China announced sanctions against 20 US defense companies and 10 senior executives on Friday, citing US arms sales to Taiwan as its motive.
In a statement, China’s foreign ministry said its assets within China, including movable and immovable properties, would be frozen and that domestic organizations and individuals would be prohibited from doing business with them.
Individuals named on the list would also be denied visas and entry to the country, the ministry added.
The sanctions list includes Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation, Boeing’s St. Louis branch, Epirus, and Anduril Industries founder Palmer Luckey.
In a statement, a spokesperson for the foreign ministry said: “We stress once again that the Taiwan question is at the very core of China’s core interests and the first red line that must not be crossed in China.”
“Any company or individual who engages in arms sales to Taiwan will pay the price for the wrongdoing,” they added.
When reached for comment, Anduril pointed Business Insider to an X post from Luckey in which the CEO joked that he was honored.
“I want to thank my family, my team, and my Lord Jesus Christ for this award,” Luckey wrote on X. “Anduril has been sanctioned for a while now, as have many of my peers, but it means so much to finally have my non-existent Chinese assets seized and repurposed.”
China’s sanctions follow the US announcement of a $11 billion military package for Taiwan last week.
The deal, which includes self-propelled Howitzers and HIMARS rocket launchers, still needs to be approved by Congress — but it drew a swift response from Beijing.
Lin Jian, a spokesperson for the foreign ministry, said in a statement at the time that China “strongly deplores and firmly opposes” the sales.
China regards Taiwan as a breakaway province that will one day come under Beijing’s control, and Chinese President Xi Jinping has refused to rule out an invasion of the island. Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party views Taiwan as separate from China.
Under the Taiwan Relations Act, the US is obligated to assist Taiwan in defending itself.
Beijing has ramped up pressure around the island in recent years, holding frequent military exercises in the surrounding skies and waters.
A 2024 report by the Washington, D.C.-based think tank the Center for Strategic and International Studies suggested that China may be able to exert power over Taiwan without launching an invasion.
The report said China could impose a quarantine of the island using its coast guard.
“The purpose of a quarantine is not to completely seal Taiwan off from the world but to assert China’s control over Taiwan by setting the terms for traffic in and out of the island,” it argued.
“A key goal is to compel countries and companies to comply with China’s terms.”
Twenty-one years ago, I faced the difficult decision to move from Spain to the United States with my 3-year-old daughter and 4-month-old baby to follow my then-husband, who had lost his job, in pursuit of a new position in Florida.
I was being asked to leave behind my family, friends, and an established writing career. I was to start over at 41, with no connections, no guarantees, and an already shaky marriage.
My family thought it was a terrible idea, yet my husband’s family felt it was a great opportunity. So, after some soul-searching and many promises of a better life in Florida, I decided to uproot my kids and take the chance.
As I boarded the plane to meet my children’s father (he had come to the US ahead of us), I had mixed feelings: I could feel the excitement of my eldest to see her dad again, but I also feared the unknown. I kept asking myself whether it was really possible that we could fix our marriage and thrive in a different country.
My worst fear came true
Going from living in a penthouse in the old part of Sevilla, where I could walk to just about everywhere, to being cooped up in a tiny apartment in a gated community in suburban Florida, where I needed a car to go anywhere, was brutal to my nervous system.
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I felt trapped in suburbia without my own car. And with a history of major depressive disorder, I started having panic attacks and depressive episodes. One day, while driving my children to find a preschool for my eldest, I had to pull over to sob.
A few months later, my husband lost the job we had moved to Florida for. And so began one of the most difficult periods of our lives.
In four years, we moved several times within Florida, always because of his new jobs. I found work freelancing for newspapers and magazines and wrote more books for publishers in Spain. But our relationship was always floundering.
As our marriage crumbled, we took a time-out under the same roof. We went to marriage counseling, enrolled in self-improvement seminars, and so on. Trust, respect, and admiration had been completely lost, and in 2008, when the Great Recession hit, we had no money, no savings, and no jobs.
I walked away from my husband with my laptop, my books, joint custody of our children, and the huge regret of having moved so far away from my family and friends. But I stayed in Florida, because I didn’t want my children to be far from their father. From one day to the next, I found myself a single mother on food stamps.
I met the love of my life
Nearly a year after separating, 16 years ago, I met the love of my life. We had many similarities: we were both newly single, bilingual and bicultural, and had children of a similar age. We were writers focused on creating a better life for our kids and ourselves. The best part was that neither of us had given up on love despite the tough times we’d lived through.
The author fell in love again in Florida.
