Ukrainian troops appear to be testing a new drone attachment that uses a cord or line to disable enemy propeller drones in the sky.
The tactic can be seen in a video posted on Monday by the 46th Separate Air Mobile Brigade, which published a video montage of its recent attacks against Russian infantry, vehicles, and drones.
In a caption, the brigade highlighted a “new way of capture of enemy drones in the air.”
As seen from the first-person-view camera of the Ukrainian drone, the new contraption features a rod protruding from the interceptor’s chassis.
Thin rope or cord dangles from the rod, pulled taut by a small weight that sways into view as the Ukrainian drone flies high above the battlefield.
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The brigade’s drone then appears to fly over its target — a small quadcopter — entangling the opposing device’s propellers with the attached line.
The brigade published footage of two such interceptions, as well as a third clip of a drone with the rod-like attachment attempting to crash into a fixed-wing drone.
The third target was likely a Russian Molniya one-way attack loitering munition. It’s unclear if the interception in the third clip was successful.
The novel, fishing rod-style device is another example of how the war is pushing militaries to develop new methods of physically disrupting drones as electronic warfare technology adapts.
Ukrainians and Russians have been experimenting with similar counterdrone tactics as a response to anti-jamming features on small attack drones, deploying fishing nets both on the ground and testing them on interceptors.
Some Western companies have also begun trialing drone-mounted and handheld net launchers as a defense against small quadcopters.
As Russia increasingly relies on large-scale attacks with fixed-wing Geran drones that typically fly at speeds of up to 115 mph, and in some cases even 230 mph, the war has led to the growing popularity of small, fast, and inexpensive drones acting as interceptors.
The 46th Separate Air Mobile Brigade’s fishing line apparatus, however, appears to be more suited to disabling quadcopters.
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President Donald Trump asks tech companies to “pay their own way” for their data centers.
Data centers drove up utility bills in at least 13 states, Business Insider previously reported.
Trump says that Microsoft will be the first to work with the White House to keep utility bills down.
President Donald Trump said on Monday that even though data centers are “key” to the AI boom, tech companies must “‘pay their own way,'” so that Americans don’t have higher utility bills.
“First up is Microsoft, who my team has been working with, and which will make major changes beginning this week to ensure that Americans don’t ‘pick up the tab’ for their POWER consumption, in the form of paying higher Utility bills,” Trump said on Truth Social, hinting at additional announcements “in the coming weeks.”
Data centers drove up utility bills in at least 13 states, Business Insider previously reported.
Over the past year, Microsoft has been planning for data centers in Wisconsin, Atlanta, Texas, and Michigan.
The White House and Microsoft did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
This is a developing story; check back for updates.
I grew up on the shores of Lake Erie, in a town just south of Buffalo, New York. Ice was something we chiseled off a car in winter, not something that’s dropped into a drink. For me, life on a tropical island was a pipe dream.
In high school, I was the geeky kid, always excited to read stories in Time and The New York Times about exotic, far-off places. I knew early on that I wanted a job that would allow me to experience global events firsthand.
A semester abroad in France cemented my ambition. I lived with a family who also rented to an American expat. He talked casually about his Swiss ski holidays, escapes to Greece and Turkey, and his favorite cafés in Paris.
I already knew then, at 21, that was the life I wanted. Why work in “boring” New York or Chicago when I could aim for Paris, Hong Kong, or London?
After working as an editor in New York City for several years, my then-wife got offered a job in Singapore. It was the golden opportunity we both wanted. What we thought would be a posting of just a few years turned into decades. We divorced in 2011, but both stayed in Singapore, building our careers and lives.
LeBoutillier, 25 years ago in Vietnam, posing with a group of locals near the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum in Hanoi.
Provided by Kris LeBoutillier
Singapore was the jolt my career needed
I’d always wanted to be a photojournalist, so in 2000 I decided to pursue it full-time. My location made me a standout. Asia was entering a travel boom, and magazine editors needed photographers on the ground. To paraphrase the cliché: I was in the right place at the perfect moment.
I’ve shot for National Geographic Traveler across Australia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, and India — Singapore was the perfect base. I could be ready to go anywhere in Southeast Asia with just a few hours’ notice.
My photography career eventually gave way to something more permanent and corporate, although still rooted in Singapore. I became a content director, producing and directing videos across the region.
