Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth addresses Venezuelan attack in SNL cold open

Mashable
Man in blue suit with white tie

Colin Jost's Pete Hegseth returned to Saturday Night Live this week to kick off the Melissa McCarthy-hosted episode, featuring Dane Cook jokes, 6-7, and the ongoing conflict with Venezuela.

The Defense Secretary sauntered into the White House press room like a WWE superstar, crushing cans and berating journalists with insults like a particularly annoying middle school bully as he answered

I'm a lifelong Connecticut local — these are the absolute best places to visit in the state during the winter

Tech Insider
Author Alexa Mellardo in front of holiday lights at Terrain
Some of my favorite corners of New England feel like they're straight out of a Hallmark movie in the winter time.

Alexa Mellardo

  • As a Connecticut local, I've got recommendations for the best places to visit here in the winter.
  • Harborview Market and The Tasty Yolk are some of my favorite places to get breakfast in the state.
  • Consider staying at charming spots like Delamar Southport, The Firefly Inn
Travel, Business, Style

I'm single and an empty nester, so I decided to downsize. I made some compromises on my new apartment to save money.

Tech Insider
The author wearing sunglasses and sitting on a boat.
The author recently downsized to a smaller apartment.

Courtesy of Kelly Magyarics

  • I've been divorced and sharing custody for five years, but my youngest just started college.
  • Becoming an empty nester prompted me to reevaluate my living situation, and I decided to downsize.
  • I had a few dealbreakers when choosing my new apartment.

When I got amicably divorced five years ago, I moved to a three-bedroom

Business, Style, Travel

Airlift could be the Achilles' heel in the US Air Force plan for surviving a fight with China

Tech Insider
A C-17 Globemaster III cargo plane is seen from the front, sitting on a tarmac. The sky is clear blue in the background.
In a potential war with China, the Air Force would spread its aircraft and operations across the Indo-Pacific rather than just centralized airbases.

US Air Force photo by Senior Airman Adriana Jordan-Alcañiz

  • The US airlift fleet has a readiness problem for a modern war, an airpower expert argues in a new paper.
  • The size, age, and lack of variety in aircraft could hinder the Air Force's plan to
Business

I refuse to give my 11-year-old son a cellphone, even though everyone else at school has one. I'm struggling to hold my ground.

Tech Insider
maggie downs and her son sitting on a rock formation in california
The author and her son went on a hike to be phone-less.

Courtesy of Maggie Downs

  • My son's school practically expects all kids to have a cellphone.
  • But I don't want my 11-year-old son to have one — even though I'm addicted to mine.
  • I feel pressure all around to get him a phone, but I want him to enjoy his childhood.

Recently, my son's middle school offered a reward for perfect attendance: a bus trip to

Business

When both of my parents died, I ran from grief by burying myself in work. I had to learn work-life balance all over again.

Tech Insider
Matthew Lovell and his parents
The author struggled after the death of both of his parents.

Courtesy of Matthew Lovell

  • My mom's death sent me into a pattern of overcommitting at work just so I could hide from the grief.
  • Five years later, my father's death made my whole work life fall apart; I took a leave of absence.
  • Throughout the journey, I discovered a new way to balance my work and life.

My life was immeasurably changed in

Business, Travel

What it's like to work over the age of 80

Tech Insider
Older worker driving

Timothy Wolfer

Welcome back to our Sunday edition, where we round up some of our top stories and take you inside our newsroom. There are many ways to acknowledge your company's standout workers, but what about giving them a Porsche? How about an all-expenses paid trip? Check out how

Economy, Business

The era of the pickle is upon us

Tech Insider
A grocery store display of pickle jars
Pickle-flavored foods have been on the rise in recent years — but McDonald's adoption of a dill-flavored seasoning for its iconic fries shows the trend has reached new heights.

: Jeffrey Greenberg/Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

  • Pickle-flavored foods, from potato chips to martinis, have been on the rise in recent years.
  • The trend may have hit its apex with McDonald's Grinch
Business