Courtesy of the author
For nearly two years, we dated long-distance, spending only weekends and holidays together. One of us would drive two hours to meet the other, sometimes with the children, and when the kids were with our respective former spouses, we met alone.
We were both trying to rebuild ourselves personally and professionally, and together we made a great team. I once again moved for love, but this time with no regrets. Four years later, we married at sunset on the beach, surrounded by our children and close family.
Our kids are all in their 20s now, and we’ve been through the highest highs as well as some pretty rough times. But our relationship was never in question. We’ve cheered each other on and thrived together.
Whenever I think of past regrets and how I shouldn’t have moved to the US 21 years ago with my ex, I realize I would have missed out on finding true love. And I would never have built the stable and dependable family I always wanted.
As the crowd cheered among the explosive crackle of fireworks, upbeat dance music, and cries of “Feliz Ano Novo,” a surge of gratitude coursed through my body.
It was New Year’s Eve 2024, and I was hugging and cheering with new friends I had met just hours before.
Earlier that year, I’d spent two months gallivanting around London, Berlin, Amsterdam, Rome, Florence, and Prague solo. Although I loved returning home to San Francisco, it didn’t take long for my wanderlust to set in again.
I knew my thirst for adventure could only be quenched by revisiting Europe. I missed the walkable cities, the slower lifestyle, and the abundance of fresh food.
I decided I’d spend mid-December to mid-January abroad. After doing tons of research on the best cities for solo travelers, I settled upon Lisbon as my monthlong home base.
To avoid the holiday rush and the inevitable spike in prices and crowds, I left San Francisco on December 7 and made plans to head home about a week after New Year’s Day.
Lisbon was the perfect early holiday destination — and I got to connect with other solo travelers
I connected with other solo travelers who became my companions for New Year’s Eve.
Chelsia Durkee
The first two weeks of my trip were a dream come true.
I loved spending my afternoons checking out bookstores (Livraria Bertrand is worth it), getting lost in the alleyways, taking in the vibrant art scene, and even trekking up a grueling hill to get to my local market.
Since I arrived early in the month before peak tourist season, I felt like I was experiencing Christmas markets and festivities alongside locals.
As December 31 approached, I began to crave some more companionship. So, I logged onto Facebook and searched for Girl Gone International’s Lisbon group.
An online community for women traveling solo, Girl Gone International had resources I’d utilized in the past. This was my first time scrolling through one of its Facebook groups in search of friends, though.
To my surprise, I stumbled upon tons of posts from other solo travelers, all hoping to find New Year’s companions. One in particular caught my attention: a post that said “I’m getting the girls together for a New Year’s celebration” with a link to a WhatsApp group.
She had a dog in her profile photo. What could go wrong?
That’s how I found myself eating steak and sipping Douro Valley wine at a table with eight strangers.
We all came from different countries and backgrounds: the Netherlands, Serbia, and South Africa, to name a few. We quickly bonded over our shared love of travel and the palpable energy of the night.
After dinner, a few other travelers from the Facebook group joined us. We squeezed our way into the crowds to the Praça do Comércio, the main square in Lisbon. The square was packed like sardines, and we held hands so we wouldn’t lose each other.
One of them held up a sign to make sure stragglers could see us. Amid the excitement, I witnessed the most spectacular fireworks display of my life.
My solo New Year’s celebration helped me connect with my values
Celebrating the New Year in Portugal was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Chelsia Durkee
After that epic night, the real magic of serendipitous connection took place.
I stayed in touch with two solo travelers and one local for the remainder of my trip. We met several other times to explore restaurants, visit parks, and even take a day trip to see castles in Sintra.
I believe that starting the year in a new country — and with new friends — softened my approach to achieving my goals. In the past, I felt pressured to set certain resolutions: Become fit, work harder, or be a certain way.
Instead of focusing on external validation or achieving rigid goals, though, I started the year with a focus on what actually brings me joy: adventure, global community, and authenticity.
I made new friends, too. Our short-lived connections empowered us to become vulnerable quickly, and I opened up in a refreshing way.
Ironically, it took leaving my country to remember that I am never truly alone.
Though this year’s New Year’s Eve will look a little different — I plan to spend the night locally with friends and family — I would happily ring in the New Year again with strangers in a foreign country.
No matter where I find myself in the world, I’m excited to continue bridging the gap between stranger and friend.
At the end of the year, it can be tempting to keep your Slack on and quietly slack off.