It was a natural evolution for a writer-photographer in a world rapidly shifting to digital content.
LeBoutillier traveled to Australia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, and India (pictured) on assignment.
Provided by Kris LeBoutillier
Living overseas for 28 years changed me
But it has come with a cost. My mother grew older, got sick, moved into a managed care facility, and then passed away suddenly.
I made every effort to visit twice a year, especially in the summer and around Christmas. But there was always a tinge of guilt and remorse that I wasn’t there more.
On one of my last trips back before she died, I remember her saying, “Haven’t you been in Singapore long enough?” She was always supportive of my choices, but as she approached 80, and her health declined, she wanted me closer to home.
She was getting the care she needed in the nursing home, but there was no substitute for a visit from me, my presence — complete with stories about my life overseas.
Was I selfish? Perhaps, but I also would never trade the life I have.
LeBoutillier and his wife, Jamie, are raising their family in Singapore.
Provided by Kris LeBoutillier
Will I return to the US?
Probably, although I’m not sure, because everything is different. I remarried three years ago. I have a 9-year-old daughter from a previous marriage and a toddler son with my wife, Jamie. Both kids have US passports and deserve an American identity and a place to put down roots. They’ve been to the US to meet their cousins and my oldest friends, but have never had the chance to live there or fully experience life as Americans.
Recently, I told my daughter that she’d visited Manhattan when she was a toddler. Her response: “Where is that?” It was a stark realization.
They should know the country that shaped who I am.
Would I recommend an expat life to someone? Absolutely. I got the life I dreamed of. And despite the challenges and distance, it gave me everything I hoped for when I was that kid, growing up near Buffalo, reading about the rest of the world.
Do you have a story to share about living abroad? Contact the editor at akarplus@businessinsider.com.
Rock and blues icon Eric Clapton has confirmed a 2026 European tour, celebrating more than six decades as one of music’s most influential guitarists and songwriters. The initial run of dates kicks off in April 2026 in Amsterdam and takes Clapton to major arenas across Belgium, Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Spain, and Germany, before concluding with a special performance in the United Kingdom. If you’re ready to see him live, I’ve broken down how to get Eric Clapton tickets below.
Clapton’s influence dates back to the early 1960s, when he first gained attention as a guitarist with The Yardbirds before moving on to play powerful blues and rock with John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, Cream, Blind Faith, and Derek and the Dominos. As a solo artist, he has released beloved classics such as “Layla,” “Wonderful Tonight,” and “Tears in Heaven,” and his 1992 Unplugged album became one of the best-selling live records of its time. Clapton is also the only artist inducted three times into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame — as a member of the Yardbirds, Cream, and as a solo performer — underscoring his enduring legacy in rock history.
Despite health challenges later in life, Clapton continues to tour and connect with fans around the world, making his 2026 dates a rare and special opportunity to experience a living legend performing decades’ worth of unforgettable music live onstage. Find tickets now on StubHub and Vivid Seats, and keep reading to find his 2026 tour lineup.
Eric Clapton’s 2026 tour schedule
Demand for applause‑worthy tickets is strong, as fans of all ages seek to see Clapton perform classics alongside his deep blues‑based catalog. Resale platforms like StubHub and Vivid Seats list tickets for select stops, though prices can vary widely depending on city, seat location, and market demand.
April 24, 2026 — Amsterdam, Netherlands at Ziggo Dome
April 26, 2026 — Antwerpen, Belgium at AFAS Dome
April 29, 2026 — Kraków, Poland at Tauron Arena
May 2, 2026 — Budapest, Hungary at MVM Dome
May 4, 2026 — Prague, Czech Republic at O2 Arena
May 7, 2026 — Madrid, Spain at Movistar Arena
May 10, 2026 — Barcelona, Spain at Palau Sant Jordi
May 13, 2026 — Mannheim, Germany at SAP Arena
May 15, 2026 — Cologne, Germany at Lanxess Arena
May 17, 2026 — Munich, Germany at Olympiahalle München
August 23, 2026 — Sandringham, United Kingdom at Royal Sandringham Estate
When shopping for resale tickets to Eric Clapton’s 2026 concerts, prices can vary significantly depending on the city, venue, and seat quality. On Vivid Seats, listings for Clapton’s European tour dates (such as shows in Madrid, Barcelona, Mannheim, Cologne, and Munich) typically show some of the lowest resale tickets starting in the low‑to‑mid‑$300s, with entry prices around $351 for Barcelona and about $537 for Madrid — a reliable baseline for fans looking for standard seating. Premium seats with closer views or VIP benefits naturally command higher prices, and cities with strong demand may push listings above these entry points.
