulted him to the Democratic Party's Presidential nomination.
And Black voters in Detroit, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Philadelphia and Atlanta helped to put Biden over the top in the presidential election. 87% of Black voters nationwide chose the former vice president over Trump, during an election year that broke turnout records, according to preliminary national exit polling. It's striking that people who have been failed and treated the worst by our democracy consistently do the most to save it.
And yes, Black voters (and non-voters) have been failed by our country.
The US has the highest incarceration rate in the world, a result of decades of bipartisan legislation — like the 1994 Crime Bill — that propped up institutional racism. Nearly 2.3 million people are locked up in jails and prisons according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics. That's the biggest peacetime prison population in the history of humanity. And of those 40% of Americans languishing in prisons are Black Americans, while they make up only 13% of the general population.
President-elect Joe Biden thanked Black voters in his victory speech for rescuing his campaign when it was at its lowest point and bringing it over the finish line, declaring "you've always had my back, and I'll have yours."
Joe Biden's dramatic vow during his victory speech to return the favor for Black voters who supported him was an explicit commitment to Black Americans to listen and act on their behalf.
It is high time for him to honor this new commitment and deliver justice.
Joe can deliver real justice
In his bid for the Presidency, Joe Biden released an extensive policy agenda that outlined his plan for Black America. It included proposals to invest in Black businesses and entrepreneurs, create opportunities for homeownership, narrow racial disparities in education and address a criminal justice system that disproportionately arrests, convicts and imprisons members of Black communities.
What is imperative right now is for Biden to work to undo the injustices that run rampant through the American criminal justice system and follow through on most of the promises he made during the campaign.
However, every radical piece of legislation that we've ever passed in this country, it has passed on the heels of the kinds of grassroots protests that we saw on the streets this past Summer.
Young Black voters who did not back Biden in the primary are the same Black youth that secured him the Presidency but also who hold his political record partially responsible for the pain they are feeling, and who continue to protest in the streets demanding a bolder vision of the future, and calling for their fellow Americans, including elected officials, to join them.
From those protests and the work of Movement for Black Lives with so many organizations dedicated to ending the injustice of mass incarceration, a bolder vision has been presented. It is the BREATHE Act.
This proposed legislation would eliminate the federal government's ability to give multimillion-dollar grants for the militarization of police forces, and calls for a "time-bound plan" to close all federal prisons and immigration detention centers.
Instead of a system that relies almost solely on punishment, the BREATHE Act creates a new Community Public Safety Agency which uses grants to replace the harmful criminal legal systems locally with evidence-based public safety infrastructure. Importantly, the act moves the function of public safety out of the Department of Justice and into the Department of Health and Human Services — signaling a dramatic shift in how our society approaches community well-being.
The investments the BREATHE Act makes in education, healthcare, the environment, wealth generation for working class families, and housing, creates public safety by supporting communities, rather than punishing them.
If you truly want every American to participate in society, you do not pass laws that keep them from doing so. More than six million people are not allowed to vote today due to a felony conviction, something the BREATHE Act would immediately change if passed.
We know that prisons won't be bulldozed tomorrow, and the complete elimination of the current justice system can't be done in one fell swoop. However, we need to create space for budgets to be divested from police and prisons and invested directly into communities to address mental health needs, homelessness, access to critical education, and rewarding jobs as well as community-based methods of accountability.
A strong first step is for the Biden Administration to support the BREATHE ACT to make it possible for all communities to be safe and free.
Sunrise alarm clocks use light and natural sounds to help you fall asleep and wake up more gently the next morning.
I tested seven sunrise alarm clocks, consulted two doctors, and relied on my own background in sleep research to determine the best ones.
The Philips Smartsleep Connected is the best sunrise alarm clock because it has tons of customization options for both waking up and falling asleep, and it analyzes your bedroom conditions to help you make improvements to your sleep environment.
If you've ever woken up to a traditional alarm clock, you know that a blaring alarm early in the morning can be quite jarring. Sunrise alarm clocks (sometimes called wake-up lamps) simulate a natural and gradual sunrise with a range of soft orange and yellow LED lights for a gentler wake up experience. The simulated natural light from these devices can purportedly help with your mental health, too. Many wake-up lamps combine light therapy with sound meditation and breathing techniques to create a more calming sleep environment and help regulate circadian rhythms — the natural ebb and flow of hormones that tell us when to go to sleep and when to wake up.