If a lot of your coworkers are away — and you’re supposed to be working — you might feel the pull to skip out. Yet, what’s sometimes called “ghost vacationing” carries risks that often outweigh the benefits of surreptitious R&R, career advisors told Business Insider.
One of the biggest hazards, of course, is getting caught. That can damage trust with your boss, said Amanda Augustine, a career expert at TopResume.
The timing can exacerbate the situation if you disappear when many people within your company are already scheduled to be off. If an issue arises — maybe a last-minute project or a client concern — and you’re not available when you’re supposed to be, “the ghost vacation really can backfire,” she said.
The cost of holiday-themed quiet quitting can grow if your coworkers are forced to cover for you while your mousejiggler puts in overtime.
Augustine said that anyone who had legit time off scheduled might be left thinking, “I played by the rules, and then somebody just decides to go rogue, and now we all suffer for it.”
That resentment could linger. “How is collaboration after that? How is team morale?” she said.
Communication is key
For some workers, Augustine said, it might be reasonable during the holidays to take a longer lunch and check off some errands on your list — especially when offices are quieter, and expectations are looser. It might also be OK to announce that you’ll only be available by phone for a few hours before returning to your keyboard and attending to work.
The key, Augustine said, is clear communication with your boss so that expectations are understood on both sides.
Where it gets sticky, she said, is when you’re trying to appear as though you’re working when you’re not.
“For those that are blatantly just pretending to be on the clock when they’re supposed to be but are really unavailable, I think that’s when you can get into trouble,” Augustine said.
Flexibility can help
Augustine said that it’s likely that many people have, at some point, partaken in a bit of ghost vacationing — on a nice summer day, perhaps, or while traveling.
One reason could be that many people don’t use the vacation days they’re allotted. More than four in 10 US workers who had the benefit of paid time off took less time than they were given, according to a 2023 Pew Research Center survey.
For workers who might be feeling burned out, snippets of downtime on the DL often serve as little more than a Band-Aid, Augustine said. That’s because there’s lingering pressure to stay tethered to work messages.
It’s much more relaxing to be away from work when it’s approved, and you don’t have the feeling that someone is looking over your shoulder, said Peter Duris, CEO of Kickresume, a career tool that uses AI.
Bosses can help reduce workers’ temptation to slip away by being extra accommodating during periods like the holidays, he said.
“It’s definitely better for the businesses to change the schedule or change the workload,” Duris said.
Augustine said that if you can’t get time off approved when you want to, try to push through and take time off when others are back. That’s a safer approach, she said, than trying to take work in some camouflaged PTO.
“If you get caught misrepresenting your availability, it can quietly erode trust and and that can definitely last longer than, say, that day or so that you took off,” Augustine said.
Do you have a story to share about your career? Contact this reporter at tparadis@businessinsider.com.
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Tiffany Haynes, host of the Between Builds podcast and Substack. It has been edited for length and clarity.
I was entirely on my own when I was 19. While I was enrolled in college, I worked full-time at night in the call center of a fintech company, Jack Henry & Associates. It was a gritty, hands-on role, but an exciting time to be with the company, which was growing quickly.
I didn’t have a typical college experience. I worked a lot so I could pay for my car and home. At work, I put my hand up any chance I could. I was never the smartest person, but I worked really hard and was always willing to figure out problems. Even if I’d never done something, I would figure it out. I couldn’t afford to fail, personally or professionally.
That served me well. I gained a reputation as someone who could execute tasks with a high degree of excellence, while also operating with empathy. By the time I left Jack Henry in 2022, after 20 years, I had become a vice president.
My husband handled childcare while I worked in NYC
At that point, I was a wife, mom of five, and had been a foster mother to seven children. I live in Missouri, but my reputation was so strong that the team at Fingercheck, a New York-based HR platform, approached me about scaling the company with a goal of acquisition.
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I started traveling a lot, and spending two weeks in Brooklyn at a time, with a week at home in between. My husband handled childcare, loading up the kids and bringing them to the school that they attended, where he was the superintendent.
Over three years, I helped scale Fingercheck. In October 2024, it was acquired for $150 million.
Tiffany Haynes wants her kids to know the value of hard work.
After the acquisition, my husband and I founded a school
I stayed at Fingercheck until this July to help with the transition. After that, the plan was to take time to reorient myself and rest.
Yet, life had other plans. The school my husband led was affiliated with a local church. It grew so much that the church could no longer handle it, and this summer, we had a choice to make: let 100 kids find a new school community, or open our own.
It was a whirlwind four months, but we did it. I call myself the quiet cofounder of the school, and I’m not involved in day-to-day operations. Now, I’m doing some advising work and have a podcast called Between Builds. I’m also taking some time for myself to be whole, rather than hurried.