On StubHub, while specific current listings fluctuate with supply and demand, the platform’s FanProtect Guarantee ensures buyers receive valid tickets or suitable replacements, which adds peace of mind when comparing prices. Because Clapton’s tours are relatively limited and demand for classic rock performances remains high, premium resale tickets — especially front‑row or floor sections — can climb well into the high hundreds or over $1,000 depending on the market and venue size. Some resale trackers also show base ticket prices for European dates starting around $163 in Amsterdam and rising to $522 or more in cities like Munich, illustrating how location and date influence resale values.
Overall, fans can expect resale ticket prices to range from several hundred dollars at the low end to high-value premium seats that push into the four figures, especially as shows sell out and inventory becomes tight. Comparing listings on multiple sites early — and moving quickly when prices dip — can help you find the best deals for Clapton’s 2026 shows.
See also: Is StubHub legit? | Las Vegas Sphere tickets | Eagles tickets | Kenny Chesney tickets | Bon Jovi tickets | Journey tickets | Rod Stewart tickets
Sarah is a Deals Editor for Business Insider’s Reviews team. She also supports our how-to-watch and streaming coverage. She never pays full price if she can help it and is an expert at finding and vetting the best discounts. ExperienceSarah joined the Business Insider Reviews team in 2020, starting as a deals reporter covering the best deals and steals daily. She later migrated to the tech team, where she researched, tested, and reviewed a variety of devices, from gaming mice to Kindle e-readers. Now, she’s returned to her origins, serving as the deals editor to curate only the best discounts and buying advice for readers. She began her career in service journalism in 2018 at Wirecutter as a deals writer, where she absorbed the history of the most frequently discounted products. This has informed her impeccably high standards for what makes a good deal. Ever since her Wirecutter days, Sarah has been an expert deals curator for tentpole sale days like Prime Day, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday. Following her weekly contributions to Business Insider’s Newsletter will illuminate new ways to get the best value on products you use every day. Why you can trust SarahSarah doesn’t recommend any deal she wouldn’t pay for herself. She is skeptical about the advertising language brands use to tout their sales and utilizes all the price-checking tools to ensure they deliver savings.Expertise
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The Federal Reserve’s renovation project was expected to cost $1.9 billion. It now has a $2.5 billion price tag.
Lead paint and asbestos discoveries contributed to increased renovation expenses and delays.
Fed chairman Jerome Powell said a new DOJ probe is part of ongoing pressure from the Trump administration.
The Federal Reserve’s planned five-year renovation project is causing quite the stir in Washington.
Renovations began around 2022 on two Federal Reserve offices, the Marriner S. Eccles Building and the Federal Reserve Bank of East Building, which were first assembled in the 1930s, according to plans reviewed by the National Capital Planning Commission in 2021.
As workers gutted the aging structures, they uncovered lead paint and asbestos, pushing the cost of the renovations rose from $1.9 billion to $2.5 billion, as Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell described in a letter defending the renovation’s budget last year.
President Donald Trump has blamed the overruns on mismanagement and allegations of luxury additions. On Sunday, Kevin Hassett, director of the administration’s National Economic Council, told ABC’s This Week that the project became “the most expensive project in D.C. history.”
Later that day, Powell revealed the central bank now faces a potential Department of Justice investigation, and he’s facing a potential criminal indictment over the cost increases.
“No one — certainly not the chair of the Federal Reserve — is above the law,” Powell responded in a two-minute social media video. “But this unprecedented action should be seen in the broader context of the administration’s threats and ongoing pressure.”
As questions swirl around the renovations, Business Insider gathered images of the construction, floor plans for the renovations, and design mock-ups.
The Eccles and FRB-East buildings have been wrapped in scaffolding and cranes since 2022.
The Federal Reserve has been renovating its two buildings since 2022. The project is expected to wrap up by late 2027. Heather Diehl/Getty Images
Construction workers broke ground on the renovations in 2022 on the 93- and 88-year-old buildings.