Dr. Alex Dimitriu, founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry and Sleep Medicine, told us that the gentle stimulus from sunrise alarm clocks starts getting the body out of deeper sleep stages, and closer to wakefulness. "Whether it's a gradual sound or light alarm, wake-up lamps can help better prepare the body to wake up more gently, with less startle," Dimitriu said.
Sunrise alarm clocks can also help reduce the effects of sleep inertia, that drowsy, disorienting feeling that a lot of us experience after abruptly waking up. "Sudden awakenings can lead to sudden changes in cortisol and other neurotransmitters that could cause problems," said Dr. William Winter of Charlottesville Neurology and Sleep Medicine. "Waking up with a gradual increase in wake-promoting light makes a lot of sense," Winter said, which is why sunrise alarm clocks might be a better option than regular alarm clocks.
In addition to consulting two experts, I leaned heavily on my own experience in sleep science for this guide. I previously managed a sleep laboratory for two years and continue to contribute to sleep research. I've presented some of my research at Eastern Psychological Association and have tested products for SleepScore Labs. Given my research background, I think it's important that any new product you bring into your sleep routine be backed by research. That's why I tested seven sunrise alarm clocks, using each for three consecutive days and nights to evaluate how effective, easy use, and durable they are. You can read more about how we tested here.
Update, 11/23/2020: We completely overhauled this guide with hands-on testing, original photos, and new picks.
Table of Contents: Masthead Sticky
The best sunrise alarm clock overall
Suzy Hernandez/Business Insider
The Philips Smartsleep Connected can help you fall asleep gently and wake up on time with stunning sunset and sunrise simulations. It monitors your sleep environment and provides recommendations to improve it.
Pros: Smartphone connected; allows you to customize duration, color, sound, and intensity of wake-up and wind-down programs; makes recommendations for improving sleep environment; can set up to 16 alarms
Cons: Occupies a lot of space on nightstand, does not play music via Bluetooth, not a good option for those who prefer manual controls
The Philips Smartsleep Connected is a relatively large sunrise lamp that sort of resembles a glowing donut. At about nine inches wide, it takes up a quarter of my 18 inch by 12 inch bedside table. While the device is fairly large, you can place it anywhere in your room because you control almost everything from your phone via the Philips SleepMapper app, which you can download from the Apple App Store or Google Play.
The app allows you to set up and customize "wind-down" and "wake-up" profiles with your preferred sound, light intensity, and duration, and I found it very easy and intuitive to use. The stunning sunset simulation was one of my favorite features: the brightness gradually decreases from beautiful hues of bright yellows to soft reds, and is accompanied by natural relaxing sounds that fade away with the sunset simulation. Your personal sunset can last anywhere from five minutes to an hour and you can choose from four color schemes with inviting names such as "Caribbean red" and "Nordic white," and four nighttime ambient sounds like "soft rain," "summer lake," or even your preferred FM radio station. I also found the meditation program, called RelaxBreathe, a valuable tool for building better sleep practices. This guided meditation walks you through deep breathing and can be customized by changing the pace anywhere from four breaths per minute to 10 breaths per minute.
After setting up the Smartsleep and playing with the controls and features, I found my personal preferences. I woke up to "summer birds," one of the eight gentle morning sounds that gradually increase in volume over several minutes, and an "island red" sunrise with warm red and orange lights that distributed nicely throughout the bedroom. The combination made me feel like I was on vacation. You can also set up to 16 alarms; a useful option for people who tend to hit the snooze button more than once.
Obviously, Philips designers had the single intention of improving sleep quality when creating this device. The technology has been backed by research: in a 2010 study, participants reported easier rising; better mood, productivity, and quality of social interaction; and reduced sleep inertia after using Philips sunrise lamps. Philips' "Ambitrack" technology is built into the device to track sleep habits and calculate bedroom conditions including temperature, humidity, light, and sound levels. The app recommends the ideal conditions for best sleep quality and lets you know if your bedroom is too hot, humid, bright, or loud for optimal sleep. The app also offers instructions and tips on how to take full advantage of the device's features.