Tiffany Haynes and her husband connect every day over coffee.
My husband doesn’t take a salary — his work is our way of giving back. When he left his paying job 13 years ago to enter education, I became the breadwinner. We’ve had a lot of practice respecting one another’s domains.
The work I did with Fingercheck in New York was very fast-paced, urban, and growth-focused. The work he does here in Missouri is rural, quiet, and focused on community. It’s two different ends of the spectrum.
We appreciate each other’s different skill sets. I support the school, because he loves the school and I love him. He handled the family when I needed to travel for work, even if he didn’t fully understand the fintech world. We connect almost every morning over coffee, before the kids are up, and talk about how we can support each other. We aimed to do that even when I was working full-time, but it’s easier in the months since I left Fingercheck.
I want my kids to understand the joy that comes from hard work
I grew up poor, and I understand how privileged my family is today. We have more than enough, so we aim to give not only money but time. I try to be the advocate I never had growing up, both to my own kids and the children we foster. I’ve done a lot of work to process my own trauma from a difficult childhood, and I want my children to have a foundation of emotional intelligence and health.
I also want them to understand that it takes a lot of hard work and consistency to be excellent. They see YouTube influencers talking about making millions, and I worry that creates a short-sighted view of worth ethic and personal meaning.
I hope my kids understand the joy you get from doing hard things. I want a space where they can sit with frustrations and build resilience; I know that will serve them well in life.
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2025 has been a big year for retail CEO transition announcements.
Roughly 45 retailers said they are changing leadership, up from about 32 the year before.
Here are some of the more notable retail chains that are getting a new CEO.
2025 may go down as the end of an era in retail.
This was the year that the longtime CEOs at two of the largest chains decided to hand the reins over to their corporate proteges.
The retirements of Walmart’s Doug McMillon and Target’s Brian Cornell come as the industry is facing an array of new (and long-term) challenges in the form of a global trade rebalancing, accelerated adoption of AI, and increasingly stretched US household budgets.
Fresh legs might be a welcome addition in this race.
Dozens of smaller retailers have taken the opportunity to shake up the C-suite as well.
Analysis from leadership consultancy Challenger, Gray & Christmas found that 43 retail companies announced CEO exits in the first 10 months of this year, up from 32 in the same period last year. A few more announcements have come through since.
Here are some of the major retail chains that are getting a new CEO in the new year.
Walmart — John Furner
Walmart’s incoming CEO, John Furner. Walmart
Walmart said in November that the company’s US division CEO, John Furner, would become president and CEO on February 1.
Like outgoing CEO Doug McMillon, Furner has been with Walmart for decades, starting as an hourly associate and working his way up through the ranks.
Target — Michael Fiddelke
Target has tapped Michael Fiddelke as its new CEO. Target
Target said in August that chief operating officer Michael Fiddelke would succeed Brian Cornell on February 1, with Cornell remaining on the board as Executive Chair.
Fiddelke has been with the company for 20 years, starting as a finance intern and moving through roles in merchandising, finance, operations, and human resources.
Camping World — Matthew Wagner
A Camping World RV dealership in Florida. John Greim/LightRocket via Getty Images
RV dealer Camping World said in December that founder Marcus Lemonis would step down as CEO on January 1, with company president Matthew Wagner taking over.
Wagner has been with Camping World since 2007, serving in numerous leadership roles before being appointed chief operating officer in 2023 and president in 2024.
Kraft Heinz — Steve Cahillane
Kraft Heinz has tapped Steve Cahillane as its new CEO. Kraft Heinz
Kraft Heinz said in December that it has snagged Kellanova CEO Steve Cahillane to take over from Carlos Abrams-Rivera on January 1.
The company will later split into two publicly traded companies, North American Grocery Co. and Global Taste Elevation Co., with Cahillane remaining in charge of the latter.
Cahillane has a long career leading consumer products companies like The Nature’s Bounty Co. and Coca-Cola’s Americas division. He also spent eight years with AB InBev.
Kohl’s — Michael Bender
Kohl’s has made Michael Bender its permanent CEO. Kohl’s
In fairness, Michael Bender’s transition effectively happened back in May, but Kohl’s made it official in late November when the retailer said Bender would go from interim CEO to a permanent appointment.
That means Kohl’s will start the new year with one less distraction under the leadership of a highly experienced retail executive who has already had a positive impact on the company.