The Fed said the building has not had a modernization project in decades. A series of decades-old electrical, heating, plumbing, and air ventilation systems ran through the historic building.
The project was necessary to “address a critical backlog of upgrades, to respond to changes in building codes and regulatory requirements, and to meet requirements for information technology, building security, environmental sustainability, and energy efficiency,” according to plans produced by the Fed and released to the public in 2021.
Documents show the Fed’s proposed floor plans for both buildings.
The Federal Reserve’s modernization plans were mapped out in an exhaustive 87-page document, released in 2021. The document includes floor plans, mock-ups, and explanations of landscaping decisions.
Federal Reserve Board and Fortus
The Federal Reserve published floor plans for the expansion project in 2021. The plans plot out details like where new windows would be erected, why new shrubbery would be planted in specific areas on the lawn, how it would make offices more wheelchair accessible, and where historic marble will be reused.
Since the release of the plans, construction workers have uncovered asbestos and lead paint, resulting in higher-than-expected material requirements. Inflation has also increased the price of those goods.
A mock-up of the exterior, including plans to add some glass structures.
The Fed’s renovation plans include new glasswork that will surround the historic, stone elements of the building.
Federal Reserve Board and Fortus
The modernization project would expand some sections of the Fed buildings, including areas with new glass-covered atriums.
The Eccles building’s courtyard will be converted into an atrium.
The main building’s atrium is intended to mix “historically significant spaces and work space to balance preservation and modern office needs.”
Federal Reserve Board and Fortus
The courtyard at the center of the central bank’s main building would become a glass-enclosed atrium. The renovation would also include new accessible ramps, and the existing wooden oak doors would be stained a medium brown.
Both historic buildings’ interiors were finished with hand-carved wood in the 1930s. The woodwork will remain intact after the renovation.
The renovation is designed to preserve historic architectural elements while updating the decades-old structure underneath. Here is an example of a fourth-floor lounge featuring salvaged woodwork and a marble floor.
Federal Reserve Board and Fortus
Much of the project is dedicated to balancing “preservation and modern office needs,” according to the plans. Several office spaces plan toreuse marble and wood from the original buildings.
The Eccles building’s center wing skylight would be moved to the fourth floor to let the light stream in.
The natural light shaft, which was constructed in 1977, is also getting an update that the Fed said would introduce more natural light to the fourth floor.
Federal Reserve Board and Fortus
A natural light shaft, shown above, has sat on the top of the building since 1977. The renovation would relocate the glass casing to the fourth floor, allowing more light to enter nearby offices.
The core architectural details of each building are important to preserve, the Fed said. It can help project financial power.
The project is meant to update the building’s office capacity while maintaining its key architectural details, like the bald eagle perched atop the entrance. Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
The Eccles building was designed to project stability during the Great Depression, with marble halls and bronze fixtures meant to inspire public confidence in the banking system. Those original details are being carefully restored, the Fed said in the plans.
White House officials have alleged the renovations include new VIP dining rooms and elevators, a vegetated roof, and millions of dollars in new marble. The Fed has denied those allegations in press releases.
The Eccles building has been in disrepair, the Fed says.
The Fed’s ornate architecture has endured nearly nine decades of wear, including water damage on the historic wood moldings, shown above. ANDREW HARNIK/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
Water damage has been an issue for the historic buildings, according to images produced by Getty photographers in a July 2025 walk-through of the construction. Pictures of the historic building’s lobby show extensive damage to ornate wood carvings.
Asbestos and lead paint have been a costly issue. Inflation hasn’t helped either.
Workers have been clearing asbestos from the building for much of the past decade. This picture, taken in 2017, shows a construction site inside the Eccles building where workers found the dangerous material.
Federal Reserve
The Fed said it needed to make renovations to make its offices “safe, healthy, and effective places to work,” according to the Federal Reserve’s plans. For years, workers have uncovered asbestos throughout the historic buildings — a material now banned in most construction in the US.
As the project continues, more materials have had to be replaced than expected. Construction-sector inflation has made the overruns steeper.
Trump has seen the renovation project up close.
President Donald Trump and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell tour the Eccles Building during its renovation. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images/Reuters
In July 2025, Trump toured the renovation project with Powell and Republican Sen. Tim Scott.
During a brief interview with reporters, Trump and Powell sparred over the cost of recent construction projects in the building.