There were also a number of small features I appreciated. If you wake up in the middle of the night, you can tap the top of the device to activate a dim light instead of turning on an overhead light or using your phone's flashlight. In case of a power outage, the internal clock and back up alarm remain active for at least eight hours, so you won't miss your wake up call. The device also includes an integrated USB charging dock for your devices, an AUX cord to play music from your phone, and a bright reading light. Unfortunately, you can't wake up to music from your phone or anything else connected through the AUX cord, and it does not play music via Bluetooth.
In all, I loved falling asleep and waking up with this sunrise alarm clock, and its customization and user friendly app make it the best choice if you're investing in one of these wake-up devices.
The best mid-priced sunrise alarm clock
Suzy Hernandez/Business Insider
The Hatch Restore has the most light options and sleep sounds of any model we tried and they're all fully controlled through its multifunctional Hatch Sleep app.
Pros: More than 30 sound options and 20 light options to choose from, guided meditations, fully personalized sleep and wake-up routines through the app
Cons: Not a good option if you don't like to rely on an app, doesn't play music, guided meditations only available with subscription, must be connected to Wi-Fi to use
The Hatch Restore sunrise alarm clock connects via Bluetooth to your phone and, with the free smartphone app (available on the Apple App Store and on Google Play), you can set your personalized bedtime routine and more than 18 alarms. Setting up the Hatch is easy even though it doesn't come with traditional instructions. Instead, the box contains a small card with a link to the instructions online. There are so many features to choose from, including a bedside reading light, guided meditations, sleep stories, wind-down profiles, and sleep routines; all of which are fully customizable. It has more than 30 soothing sleep sounds and many more light therapy options than any of the products we tried, including nighttime shades, warm oranges, and soft relaxing pastels, which I loved while listening to meditations. What's great about the Hatch is that users can fully personalize every part of their sleep schedule according to their preferences; you can add up to 10 steps to create a routine to fall asleep.
My routine consisted of three simple steps. First, I got into bed and read my book using the coral nighttime light for 30 minutes while listening to the "sea wind" sound. Then I wound down with a soft pink light and the "meeting sleep with ease" meditation. Finally, I fell asleep to an orange light and the sound of rain. You can also set how long each step is. I was concerned about the digital clock display being too bright during the night, but you're able to turn it off completely or set it so that it will turn off by itself at your preferred time — a great feature for total darkness that also contributes to a good sleep environment. I also really enjoyed the variety of the guided meditations, which include breathing techniques, body scans, and relaxing sleep affirmations. The Hatch is well-designed with a nice half-moon shape that simulates a natural sunrise and, at 7.5 inches long, it didn't take up too much of my nightstand. It's a good device with a lot of light and sound options to create your own sleep routines.
Unlike some sunrise alarm clocks, the Hatch does require users to download the app and to have a stable Wi-Fi connection in order to use the device; without either, it's basically useless. All its features are controlled through the Hatch Sleep app, but the device itself includes a few soft-touch buttons for volume and brightness. Unfortunately, many of the guided sleep meditations can only be accessed by subscribing for $49.99 a year or $4.99 a month (though the first six months are free). Another thing to note is that the device doesn't immediately connect to your smartphone every time you open its companion app; it usually takes a few seconds to connect. I personally did not have an issue waiting five seconds for the app to open but other users might find it annoying. It also does not play music or radio.
The best sunrise alarm clock on a budget
Suzy Hernandez/Business Insider
The iHome Zenergy Dream Mini produces a soft sunrise and will gradually wake you up with your favorite song. For the price, it's packed with a lot of features that will help you wake up in a better mood.
Pros: Lots of customizable options, pairs with Bluetooth to play music from your phone, won't take up too much space on your nightstand
Cons: The light intensity might be too low for some, most functions cannot be controlled through a smartphone, only two alarms
The iHome Zenergy Dream Mini is a tiny sleep therapy machine packed with tons of features and customizable options. The instructions include really useful tips on how to properly meditate with the device and a brief section on the importance of maintaining good circadian rhythms.