Lululemon — Meghan Frank and André Maestrini (for now)
Lululemon has appointed Meghan Frank and André Maestrini as interim co-CEOs. Lululemon
Athleisure brand Lululemon said in December that it was parting ways with CEO Calvin McDonald on January 31, but hasn’t yet identified a permanent successor.
In the meantime, the company said board chair Marti Morfitt would expand her role to become executive chair, and that CFO Meghan Frank, chief commercial officer André Maestrini would serve as interim co-CEOs following McDonald’s departure.
7-Eleven — Stan Reynolds and Doug Rosencrans
A 7-Eleven store in Florida. Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
Parent company Seven & i Holdings said in December that CEO Joe DePinto would retire at the end of the year. The company’s current president, Stan Reynolds, and chief operating officer, Doug Rosencrans, are set to serve as co-CEOs until a permanent successor is hired.
Jane Newman spent her eveningswatching K-dramas on her recliner during the pandemic lockdowns. She didn’t expect they’d spark a curiosity about South Korea that would eventually lead her to move there and start over.
In 2023, Newman was working for a consulting firm in Brisbane, Australia. As a manager, her heavy workload didn’t let up even as the world began to return to normal.
After months of long hours spent in front of a screen, she was burned out and beginning to feel the strain.
“I started out with a whole lot of shoulder and back pain, and then it developed into arm pain, and I couldn’t use my mouse,” Newman, now 60, told Business Insider.
Jane Newman said she burned out from her corporate job in Australia.
Standing desks and different chairs fixed little, so she took a sabbatical.
Newman had first visited South Korea the previous year, curious about the country she’d only seen on TV. Remembering how much she had enjoyed that trip, she decided to return for a two-month break.
When she went back to work, the symptoms didn’t take long to resurface. This time, Newman found herself struggling mentally and emotionally, too.
“I found it more and more difficult to do my work,” she said. By July 2024, she and her employer agreed it was best for her to step away from the company.
“I knew that South Korea was a place that I loved, and it made me feel good,” Newman said. “So I made the decision to go back and stay for a few months to see how it felt.”
New career, new home
For three months, she lived in an Airbnb in Gwacheon, a cityjust outside Seoul. Newman lived with her host, a local woman who had invited her to participate in the community events.
There, she joined a group supporting former US military “comfort women,” as well as two English clubs where members met to discuss news, read English fiction together, and give weekly presentations on various topics.
“I met the most wonderful people, and they really invited me into their conversations. And I got to know a lot more about Korea itself, and its history,” she said.
Newman says she found healing in a small community outside Seoul, where she learned more about South Korean history and culture.
“All of those things made me feel really welcomed, and at home, and part of a community, which is what I was really lacking back in Australia,” Newman added.
In Brisbane, her social life largely revolved around people she knew at work, or old friends she’d kept in touch with from her years living in the UK when her daughters were young. She was part of a bushwalking community and a social dining community, but most of those groups faded after the pandemic.
As Newman considered her next career steps, she found herself drawn toward public speaking and coaching to help people navigate the pressures of modern society and technology.
That focus also eventually led her to begin developing a tech startup in South Korea aimed at helping young people struggling with social isolation.
By February 2025, Newman moved to Seoul to begin her next phase of life.
She said her Gen Z daughters weren’t surprised by her decision since they already knew how much she loved South Korea. Both had already taken trips to visit her there.
When it was time for Newman to look for an apartment, she wanted a place that was close to public transport, with separate spaces for living and sleeping, and a good view.
It took her about two weeks to find a place. She now lives in Dongdaemun, a popular neighborhood, where her two-bedroom apartment costs 1.43 million Korean won, or about $1,000, a month.
Newman lives in Dongdaemun, a popular neighborhood in Seoul.
South Korea has become an increasingly popular choice for foreigners in recent years.
Data from the Ministry of Justice showed that the number of foreigners living in South Korea at the end of 2024 stood at 2.65 million, a 5.7% increase from the year before.
For Newman, building friendshipsin Seoul came more naturally than she expected.
“I’ve found that every time I’ve come to Korea, I’ve made new friends,” Newman said, adding that this included people she met through a fan group for a Korean actor she admired.
Newman says she makes it a point to get out of the house once a day to enjoy her surroundings.
These days, Newman’s routine is a mix of work and settling into life in Seoul.
She starts her mornings with a coffee from the Starbucks across the street before diving into her coaching sessions and working on getting her startup off the ground.
Compared to her previous job, where working 60 hours a week was common, Newman says she now works around 20 to 30 hours a week.
With the more flexible schedule, she has time to exercise, meet people, and sometimes work from libraries or cafés.