The building is expected to be completed in late 2027.
This year, Fed press releases suggested construction workers would leave the building in the fall of 2027. Employees who have been working at temporary offices are expected to move in during the first quarter of 2028, if plans proceed accordingly.
Once staffers return to the office, the Fed said its new campus would save money.
“Over time, the Board has needed to lease space in several commercial office buildings to support its operations,” the Fed said in a July 2025 press release. “This project allows the Board to consolidate its operations and reduce expenses on leased space elsewhere.”
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Fed Chair Jerome Powell is facing a DOJ investigation over office renovations.
Powell’s video response sparked a wave of meme-filled jokes online.
President Donald Trump has repeatedly targeted the Fed’s independence.
The internet has a surprising new muse: Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell.
Powell is famously mild-mannered. About four times a year, he emerges from meetings with Federal Reserve governors and regional bank presidents to hold press conferences on their analysis of jobs data, inflation reports, and subsequent interest rate projections (the infamous “dot plot”).
Not exactly typical fodder for going viral. But on Monday, after Powell released a video saying he’d been subpoenaed by the Justice Department as part of a pressure campaign, he started getting the meme treatment.
“I have deep respect for the rule of law and for accountability in our democracy,” Powell said in Sunday’s two-minute video. “But this unprecedented action should be seen in the broader context of the administration’s threats and ongoing pressure.”
Social media thought it was a banger.
Here are some of the notable reactions so far:
You know things are bad when the most boring person doing the most boring job for decades has to come out and say, “Stop trying to arrest us for doing math” https://t.co/3YCfPBFIae
President Donald Trump has called on Powell, whose term doesn’t end until May 2026, to lower interest rates more quickly. Powell has refused and insisted on the Fed’s independence. Trump has also repeatedly threatened to fire Powell.
The president denied any involvement in the DOJ investigation in an interview with NBC on Monday. “I don’t know anything about it, but he’s certainly not very good at the Fed, and he’s not very good at building buildings,” Trump said.
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Meta plans layoffs in Reality Labs, affecting the teams behind VR headsets and Horizon Worlds.
The restructuring follows major financial losses and a strategic shift toward AI.
Reality Labs faces uncertainty as Meta leadership emphasizes 2025 as a decisive year for the unit.
Meta is preparing layoffs in its Reality Labs division, according to three people familiar with the matter who spoke with Business Insider.
The teams working on the company’s virtual reality headsets and Horizon Worlds, its VR-based social network, will be disproportionately affected, two employees said.
Roughly 10% to 15% of Reality Labs’ 15,000 employees are expected to be laid off, with the cuts set to be announced this week, The New York Times reported.
Meta declined to comment.
The move comes as Meta CTO and Reality Labs chief Andrew Bosworth has called a key division-wide meeting for Wednesday, describing it as the “most important” of the year and urging employees to show up in person, Business Insider previously reported.
Reality Labs has been a costly bet for Meta, racking up more than $70 billion in losses since 2020. It has faced repeated rounds of cuts as Meta shifts its attention — and spending — toward AI.
In a memo obtained by Business Insider last year, Bosworth called 2025 “the most critical” year of his tenure and warned the outcome would determine whether Reality Labs is remembered as visionary work or “a legendary misadventure.”
Have a tip? Contact Pranav Dixit via email at pranavdixit@protonmail.com or Signal at 1-408-905-9124. Use a personal email address, a nonwork WiFi network, and a nonwork device; here’s our guide to sharing information securely.
If you’re reading this, you probably have more money on hand than YouTube billionaire MrBeast.
The world’s biggest YouTuber, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, has said he owns more than half of his business, which was valued at $5 billion in its latest funding round. But a hefty net worth doesn’t always translate to cash.
“I have negative money right now,” Donaldson said in a Wall Street Journal video interview published in early January. “I’m borrowing money right now — that’s how little money I have.”
Donaldson also said that “technically, everyone watching this video has more money than me,” though the self-made billionaire suspected that some people wouldn’t believe him.
“It’s funny talking about my personal finances, because no one ever believes anything I say,” Donaldson said.
MrBeast made a similar point last summer when he said he had to borrow money from his mom for his wedding, adding that he had “very little money” since he tries to “reinvest everything.”
“I’m so busy working, I don’t really think about my personal bank account,” Donaldson told the WSJ.
