Rod Stewart is a legendary artist from England with over 50 years of performances under his tenure. The British-born artist is one of the last remaining survivors of mid-century musicians still touring. He’s had several big hits over the years that span across generations. Some popular titles include his solo debut “Maggie May,” “You’re in my Heart,” “Tonight’s the Night (Gonna Be Alright),” “Forever Young,” and many more.
He is finishing the last remaining international big shows he’s set to do before he comes to the US leg of his ongoing tour. That tour continues to grow, too, as Stewart has recently added fifteen more stops to it. We’re going to tell you how you can get seats to see the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer for the cheapest deals on Stubhub and Vivid Seats.
Rod Stewart’s 2026 tour schedule
Rod Stewart is continuing his final major tour in the US, which is set to start in February. He has only a few shows left internationally, in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and Abu Dhabi, before that, all of which cannot be found from resellers. From there, he will travel to 25 different cities in the US and Canada from February to September 2026. He is making one other international stop out of North America to Spain in late June, as well.
It’s going to be a busy year of shows. Will you be going to one of them? Check out the dates and cities to determine which spot works best for you to visit.
North America
International
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How to buy tickets for Rod Stewart’s 2026 concert tour
Rod Stewart will be touring in twenty-five cities across the US during his visit. You can purchase those tickets directly from Live Nation or through resellers. Whether you can get a deal via a reseller is subjective: some dates and locations will be a lot more expensive on reseller sites. Others may be comparable. Thankfully, we’ve done some of the legwork here, so you can determine which is best for you cost-wise.
How much are tickets?
Despite being a legendary performer, several of Rod Stewart’s shows are actually remarkably accessible in price, depending on the location. His lowest-priced shows are on August 15th in Riverside, MO, and cost only $50 for lawn seats. However, some of his shows are really expensive, even at their lowest price offerings via resellers.
**The February 28 show, for example, is not currently showing on Live Nation or VividSeats, but has been changed to be available on December 2 or has been postponed. It is priced at over a grand for the lowest price available options. It is currently unknown when the show may be rescheduled.
Who is opening for Rod Stewart’s tour?
Earlier this month, Howard Jones and Richard Marx were announced as opening acts for Stewart’s newly announced shows in March and August. Given the current trend, further surprises and additions may be forthcoming.
Will there be international tour dates?
Rod Stewart has publicly said that it’s “the end of large-scale world tours” for him. A majority of these concert dates are performances within the United States, with three exceptions: two shows in Canada and one show in Spain.
How old is Rod Stewart?
Rod Stewart was born on January 20th, 1945, making him eighty years young. Although he has experienced various health issues, especially over the recent years, last year he posted on Instagram that while he “has no desire to retire”. He will probably be “Forever Young” to many.
Jennifer Stavros
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Jennifer Stavros is a writer and researcher based in Los Angeles. Her writing seeks to unpack culture in its varied nuances, from navigating complex health and science topics to helping people discover ways to unwind in the midst of a constantly buzzing world.Her work has made cameos all over the web. Outside Business Insider, you can find her work in Wired, Playboy, Cheddar, CNET, Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, The Independent, and so many other places in print or digital formats. Several of her contributions, including those here on Business Insider, have gone viral.She is currently working on multiple books about necropolitics. When she isn’t writing, you can find her exploring geeky things with artistic or historical twists… often with a classic cocktail or a fancy beer in one hand, wearing vintage or other eye-catching fashions and a giant bow on her head. Follow her day-to-day adventures on Bluesky.
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When Nicolás Maduro needed someone to represent him in an American courtroom, he turned to a lawyer with experience facing off against the federal government.
The Venezuelan political leader hired Barry Pollack, a criminal defense attorney who’s represented WikiLeaks publisher Julian Assange, as well as other high-profile defendants.
The Justice Department has accused Maduro, who was serving as Venezuela’s president when he was captured by US forces, of participating in a narco-terrorism conspiracy, alleging he worked with illegal drug gangs. They also accused him and his wife, Cilia Flores, of conspiring to illegally import cocaine into the United States and of gun-related charges.
On Monday afternoon, US Marshals escorted the couple into a 26th-floor courtroom in lower Manhattan, where they entered not-guilty pleas and proclaimed their innocence. US military forces apprehended Maduro and Flores in a pre-dawn operation on Saturday in the Venezuelan capital of Caracas and brought them to the United States.