What I love about the Zenergy Dream Mini is the option to wake up to my own Spotify playlist; a feature that other wake-up lamps I tested lack. The mini device paired up quickly and smoothly with my iPhone every single time with no issues, and I was able to wake up to a gentle simulated sunrise and my favorite song. The sound quality is honestly pretty good for such a small device. However, even though you can choose and play your music through Bluetooth, this device does not have an accompanying app, so you can't control any other features with your smartphone.
Instead, you control most of its functionality through 15 buttons on the top of the device. It has a lot of options that have to be set up manually but the instructions are helpful and the settings are fairly easy to navigate. The time also has to be set up manually but will purportedly adjust during daylight saving time automatically, and the built-in battery maintains the time and alarm settings in the event of a power outage. One of its key features is the "ZENERGY" button, which activates calming sounds accompanied by gentle, colorful lights. It is customizable with the "fall asleep" and "stay asleep" buttons, which let you choose from a nice selection of sound and light options including a guided breathing meditation, 13 relaxing sounds, and nine calming light therapy cycles. My favorite is the "heart" sound because it promotes steady breathing patterns and pairs well with the "breath" light color therapy.
The snooze button is large and strategically placed in front of all the buttons, so I didn't have to struggle to hit snooze in the morning. However, you can only set two alarms and snooze only lasts up to nine minutes. The light from this mini device might also be too soft for some individuals who need brighter hues in order to wake up. Still, this sunrise alarm clock is priced much lower than other options and offers great functionality if you're just starting to dabble in light therapy.
The best portable sunrise alarm clock
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The Casper Glow Light is uniquely designed as a wireless, portable night light, and uses intuitive gestures and a streamlined design to create a beautiful and simple experience.
Pros: Beautiful warm lights, portable, pairs with multiple Glow Lights for a bedroom light show, intuitive and easy to operate with simple gestures
Cons: Lacks sound, requires smartphone app for expanded features like setting sleep and wake times
Casper Glow Light is a small portable cylinder that can be easily controlled with just a few gestures: flip to turn on, rotate to increase and decrease the amount of light, and wiggle to turn on the night light. The device is super simple; it's small, softly lit, and smartly designed with gentle, warm hues of light for better sleep. The controls work in either direction, so it doesn't matter if the device is upside down or right side up. The movement sensors are pretty intuitive, and it has a grippy rubber bottom to help it stay in place on flat surfaces.
The light charges wirelessly, quickly, and pairs with an app that is also very simple to use. While you can operate the light without having to connect it to your mobile device, the app (available on the Apple App Store and on Google Play) is a must if you want to set wake-up and wind-down times, which cue a sunset or sunrise light show that can last from 15 to 90 minutes.
One of the unique features of the Glow Light is that it synchronizes with other Glow Lights to make pretty light shows. Once you have more than one Glow Light you can name each and "group" or "ungroup" them through the app. I used two lights together and found they set a very tranquil mood in the room.
The night light feature is very useful for when you wake up in the middle of the night and want to avoid turning on bright, harsh lights that could disrupt melatonin levels and the ability to fall back to sleep. The light was easy and fun to carry around during the night when I went on a mission downstairs to get a glass of water. I didn't worry about dropping it or knocking it over because it's intentionally made with polycarbonate to resist bumps and endure falls.
Falling asleep with my pair of Glow Lights was such a treat. The soft, warm lights create a tranquil sleep environment, gradually dim to slowly relax you, and then turn completely off for total darkness. The Casper Glow Lights are made with high-quality warm LEDs that were effective in waking me up gently. However, the device focuses solely on effective light therapy and, unlike other models we tested, it completely excludes sound therapy. The light was purposefully designed without sounds, so it might not be the best option for heavy sleepers who require some noise to wake up; you'll still need to set a phone alarm if you really need a rise out of bed. That said, it's a beautiful device that makes for a very tranquil bedroom environment.
The best sunrise alarm clock with all manual controls
Suzy Hernandez/Business Insider
The Philips SmartSleep Wake-Up Light has a unique spherical design that creates a beautiful sunrise simulation, and features many of the same premium settings as the more expensive Philips Smartsleep Connected.