Donaldson’s lack of dollars may come as a surprise to fans who have watched him hand out wads of cash to strangers and stand on a pyramid of money. However, MrBeast’s company, Beast Industries, is still a startup, and cash flow can be a problem for executives at young companies that aren’t publicly traded and have fewer lanes to liquidate their stock.
A lack of cash on hand hasn’t stopped Donaldson from splurging occasionally. The YouTuber said he once rented a private jet for about $150,000 to visit his then-girlfriend (now-fiancée), Thea Booysen, in the United Kingdom.
Donaldson is known to drop millions of dollars on YouTube videos, too, which former staffers said he would sometimes kill entirely if they didn’t meet his quality standards. The YouTuber said that despite Amazon paying him for his Prime Video show, “Beast Games,” he overspent and ended up losing tens of millions of dollars on the first season.
His company, Beast Industries, has made a push over the last year to reduce unnecessary spending, following a loss of over $100 million in its media division in 2024.
Donaldson has made personal finance a growing portion of his brand.
He’s looking to start Beast Financial, a banking and financial advisory venture. The YouTuber also said he wants to launch a YouTube channel featuring personal finance videos to help educate his viewers on how to handle money.
Financial content “just feels like a nice fit for us because we do so much with money,” Donaldson told creator Jon Youshaei.
Meta has a new president — and she’s a former advisor to President Donald Trump.
The tech giant named Dina Powell McCormick as its president and vice chairman on Monday. Powell McCormick joined Meta’s board in April before resigning in December.
Before joining Meta, Powell McCormick served as a deputy national security advisor to Trump. The president applauded her appointment on Truth Social: “A great choice by Mark Z!!”
Powell McCormick is the second former Trump official appointed to a Meta leadership position in 2026. Last week, the company hired C.J. Mahoney, a deputy US trade representative during Trump’s first term, as its chief legal officer.
Here are three things to know about Dina Powell McCormick:
She’s served under two Republican presidents
Powell McCormick worked as a Trump advisor during his first term, with a focus on the Middle East.
She had a personal tie to the region. Powell McCormick was born in Cairo, where her father was a captain in the Egyptian army. In 1977, her family moved to Dallas.
During her stint with the Trump administration, Powell McCormick oversaw a $200 billion US-Saudi arms deal, spearheaded Trump’s Middle East tour, and was considered to take over as Trump’s chief of staff or representative to the United Nations.
She left the Trump administration in 2018.
Dina Powell McCormick reunited with Trump — and his friend Elon Musk — at a 2025 NCAA wrestling match.
Mitchell Leff/Getty Images
Powell McCormick also served under President George W. Bush. She started in a personnel role, before rising to senior White House assistant and assistant secretary of state under Condoleezza Rice.
At the time of her resignation in 2007, Powell McCormick was the highest-ranking Arab American in the Bush administration.
She spent 16 years at Goldman Sachs
After leaving the Bush administration, Powell McCormick went to Goldman Sachs, where she was hired as a managing director.
Powell McCormick shot up in stature, making partner in three years. Her rapid rise sparked some bitterness among Goldman’s underclass, according to The New York Times and Vanity Fair.
Under her leadership, Goldman launched its 10,000 Women program. She also oversaw the 10,000 Small Businesses program and served as the president of the Goldman Sachs Foundation.
Dina Powell McCormick led Goldman Sachs’ 10,000 Small Businesses program.
Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage
Powell McCormick was popular among some of Goldman’s biggest names, including Anne Black, the former president of Goldman Sachs Gives and current managing partner at JP Morgan.
“She was really a steadfast champion for me and others of us on the team, who were all promoted thanks to her,” Black told Vanity Fair. “She elevated my game, inspired me to be creative and bold, and expected us to show results.”
Powell McCormick left Goldman Sachs in 2023.
She’s married to Sen. Dave McCormick
While Powell McCormick no longer works in politics, she’s still involved through her husband: Pennsylvania senator Dave McCormick.
The couple wed in 2019. Soon after, Dave began eyeing a Senate run, and Dina became involved in the campaign. She made trips to Mar-a-Lago with her husband and appeared in several ads.
Dave ended up conceding the Republican nomination to Mehmet Oz — also known as television’s Dr. Oz — in the 2022 race. Oz lost the general election to John Fetterman and was later appointed by Trump to lead the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Dina Powell McCormick accompanied her husband to his 2024 swearing-in, which was overseen by then-Vice President Kamala Harris.