At the hearing, Pollack told US District Judge Alvin Hellerstein that he would file “voluminous and complicated” motions on Maduro’s behalf, suggesting he would challenge the charges and the basis for his arrest.
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“Mr. Maduro is the head of a sovereign state,” Pollack said in court. “He is entitled to the privileges and immunities that go with that office. In addition, there are issues about the legality of this military abduction.”
Delcy Rodriguez was sworn in as Venezuela’s interim president on Monday afternoon.
Pollack, an attorney at the boutique law firm Harris St. Laurent & Wechsler LLP, is best known as one of the many lawyers who represented Assange, the publisher of WikiLeaks.
Prosecutors had accused Assange of working with hackers to obtain government secrets from federal agencies and American companies, as well as conspiring with former US Army officer Chelsea Manning to leak documents about the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.
Assange pleaded guilty to espionage charges in the summer of 2024, capping a six-year legal battle that involved complex negotiations with multiple governments.
Pollack’s experience with sensitive national security matters could be an asset for his representation of Maduro, which will likely involve classified information. The attorney has also represented Jeffrey Sterling, a former CIA officer who was convicted of espionage charges after leaking information to a journalist.
Barry Pollack, on the left, represented Maduro in Manhattan federal court on Monday afternoon.
Jane Rosenberg/Reuters
To be paid, Pollack will likely need a waiver from the US Treasury Department, which has sanctioned Maduro and the Venezuelan government.
It’s not clear when Pollack began representing Maduro. He formally entered an appearance on the court docket late Monday morning. Maduro was first indicted in 2020, and Hellerstein has overseen court proceedings against other Venezuelan nationals accused of conspiring with him. Pollack didn’t respond to Business Insider’s request for comment.
A court-appointed lawyer for Maduro, David Wikstrom, told Business Insider he was informed at 8:40 a.m. on Monday that he would be representing the Venezuelan president in court. Shortly before the noon court hearing, he said he still hadn’t spoken to Pollack, who ultimately represented Maduro in the proceeding.
Flores is represented by Mark Donnelly, a Texas-based attorney who served as a federal prosecutor for 12 years, and one of his law partners, Andres Sanchez.
Pollack, a former public defender and president of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, has a long track record of successful defense outcomes in criminal trials.
He represented former Enron accountant Michael W. Krautz, who a jury acquitted of fraud charges. And he successfully overturned the conviction of Martin Tankleff, a Long Island man who spent 17 years in prison after he was falsely accused of killing his parents as a teenager.
More recently, Pollack represented the executive of a poultry company accused of conspiring to fix the price of chickens. Jurors declined to find the executive guilty in two separate trials.
In a 2025 interview with Lawdragon, Pollack decried the Justice Department’s “extraordinary view” of its jurisdiction for criminal cases, using the Assange case as an example.
“You’ve got somebody who’s not a United States citizen who is publishing information not in the United States, had not set foot in the United States, with respect to any of the alleged offensive conduct,” Pollack said. “The information was leaked to him by somebody in Iraq. Yet the United States obviously felt that it could pursue that as a criminal offense in the United States.”
I became a Pilates instructor 13 years ago after reformer classes helped me recover from a severe back injury.
Nowadays, I teach 20 group equipment classes weekly and see about 100 clients over seven days. With that many students, it’s no surprise I see new clients make the same mistakes over and over.
Here are the five most common mistakes I see students make during their first few Pilates classes.
Not arriving early for class
I recommend new clients arrive at the studio at least 10 minutes before class so that I have time to fit them into the equipment.
For example, the Reformer carriage must be adjusted to fit their unique body type, height, and overall proportions. I also ensure the straps are even and at the correct length for the client.
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Arriving ahead of schedule allows students to get settled and stay focused during class.
Ignoring the instructor’s cues
It’s important to listen to the instructor’s directions during class.
ilbusca/Getty Images
Pilates classes involve verbal cueing, which means most teachers will describe the exercises instead of demonstrating them. However, following oral instructions can be particularly challenging for non-auditory learners.
For example, when doing reformer Pilates classes, the springs can be adjusted to increase or decrease resistance. Many first-timers attend Pilates classes with a gym mindset, assuming heavier loads produce the best results.
However, when taking a class, you should never ignore the instructor’s directions on how much resistance to use. Following directions is essential for staying safe and seeing results.
Not breathing correctly during class
Pilates uses a technique known as lateral breathing to stabilize the trunk (chest, abdomen, pelvis, and back) while you move. This helps prevent unwanted pelvis movement or an arched back.