Pros: Creates the best sunrise simulation, very user-friendly and simple, fully manual
Cons: Very limited sound options, doesn't have an app if you're someone who prefers a connected device
A less expensive option from Philips, the Philips SmartSleep Wake-Up Light has fewer customizable options and features than the Philips Smartsleep Connected and is completely manual; no app needed. I recommend this one if you're looking for something simple, but still high-quality and efficient. It's one of Philips' best selling sunrise alarm clocks because of its impressive colored sunrise simulations and relaxing sunsets.
I had no problem setting the time and alarms with the easy-to-follow instructions. Falling asleep to this lamp was very relaxing; the sunset simulation therapy works just as well as the Philips Smartsleep Connected and the display automatically dims as the room gets darker, great for cocooning yourself in total darkness. Waking up with this lamp was such a pleasant experience; the gradual and natural sunrise simulation increased in the span of 30 minutes until it completely flooded my bedroom with beautiful, rich, orange and yellow lights and the gentle sounds of "Nepal bowls." You can choose from five different natural wake-up sounds including beautiful "birds" and "ocean waves," or your preferred FM radio station. The snooze feature is unique: a single slight tap anywhere on the device snoozes the lamp for nine minutes.
It's also one of Philips' sunrise alarm clocks that is clinically proven to help you feel more ready for the day, and I have to admit that it did a great job at waking me up feeling refreshed in the morning. I personally prefer this Philips model's smooth, spherical shape and smaller size over the Philips Smartsleep Connected, although I wish it connected to the app for more customization. I missed the extra features in the Philips Sleepmapper app when I used this model, like the sleep environment monitoring and extended customization. I hope Philips comes out with a new sunrise alarm clock that features all of the Philips Smartsleep Connected options but is shaped like this model to simulate that beautiful, natural sunrise.
What we don't recommend
Suzy Hernandez/Business Insider
I tested seven sunrise alarm clocks as part of this guide and unfortunately, some didn't make the cut. Here are the products we don't recommend.
Lumie Bodyclock Shine 300 ($159.00): The Lumie Bodyclock Shine 300 doesn't connect to an app and setting it up manually took me multiple tries and many minutes, as it comes with a set of lengthy, non-intuitive instructions that involve a lot of clicking around on the device. The daily alarm has to be turned on manually every single night before going to bed; if you fall asleep before you do, you're out of luck for your morning alarm. The sound options are interesting, to say the least. I chose to wake up to "kittens purring" because the other options were not exactly what I would prefer waking up to; for example, there was "ping-pong," "steam train," "goats," and "café," among the 15 odd sounds. Made by a British company, the device only provides a 24-hour clock, which is somewhat inconvenient if you're used to a 12-hour clock. That being said, the device and its lights do simulate a nice sunset and sunrise. The light progression is smooth and it has gentle levels of brightness. Although it has a lot of customizable options, they can be quite frustrating to set up.
AMTOK Smart Wake Up Light ($45.99): I was excited to try this smart sunrise alarm clock because of its voice control function. However, setting it up was so complicated and time-consuming that I quickly got discouraged. First, it comes with two sets of instructions with different information on how to connect the device to your phone, but neither appeared to be up-to-date to the model I was testing. Second, it only supports 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi networks, which transmit data at lower speeds and are prone to interference; likely why it failed to wake me up in the morning on multiple occasions. While the device has features that you can control through the app, they're very limited; just a few sound and light options. The color loop option is nice but I found its light intensity somewhat dull and not very relaxing. It's a device that you have to learn to get used to — if you have the patience.
Methodology
Suzy Hernandez/Business Insider
In addition to interviewing sleep experts Dr. Alex Dimitriu, founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry and Sleep Medicine, and Dr. William Winter of Charlottesville Neurology and Sleep Medicine, I did hands-on testing with seven different sunrise alarm clocks. As a sleep researcher who managed a sleep lab for two years, part of my research involved investigating strategies to reduce sleep inertia (like using sunrise alarm clocks), so I also relied on my own background in sleep research and product testing to evaluate each product over several nights. I tested each sunrise alarm clock according to the following criteria:
Setup: For each of the lamps, I paid close attention to how difficult or easy it was to set up on my nightstand. I noted how accurate and helpful their instructions were and what it was like to set the time and alarms. I also evaluated how heavy they were and how much space they occupied on my bedside table.