“But I do make sure I get out once a day to go out and enjoy this beautiful place I’m living in,” she said.
Do you have a story to share about relocating to a new city? Contact this reporter at agoh@businessinsider.com.
Snow and rainstorms hit multiple states on both coasts on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, and are now heading for the Northeast, including New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Travellers are now having a difficult time getting home as major airports see mass delays and cancellations.
According to the “Misery Map,” published by FlightAware, which tracks real-time flight disruptions, there have been over 1,000 delays and more than 350 cancellations across the largest US airports as of 6:45 p.m. ET on Friday.
Here’s a look at the latest flight disruptions, and when you may expect to fly if your flight has been canceled.
The Midwest and the East Coast
JFK International Airport is experiencing more than 369 cancellations and 210 delays.
Screenshot
The storm that first hit the Midwest is coming for the East Coast. New York City is set to see the most snow it has seen in years, since the last time it saw at least 4 inches of snow was January 2022. New Jersey and upstate New York will see similar weather conditions.
The NYC Emergency Management said in a press release that “snow is expected to develop Friday afternoon and intensify into steady, accumulating snow Friday night.” The National Weather Service has forecast 3 to 7 inches of snow with locally higher amounts possible.
According to FlightAware, JFK International Airport is experiencing 369 cancellations, with 210 on Friday alone. The situation at Newark Liberty International Airport is also not optimistic, with 244 cancellations and counting.
Based on the Misery Map, flights from airports around NYC to Chicago, Detroit, and Denver are seeing the highest number of delays and cancellations.
The West Coast
Los Angeles International Airport is seeing a total of 283 delays and 41 cancellations.
Screenshot
The West Coast is slowly recovering from an exceptionally wet Christmas.
Over the past two days, most residents of California have received at least one weather warning as an atmospheric river accompanied by high winds, floods, and mudslides hit the Golden State. The NWS said that this Christmas season is the wettest one Los Angeles has experienced in 54 years.
The San Francisco International Airport said that 153 flights had been delayed on Friday morning due to windy conditions. To make matters worse, the police briefly shut down Terminal 1 due to a “suspicious package,” but then reopened it without explanation. By midday, FlightAware reports that a total of 381 flights from SFO have been delayed.
According to the Misery Map, flights from the Los Angeles International Airport to Seattle, Salt Lake City, Denver, and the East Coast are all experiencing disruptions. FlightAware counted a total of 283 delays and 41 cancellations.
The disruptions come at the end of a tough year for air travel.
High-profile plane accidents, including when an American Airlines Flight crashed into a Black Hawk helicopter, and the firing of hundreds of FAA employees by the White House DOGE office, triggered a newfound fear of flying among some Americans earlier this year.
The subsequent government shutdown also led to flying snags this year, as air traffic controllers who were left without pay called in sick, and some airports were paralyzed.
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I tried the famous “Tom Cruise Cake,” which the actor sends to a select group every Christmas.
Recipients have included Glen Powell, Jon Hamm, Kirsten Dunst, and Elle and Dakota Fanning.
The dessert is a white chocolate bundt cake from Doan’s Bakery in Los Angeles.
‘Twas the weeks before Christmas, when all through Hollywood, every celebrity was stirring, even Glen Powell.
Their assistants and publicists checked the mail with care, in hopes that the famous “Tom Cruise Cake” would soon be there.
We may have taken some creative liberties with the iconic “A Visit from St. Nicholas” poem, but there’s no denying that Cruise’s annual gift has become the stuff of legends.
Every year, the “Mission: Impossible” star sends white chocolate coconut bundt cakes from Doan’s Bakery in Los Angeles to a select group of friends and former costars. It’s a list that every celebrity wants to be on.
For those not on the list or local to LA, the famous cake is also available on Goldbelly for $140. Of course, I had to order one for the holidays to see what all the hype was about.
Katie Holmes introduced Tom Cruise to his favorite Christmas gift.
Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes split in 2012. Fairchild Archive/Penske Media via Getty Images
Karen Doan, the self-taught baker behind the famous cake, revealed during a 2021 interview with Spectrum News 1 that Holmes, who was married to Cruise from 2006 to 2012, had learned about Doan’s Bakery from Diane Keaton while they were working on the 2008 film “Mad Money.”
“When Tom and Katie had a big party at their new home in Beverly Hills, we did all the cakes,” Doan said. “They loved it.”
Cruise and Holmes’ marriage didn’t last, but his relationship with Doan’s Bakery has continued for over a decade.