Good form during exercise allows for proper muscle recruitment and helps prevent injuries, which is why I always remind my students to be mindful of their breath.
However, it’s important to remember that engaging your core and developing breathing techniques takes time. When in doubt, stick to your usual breathing pattern.
Not wearing grip socks and proper clothing
Most studios require students to wear socks with grips on the bottom.
Raul Valcarcel/Getty Images
Most studios require clients to wear socks with proper grips on the bottom for safety and hygiene purposes.
Your feet may get slippery during movements requiring extra stability, so I recommend wearing them even if the studio doesn’t mandate it.
It’s also important to avoid wearing loose-fitting clothing so the instructor can see your body and help you make the proper adjustments.
Additionally, it’s best to keep long hair in a bun so it doesn’t get caught in the springs or other parts of the equipment.
Not eating before class — or eating too much
Taking a Pilates class on an empty stomach is a big no-no. However, you also don’t want to feel too full before class since Pilates is a core-centered workout.
I recommend eating something light an hour before class. A protein shake or a rice cake with peanut butter are good options if you’re taking an early class.
For those who prefer to exercise on their lunch break, a small salad with light protein will do the trick. The most important thing, however, is to listen to your body and find what works for you.
This story was originally published on August 28, 2024, and most recently updated on January 5, 2025.
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Every US state has a capitol that houses its state legislature.
Many state capitols are domed buildings similar to the US Capitol, but others are more unique.
Maryland’s State House is the oldest capitol in continuous legislative use in the US.
A state’s capitol can tell you a lot about its history and government.
Many state capitols feature references to their locations, like Kansas’ statue of a Kansa warrior atop its dome, or the New Hampshire State House, which was built with locally sourced granite.
Every capitol has a unique look and distinct origin, and you can learn more about them here.
Montgomery, Alabama
Alabama’s capitol in Montgomery. Carol M. Highsmith/Buyenlarge/Getty Images
Alabama’s capitol is where the Confederacy began, and there’s a brass star on one of the porticos marking the spot where Jefferson Davis was sworn in as its president, according to the Alabama Historical Commission.
The building that stands today was constructed in 1851, after a fire burned down the original building in 1849, according to the Alabama Historical Commission.
One of the more famous parts of the capitol grounds is the Avenue of Flags. It has the flag of every state plus a native rock from each state at each flag’s base. It was dedicated in 1968, according to Exploring Montgomery.
Juneau, Alaska
Alaska’s capitol in Juneau. Leamus/iStock/Getty Images Plus
The Alaska State Capitol, completed in 1931, doesn’t look much different from any other office building in Juneau, save the marble columns. According to Alaska’s official website, it is one of few state capitols to not feature a dome.
As The New York Times reported in 1981, neither the building nor the location were popular with locals — both were chosen because the residents of Alaska had to fund construction themselves — but efforts to move the capitol have failed, even though a vote passed to move the location in the ’70s.
As recently as 2022, Alaskan senators sponsored a bill to move the capital, this time to Willow, reported Alaska Public Media, but for now, Juneau remains the Last Frontier’s capital city.
Phoenix, Arizona
The Arizona Capitol Museum in Phoenix. Visions of America/Universal Images Group/Getty Images
Arizona’s capitol was dedicated in 1901. It stopped being the home of the legislative branches of government in 1960 — and by 1978, all government officials had been moved to other buildings nearby in an area called the Capitol Complex.
The original building was then officially converted into a museum that anyone can visit.
Little Rock, Arkansas
Arkansas’ capitol in Little Rock. Don & Melinda Crawford/Education Images/Universal Images Group/Getty Images
Arkansas’ capitol took 16 years to complete. Construction lasted from 1899 to 1915, and the building was designed by architects George R. Mann and Cass Gilbert, according to the Encyclopedia of Arkansas.
This building replaced the State House, which is now the Old State House Museum, according to Arkansas Heritage.
Sacramento, California
California’s capitol in Sacramento. David Paul Morris/Getty Images
The building was constructed between 1860 and 1874, and designed by Reuben S. Clark. It has been listed as a California Historical Landmark since 1974, according to the Historic State Capitol Commission.
Its design was based on the US Capitol in Washington, DC, among other well-known American buildings, according to the State of California Capitol Museum.
The California State Capitol is located inside the 40-acre Capitol Park, which contains trees from around the world, a World Peace Rose Garden, and the Civil War Memorial Grove.