Performance: I used each wake-up lamp for a minimum of three consecutive days and nights to get used to the routine and noted whether or not they woke me up on time and with the features (such as sound and light color) I chose. I took notes on what it was like to fall asleep with their wind-down features, and paid particular attention to the wake up experience. I woke up at the same time every morning with each alarm clock to keep my experiences consistent, and noted how I felt and how much sleep inertia I experienced. I also evaluated the sound and light quality of each, and how easy or difficult it was to snooze the back-up alarm (if it had one).
Special features: I tested out any additional and unique features of each sunrise alarm clock, such as speakers, Bluetooth integration, guided meditations, and accompanying mobile apps. I noted whether or not these extra features were actually helpful and easy to use.
Durability: In order to test how durable and resistant each alarm clock was, I knocked every one off my nightstand and checked to see if any parts came loose or broke. Fortunately, all of them passed this test. I also took note of each product's materials and their warranty.
What we look forward to testing
Suzy Hernandez/Business Insider
We're continuing to research and test the best wake up lamp alarm clocks; here are some models on our horizon.
Hatch Rest+ ($89.99): Hatch recently came out with a new Hatch Rest+ smart lamp. Its features include a sound machine, night light, and a "time-to-rise" feature that cues your child when it's time to sleep and when it's okay to get up. It also has an audio monitor, backup battery, and you can control it with Amazon Alexa (but not Google Home). You can even "dress it up" with cute coverlets to make it fun for babies and children. It's received a ton of great reviews from parents and I'm excited to test its integration with Alexa.
TITIROBA Wake Up Simulation ($35.99): This wake-up lamp, which is the least expensive I've seen, has received a lot of really great reviews. Some of its features include five natural sounds, a backup battery, "eye-care" adjustable lights, digital LED clock, and touch control. It's simple and equipped with only a few features but it might be worth a try if you're on a budget.
LittleHippo Children's Trainer Sounds Machine ($49.99): This one might be a great option for kids. It's a cute design that uses colors and digital "facial expressions" to teach children when it's okay to get out of bed and when it's time to go to sleep. Its "wake" feature works just like a sunrise alarm clock, glowing to indicate the start of the day. It also has child-friendly alarms, nap timers, and a night light. It has great reviews and I'd love to compare this one to the Hatch Rest+.
Bodyclock Luxe 750DAB(£199.00): I really want to give Lumie another shot. To be fair, the Lumie Bodyclock Shine 300 that I tested was designed years ago, but is one of the few models currently available in the United States. There is a newer version with more sound options, Bluetooth for streaming music from smartphones, higher-quality sound, and a glass lamp cover — a feature that I imagine produces a beautiful sunrise simulation. Currently, this Lumie model is only available in the UK.
FAQs
Suzy Hernandez/Business Insider
What are the benefits of sunrise alarm clocks?
The light therapy implemented in these wake-up lamps helps regulate cortisol and melatonin production, two important hormones that are essential in controlling sleep/wake cycles. It can be difficult for some of us to adapt to season changes, especially in the winter when days get shorter and nights get longer. The shift from bright summer days to long, dark winter months can have an impact on circadian rhythms, sometimes resulting in seasonal affective disorder (SAD).
New technology has also affected our circadian rhythms by restraining the natural production of the sleep hormone melatonin as a result of constant exposure to artificial blue lights from our phones, TVs, and computers.
Regular daily alternation of light and darkness is essential in order to maintain good quality sleep. Sunrise alarm clocks have "wind-down" features that encourage a healthy production of melatonin at night by mimicking a gradual sunset, while the "wake-up" cycles encourage the production of cortisol in the morning by simulating a natural and gradual sunrise that prepares you for wakefulness. The wake-up and wind-down features can be equally important in helping maintain a healthy sleep cycle.
How does a sunrise alarm-clock compare to a traditional alarm?