“This has become so popular that I would say when the phone rings, 80% of the people, that’s what they want,” Doan said about the coconut cake in 2021.
The “Tom Cruise Cake,” as it’s since been nicknamed, has become a status symbol in Hollywood.
Cruise always sends the cake to his former costars, including Glen Powell and Tom Hanks. Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images
Whether it’s a bouquet of flowers from Beyoncé or some Meghan Markle marmalade, the A-list loves to show off their exclusive gifts on Instagram. Celebrities, they’re just like us!
The “Tom Cruise Cake” is no different. Stars like Mindy Kaling and Glen Powell have posted pictures of their cakes, and the famous dessert is a frequent discussion on the talk show circuit. Celebrity gossip blogs even publish lists detailing which celebrities — including Jon Hamm, the Fanning sisters, and Angela Bassett — make the cut every year.
The cake itself has also won high praise. Kirsten Dunst told Graham Norton in 2016 that it was the “best coconut cake I’ve ever had in my life,” and Tom Hanks called it “off-the-scale fantastic” during a 2023 video for Mythical Kitchen. The actor loves the cake so much that he said it would be one of the dishes he’d want for his last meal on earth.
I don’t think I’ve ever tried a cake with so much hype. Clearly, it had a lot to live up to.
My cake arrived two days after I ordered it on Goldbelly.
The cake was individually wrapped in plastic and tied with a green bow. Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider
I ordered the cake on December 18 and selected two-day shipping, which was an additional $35. There were also options for five-day delivery ($20) and six-day delivery (free). Unfortunately, due to high demand, you now need to join a waitlist for the cake on Goldbelly, although those in LA can still purchase it from Doan’s Bakery for the much cheaper cost of $66.
The dessert, which ships nationwide, was delivered frozen with dry ice. The cake itself was individually wrapped in plastic, topped with a bright-green bow, and tucked inside a Doan’s Bakery box.
I unwrapped the cake and stuck it in the fridge to defrost overnight.
The cake from Doan’s Bakery serves 12 to 16 people. Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider
The hefty 10-inch cake — which serves 12-16 people and weighs 3 pounds — can last in the refrigerator for up to five days or in the freezer for four months.
Cobie Smulders told Jimmy Fallon in 2019 that she’ll “slowly chip away” at the dessert until March.
When my family and I first tried the cake, it was still pretty frozen.
Slicing into the bundt cake. Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider
With its generous dusting of coconut flakes, the bundt cake makes for an angelic and festive centerpiece. But, at first, it was hard to appreciate the flavor.
This is already a dense and buttery cake, and it hadn’t fully defrosted after 24 hours in the fridge. Paired with the cream cheese frosting, the texture was really heavy. My parents and I weren’t super impressed, but we decided to hold our opinion and give the cake another day to fully defrost.
With each passing day, we liked the cake more and more.
A slice of the white chocolate bundt cake. Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider
This is definitely a maximalist cake — something Doan said was always part of her ethos.
“I don’t skimp on ingredients,” she said during the Spectrum News 1 segment in 2021. “Everyone says, ‘Less is more, Karen,’ because I want to put more white chips. I want to put more coconut!”
I’m glad she didn’t listen when she created this cake recipe, especially when it came to the white chocolate chunks. Their texture adds just a hint of delicious crunch to the cake, and there’s a warmth to the flavor that helps cut through the intense punch of sweetness. The toasted flakes are also a nice touch, adding depth without giving each bite an overwhelming coconut flavor.
When I woke up for breakfast one morning this week, I found myself craving another slice of the cake. It had surprisingly grown on me. My parents agreed, although they’re not convinced it’s worth the price.
“I’d eat it again, if someone sent it as a gift,” my dad said.
A winter storm expected to hit the Northeast is causing thousands of flight delays and cancellations.
The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning for areas around New York City, extending into Connecticut and New Jersey. The service expects heavy snow accumulations between six and nine inches.
About 1,400 flights in the US have been canceled, as of 2:20 p.m. ET, according to flight-tracking service FlightAware. Over 5,100 US flights have been delayed, per the service.
Some airlines have begun offering solutions to travelers affected by the storm. JetBlue, Delta, and Southwest have all waived fare differences for those changing flights from airports around the New York metropolitan area.
The delays and cancellations come during a high-density travel period around the winter holiday. AAA projected that 8.03 million Americans would fly domestically between December 20 and January 1.
Here is the best advice for what to do if your flight is disrupted.
1. Know your rights as an airline passenger in the US
Airline passengers have some customer rights in the US.