Denver, Colorado
Colorado’s capitol in Denver. John Moore/Getty Images
The Colorado Capitol, which was completed in 1901, was also designed to look like the US Capitol, but with a Colorado twist: The dome is covered in real gold leaf donated by gold miners to reference the Colorado Gold Rush from 1858 to 1861, according to the Colorado General Assembly.
Hartford, Connecticut
Connecticut’s capitol in Hartford. Rolf Schulten/ullstein bild/Getty Images
The current Connecticut State Capitol is actually the third capitol the state has had since the American Revolution. This one, designed by Richard M. Upjohn, opened in 1879, according to Connecticut’s official state website.
The golden dome is surrounded by six pairs of statues representing agriculture, commerce, education and law, force and war, science and justice, and music, according to the State Capitol Preservation & Restoration Commission.
Dover, Delaware
Delaware’s Legislative Hall in Dover. Harvey Meston/Archive Photos/Getty Images
The Delaware Legislative Hall was dedicated in 1933 and replaced the Old State House, which is opposite the Hall on the capitol mall. It was designed in the Colonial Revival style by E. William Martin, according to Delaware’s official state website.
Washington, DC
The US Capitol. Stefan Zaklin/Getty Images
The United States Capitol is located on Capitol Hill in DC. It was in construction for decades, partially destroyed in 1814, and then finally finished in 1829, according to Architect of the Capitol. The famous, gigantic dome was later added during an expansive addition in 1855, designed by Thomas U. Walter.
Atop the dome sits the “Statue of Freedom,” a 19-foot statue of a woman wearing a battle helmet, holding a sheathed sword in one hand, and a laurel wreath and shield in the other. She’s been there since 1863, according to Architect of the Capitol.
Tallahassee, Florida
Florida’s capitol in Tallahassee. Mark Wallheiser/Getty Images
The current capitol, also called the New Capitol, is located directly in front of the original — together, they form the Capitol Complex. The New Capitol was built in 1977 by architect Edward Durell Stone and the firm of Reynolds, Smith, and Hills, according to the Florida Capitol website.
The website reports the building was designed in an “international style to reflect a modern Florida,” and includes a 22-story central tower.
The Old Capitol still stands, and it was restored to its original 1902 glory in the ’80s. Currently, the building is the Florida Historic Capitol Museum.
Atlanta, Georgia
Georgia’s capitol in Atlanta. Kevin Fleming/Corbis/VCG/Getty Images
Georgia’s capitol was finished in 1889 and designed by Willoughby J. Edbrooke and Franklin P. Burnham, according to the city of Atlanta’s website. It sits on the site of the former Atlanta City Hall/Fulton County Courthouse, which was there from 1854 to 1994.
According to the city, it’s one of 43 National Historic Landmarks in the state.
Honolulu, Hawaii
Hawaii’s capitol in Honolulu. Rolf Schulten/ullstein bild/Getty Images
At the dedication of the Hawaiian capitol in 1969, then-Governor John A. Burns explained the design of the building, the Honolulu Star Advertiser reported.
“In this great State Capitol there are no doors at the grand entrances which open toward the mountains and toward the sea,” he said. “There is no roof or dome to separate its vast inner court from the heavens and from the same eternal stars which guided the first voyagers to the primeval beauty of these shores.”
The building is also surrounded by a reflecting pool meant to symbolize the Pacific Ocean, which surrounds the chain of 137 recognized islands that make up Hawaii, according to the State of Hawaii.
Boise, Idaho
Idaho’s capitol in Boise. Education Images/Universal Images Group/Getty Images
Idaho’s capitol was designed by architects J.E. Tourtellotte and Charles Hummel, and was constructed between 1905 and 1920. According to Idaho’s Capitol Commission, it’s the only capitol in the US that is heated by geothermal water. It comes from a spring 3,000 feet underground.
Springfield, Illinois
Illinois’ capitol in Springfield. Daniel Acker for The Washington Post/Getty Images
According to a pamphlet by the Illinois Secretary of State’s office, the current capitol (the state’s sixth) was completed in 1888, 20 years after crews broke ground. At the time of its construction, the limestone dome was illuminated by 144 gas jets. However, the carbon emitted by those jets eventually turned the dome black.
It took 100 years, but it was finally cleaned in 1986.