Many sunrise alarm clocks are equipped with all the features we all like in traditional alarm clocks — a radio or music player, custom or multiple alarms, and yes, even a sound alarm if you need it. The key difference is that sunrise alarm clocks use gentle light and sound to help you wake up before resorting to the louder noises that are typical of a standard alarm clock.
Waking up to the loud, obnoxious sound of a traditional alarm clock is not only unpleasant and irritating, but it's also quite unhealthy. "If we train ourselves to wake up suddenly, with a jolt, this can become a problem for any other time we wake up in the night, making it hard to fall back asleep," said Dimitriu.
That abrupt wake-up experience can also cause stress levels to suddenly increase, often aggravating long-term issues like chronic anxiety. Winter also advises waking up gently because sudden awakenings can cause sudden blood pressure surges, possibly leading to heart issues.
Your chances of waking up with sleep inertia — that debilitating groggy, drowsy feeling that occurs as a result of a sudden, often startling transition between sleep and wakefulness — also increase if you wake up to a traditional alarm clock. Sleep inertia makes it very difficult for some people to get out of bed, and often puts people in a bad mood for the rest of their day. "Gradual alarms (sound or light) are excellent solutions to wake people gradually," said Dimitriu, since these softer alarms offer a gentler, more gradual and natural wake-up experience.
What features should I look for when choosing a sunrise alarm clock?
There are a lot of options when it comes to choosing a sunrise alarm clock. One very important aspect to consider is the brightness level of the lamp. If you're a heavy sleeper you might need a sunrise alarm clock that has bright lights to effectively wake you up in the morning.
Another important factor is alarm sounds: most sunrise alarm clocks have several sound options and some (like the Casper Glow light) lack this feature completely. If you're a heavy sleeper you may want to opt for a device with many sounds. Or, if you are a "snoozer," you might want to consider a sunrise alarm clock that allows you to set multiple alarms like the Philips Smartsleep Connected, which offers up to 16 alarms just in case you like to hit snooze more than once.
Finally, consider your personal needs; if you're uncomfortable operating smartphone-enabled technology, you may prefer a sunrise alarm clock with manual functions right on the machine. On the flip side, if you want a very custom experience, you may like a lamp that offers many different colors and sounds that are controlled through a phone app.
Electric-truck company Nikola gained as much as 29% on Tuesday after General Motors announced its no longer supporting the Trump administration's efforts to bar California from setting its own emissions regulations.
California's authority to set its own fuel regulations will likely boost the EV industry, as will GM's new plan to increase spending on EVs and work with Biden to promote the industry.
Shares of the electric-truck company Nikola surged as much as 29% on Tuesday after General Motors announced its no longer supporting the Trump administration's efforts to bar California from setting its own emissions regulations.
California's authority to set its own fuel regulations will likely boost the electric-vehicle industry, as will GM's new plan to increase spending on EVs and work with president-elect Joe Biden to promote the industry.
"We are confident that the Biden Administration, California, and the U.S. auto industry, which supports 10.3 million jobs, can collaboratively find the pathway that will deliver an all-electric future," said GM CEO Mary Barra, the Wall Street Journal reported.
The Nikola stock surge also comes as investors speculate that Nikola and GM may be close to finalizing a partnership.
According to GM's website, the auto giant has signed an agreement with Nikola to engineer and manufacture the Nikola Badger truck using a GM battery system, and to be the exclusive supplier of fuel cells for Nikola semi-trucks, but nothing has yet been finalized.
When GM announced last Thursday that its planning on increasing spending on electric and autonomous vehicles by 35%, the auto maker made no mention of Nikola.
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Apple
We're seeing a few Black Friday iPad deals for Apple's latest crop of iPads, including the 10.2-inch iPad, the iPad Air, iPad Pro, and the iPad Mini ahead of Black Friday.
We're also looking out for deals on both generations of the Apple Pencil and the Magic Keyboard that includes a trackpad, keyboard, and stand for iPads.
The biggest deals we're seeing so far are mostly for iPad Pros.
Black Friday officially begins in just a few days on November 27, right after Thanksgiving. And, with Black Friday 2020 will come deals on iPads.