Li Rui/Xinhua via Getty Images
According to the Department of Transportation, there is no law requiring US airlines to compensate passengers for disruptions caused by uncontrollable events, such as weather. That also includes air traffic control delays.
The only rule carriers must follow is to refund customers in the event of cancellations, even for non-controllable events. And that does not mean travel credits or vouchers — it must be cash, and includes any add-ons, such as bags or seats.
But carriers do not owe meals, hotel rooms, or financial compensation for storm-related cancellations or delays — because the cause is the weather, not the airline.
Passengers are still entitled to a refund or rebooking on the same airline, but carriers are not required to provide additional accommodations or rebook on another airline.
If you choose to travel but your flight is delayed or canceled, ask the airline for the reason — ideally in writing — so you know what you’re entitled to. Airlines have different policies for disruptions they control, like crew or maintenance issues.
The DoT’s Airline Customer Service Dashboard — launched in 2022 — shows what the 10 largest US airlines promise in those cases, including rebookings, meal vouchers, and hotel accommodations.
2. Monitor your airline’s app for rebooking options
Most airlines allow customers to adjust their flights online.
Jaap Arriens/NurPhoto via Getty Images
When a flight delay or cancellation is announced, expect people to flock to the nearest customer service line for assistance, and for the phone lines to clog.
Wait times can be painfully long, and the best alternatives will likely go quickly. However, some airlines offer the option to rebook on their website or mobile app and waive any fees, making it sometimes easier to make changes online than in person.
If all available options are exhausted, have a plan B, such as waiting to speak with a live agent, contacting the airline through social media, or booking a hotel for the night.
Direct messaging on Facebook or Twitter can actually serve as a virtual placeholder, and you may hear back via chat before speaking to a live agent.
Here are the phone numbers for each airline:
Alaska: 1-800-252-7522 or text 82008
Allegiant: 1-702-505-8888
American: 1-800-433-7300
Avelo: 1-346-616-9500
Breeze: No phone number to call, but you can text the airline at 501-273-3931. If you call this number, it’ll tell you different ways to contact Breeze, like via email or Facebook Messenger.
Delta: 1-800-221-1212
Frontier: No phone number. The best way to contact Frontier is via online chat or email.
JetBlue: 1-800-538-2583
Southwest: 1-800-435-9792
Spirit: 1-855-728-3555
Sun Country: 1-651-905-2737
United: 1-800-864-8331
3. Ask for a hotel or meal voucher
The Hyatt hotel inside Orlando airport.
: Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
For controllable delays or cancellations that result in a customer waiting at least three hours for a new flight or requiring an overnight stay, several airlines will offer meal or hotel vouchers.
Carriers offering both are Alaska Airlines, Allegiant Air, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Hawaiian Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Southwest Airlines, Spirit Airlines, and United Airlines, per the DoT dashboard.
Frontier Airlines is the only carrier that does not offer accommodations in the event of an overnight delay or cancellation, but it will provide a meal voucher.
For US airlines not listed on the dashboard, or in cases where the disruption is uncontrollable (like because of a winter storm), or if the compensation is unclear, simply ask.
It never hurts to request a meal or hotel during flight disruptions, and you might get lucky with a goodwill gesture from the carrier.
4. Check if your credit card company offers travel insurance
American Express and Chase have travel credit cards.
Illustration by Mario Tama/Getty Images
Several major banks offer credit cards that come with travel insurance, like Chase’s Sapphire Reserve or American Express’ Platinum Card. Both offer trip protection, meaning customers who purchased their flight with that specific card can reap the benefits.
For example, in the case of a major storm system, it’s likely many passengers will end up stranded in random cities across the US.
However, banks with travel insurance included can reimburse cardholders for unexpected expenses outside their control, including hotel, meal, and transportation costs.
Travel insurance does not apply in all circumstances, like short delays, so be sure to check your policy before making a claim — but it also doesn’t hurt to make the claim anyway, even if the answer is no.
5. Know when to walk away
Consider renting a car or taking the train.
Wang Ying/Xinhua via Getty Images
During the holidays, it’s easy to lose sight of your purpose — seeing friends and family or simply getting away from home for a few days.
However, delays and cancellations are inevitable. Don’t spend all day sitting around waiting — give yourself a cut-off time. Once that moment passes, consider alternative means of getting to your destination, such as driving or taking a bus or train (which may also be covered by travel insurance).
If you are stuck in another city and have no other option but to stay in a hotel or wait at the airport, decide how you want to spend your time and make a plan.
Editor’s note: This article was originally published in 2023 and has been updated.