Alex Wong/Getty Images
In 2024, Dave ran again, narrowly winning a Senate seat and beating incumbent Bob Casey. Dina accompanied him to his swearing-in.
My son, Bobby, had always been a shy person. When he started kindergarten, I was hoping he’d make a lot more friends.
I was delighted when I saw an Evite in my inbox from a mom inviting him to a classmate’s 6th birthday party. The little boy’s name was Nathan.
The event took place at a retro slot-car raceway, where you raced tiny, electric-powered replicas of full-size cars on narrow tracks with “grooves,” known as “slots.”
Neither of us had been to one before, and we were excited to accept the invitation. I was also looking forward to finally meeting the other parents.
I didn’t buy a physical gift
I didn’t know anyone, partly because Bobby attended a school in a different suburb, about five miles from ours.
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He took the bus, so my husband and I never did pick up or drop off. We worked in the city, so there was no waiting at the school gate and chatting with fellow moms and dads.
Nathan’s mother asked people to give half the money we’d have spent on gifts to an animal shelter. She’d use the other half to buy something big that he really wanted.
I ignored red flags
I was relieved that I didn’t have to go out of my way to purchase a present, so I donated $20 online.
As a result, Bobby and I arrived, empty-handed, at the slot-car venue at 11 am on a rainy Sunday morning. The hostess greeted us at the door.
“Is that Nathan?” I asked, pointing to the child I assumed was her son. The boy had a giant rosette on his sweater. “You mean, Oliver,” she replied. It was the first red flag that I ignored.
My son had a lot of fun
I’ve always been forgetful and apologized profusely. Bobby and I sat down by the racetrack and grabbed his remote control. A dad showed us how to work the cars.
Time went by, and Bobby had a lot of fun. He didn’t interact much with the other children, and they didn’t interact much with him either. I thought nothing of it because he was often withdrawn in busy settings.
I introduced myself to many of the parents. They talked animatedly in groups and clearly knew each other well. Still, they included me by asking me how Bobby liked the teacher.
The author’s son, far left, thoroughly enjoyed himself at the party.
Courtesy of the author.
“Oh yes, he loves her,” I told one of the moms, mentioning the teacher’s name. She looked puzzled. It was another red flag, but I didn’t see it waving right in front of my face.
I spotted a large pile of presents on a table nearby. Wasn’t it odd, I thought, that so many guests bought gifts when Oliver’s mom had wanted us to make donations instead? Still, the penny didn’t drop.
It was time to cut the birthday cake. I helped hand out the slices. I wanted to leave a good impression. One mom said how nice it was of me. I joked that I was expecting a tip. She laughed politely.
Something was off
We left 15 minutes later. “Did you have a good time?” I asked Bobby. He nodded,
Fast forward a week, and I looked through my email and clicked on the Evite from Nathan’s mom. I intended to write down her number and see if her son would be interested in a playdate.
“Come to Nathan’s 6th birthday celebration,” the invitation said. I thought it was Oliver’s party. Something was off. I looked at the date. Nathan’s slot-car racing took place at 11 am the previous Saturday, not 11 am the previous Sunday. We missed his party by 24 hours.
Worse, we’d shown up at the wrong party. Most of the kids were much bigger than Bobby. Now I knew why.
We had crashed a party
I recalled the moment when Oliver cut his cake. I was fairly certain there were more than six candles on top.
No wonder there were so many presents on that table. No wonder the woman looked at me strangely when I mentioned the teacher’s name.
I cringed. What on earth had Oliver’s mom thought of me? I was the bonkers party crasher who showed up uninvited with their kid. I didn’t even bring a gift. What if the other parents gossiped about me and sniggered behind my back? It was mortifying.
My negative reaction shifted
After I called Nathan’s mom to apologize for missing his party, I took a breath and reflected on what had happened. It was actually quite amusing. My negative reaction shifted. Bobby thoroughly enjoyed himself, which was a promising outcome for someone so shy.
The hostess might have wondered who the heck I was, but she was too considerate to ask and embarrass me in front of people.
Everyone at the party had been warm, kind, and full of goodwill. It didn’t matter who I was. They welcomed me with open arms. Those strangers taught me a lesson in grace.