Apple isn't typically known to host its own deals for sales events, but it is offering gift cards of up to $150 when shoppers buy certain products. Stores that sell Apple devices have some Black Friday deals right now and will have more on the actual day. There's nothing spectacular right now, but it's worth keeping this page open for updated deals when Black Friday hits if you're in the market for an Apple tablet.
Along with the iPads themselves, we've also included deals for both generations of Apple Pencil, as well as the Magic Keyboard that turns the iPad Air and iPad Pro models into veritable productivity machines with their stand, keyboard, and trackpad.
Apple Black Friday: 2020 iPad 10.2-inch (8th-gen) deals available now
Apple's 10.2-inch standard iPad is the model that most people should buy for its great balance of performance and value — in almost every respect, this model will do everything most people need it to do, like browsing the web, social media, running apps, video calling, streaming video, and pretty much anything else you'd expect from a good, standard iPad.
For Black Friday, you're looking for anything below its $329 price, as its full price is already pretty good for this great all-around tablet. You can snag one of the early deals without feeling regret, or wait until Black Friday to see if stores will go lower.
Apple Black Friday: 2020 iPad Air (4th-gen) deals available now
The newest iPad Air's design language comes from the iPad Pro, it and runs on the powerful A14 processor from the current iPhone 12 series. If you're looking for top-end performance and more longevity from your iPad over the years, the iPad Air would be the model to get over the standard iPad. It's also a good option if you don't want to spend as much as the iPad Pro, as the iPad Air supports Apple Pencil and Apple's new Magic Keyboard that comes with a trackpad.
That extra performance comes with a heftier price tag, but extra performance isn't all you're getting with the iPad Air. The screen is larger at 10.9 inches, it has a better camera system, a better "Liquid Retina" display, and it charges via USB-C.
iPad Air 2020 (4th-gen) (small, Preferred: Amazon)iPad Air 2020 (4th-gen) (small, Preferred: Best Buy)
Apple Black Friday: 2020 iPad Pro 11-inch (2nd-gen) deals available now
The iPad Pro is Apple's no-compromise tablet. It runs on a specialized processor called the A12Z that makes easy work of almost anything, and is even designed to run power-hungry photo and video editing apps. The iPad Pro could easily be a mobile workstation if you need something powerful on the go.
Almost everything else on the iPad Pro is higher specced — you get bigger screens, more and better cameras with LiDar designed for augmented reality applications, and it really shines when paired with peripherals like the Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard Folio.
iPad Pro (2020) 11-inch (small, Preferred: Best Buy)
Apple Black Friday: 2020 iPad Pro 12.9-inch (4th-gen) deals available now
The 12.9-inch iPad Pro is essentially a larger version of the 11-inch iPad Pro, and there aren't any differences between either model except for screen size.
12.9-Inch iPad Pro - 128GB (small, Preferred: Amazon)12.9-Inch iPad Pro - 128GB (small, Preferred: Best Buy)2020 iPad Pro 12.9-inch (4th-gen), WiFi + Cellular (small, Preferred: Best Buy)2020 iPad Pro 12.9-inch (4th-gen), WiFi + Cellular (small, Preferred: Amazon)
Apple Black Friday: 2019 iPad Mini (5th-gen) deals available now
The iPad Mini from 2019 runs on the same A12 processor as the standard 10.2-inch iPad, and it has a smaller 7.9-inch screen.
It's not a great deal at its full $399 price tag considering the standard 10.2-inch iPad starts at just $329 — we'd expect the smaller model to be less expensive than the larger model, similar to how iPhone pricing works.
If you can find it for a good deal, preferably cheaper than the standard iPad, then you have yourself a great compact tablet.
iPad Mini (2019) (small, Preferred: Amazon)iPad Mini (2019) (small, Preferred: Walmart)iPad Mini (2019) (small, Preferred: Best Buy)
Apple Black Friday: Apple Pencil deals available now
Apple Black Friday: Magic Keyboard deals available now
Magic Keyboard for 11-inch iPad Pro (medium, Preferred: Amazon)Magic Keyboard for 11-inch iPad Pro (medium, Preferred: Best Buy)Magic Keyboard for 12.9-inch iPad Pro (medium, Preferred: Amazon)Magic Keyboard for 12.9-inch iPad Pro (medium, Preferred: Best Buy)