Indianapolis, Indiana
Indiana’s capitol in Indianapolis. Education Images/Universal Images Group/Getty Images
According to the Indiana Department of Administration, Indiana’s capitol was completed in 1888, and is home to all executive offices, the Indiana State Senate, the Indiana House of Representatives, and the Indiana State Supreme Court, among others. It was constructed with Indiana limestone.
Des Moines, Iowa
Iowa’s capitol in Des Moines. Carol M. Highsmith/Buyenlarge/Getty Images
The large golden dome is 23 carats, and the entire building is 275 feet tall, according to a visitor’s guide. It’s been re-gilded four times since its construction in 1886.
Overall, Iowa’s capitol has a total of five domes, making it the only capitol in the US with five.
Topeka, Kansas
State capitol in Topeka. Joe Sohm/Visions of America/Universal Images Group/Getty Images
Kansas’ capitol dome is topped with a statue called “Ad astra” (Latin for “to the stars”), which is part of the state’s motto, “ad astra per aspera” (“to the stars through difficulties”), according to the Kansas Historical Society.
The statue itself is a bronze depiction of a warrior from the Kansa tribe (also known as the Kaw Nation or Kanza), who call Kansas home and gave the state its name.
The entire building took 37 years to construct, also according to the Kansas Historical Society, from 1866 to 1903.
Frankfort, Kentucky
Kentucky’s capitol in Frankfort. Bill Pugliano/Getty Images
Kentucky’s capitol was designed by Frank Mills Andrews, according to Kentucky’s official state website. There are also statues lining the front portico that represent Kentucky, the central figure, with Progress, History, Plenty, Law, Art, and Labor as her “attendants,” according to the state website.
The current building is the fourth capitol in the state, and it was completed in 1910.
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Louisiana’s capitol in Baton Rouge. David LEFRANC/Gamma-Rapho/Getty Images
The Louisiana Capitol is just one of nine capitols in the US that doesn’t feature a dome — and at 450 feet tall (or 34 floors), it’s also the tallest capitol in the country, according to Louisiana’s House of Representatives.
It was dedicated in 1932, without the person who had spearheaded the effort to build it, Senator Huey P. Long, a controversial figure in Louisiana’s history, as reported by Encyclopedia Britannica.
Augusta, Maine
The Maine State House in Augusta. Joe Phelan/Portland Press Herald/Getty Images
The capital of Maine was originally Portland when the state broke away from Massachusetts in 1820. But when Mainers asked for a more centrally located capital city, Augusta was chosen in 1827, according to the Maine State Legislature. The building was completed by 1832.
The State House’s dome is topped with a female figure of Wisdom, which was designed by sculptor W. Clark Noble of Gardiner, a town 6 miles from Augusta.
Annapolis, Maryland
Maryland’s state capitol in Annapolis. Education Images/Universal Images Group/Getty Images
Maryland’s State House is the oldest capitol in continuous legislative use in the US, built in 1779, according to its official website. It’s also the only state capitol to have once served as the US capitol when the Continental Congress met there from 1783 to 1784, according to the website.
Boston, Massachusetts
The Old State House for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in Boston. Joe Sohm/Visions of America/Universal Images Group/Getty Images
The Massachusetts State House, built in 1789, originally had a wooden dome, but Paul Revere’s own company was responsible for covering it in copper in 1802, CBS News reported.
And the land it was built on? It used to be owned by none other than John Hancock, who was Massachusetts’ first elected governor.
Lansing, Michigan
Michigan’s capitol in Lansing. Bettman/Getty Images
The floors of Michigan’s capitol, which was dedicated in 1879, are made of limestone and have visible fossils in them, as you can see on the capitol’s official website.
St. Paul, Minnesota
Minnesota’s capitol in St. Paul. Raymond Boyd/Getty Images
According to Explore Minnesota, the state’s capitol is the second-largest self-supporting marble dome in the world, only behind St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.
Architect Cass Gilbert insisted on using Georgia marble for the dome, according to the Minnesota Historical Society. Some were critical of using out-of-state materials, so as a compromise, the contractor leased the quarry in Georgia and imported the rough marble so Minnesotans could do the work in-state.
It took nine years, but was completed in 1905.
Jackson, Mississippi
Mississippi’s state capitol in Jackson. RORY DOYLE/AFP/Getty Images
Designed by architect Theodore Link and constructed between 1901 and 1903, Mississippi’s state capitol was built on the site of an old state penitentiary, according to the state capitol’s official website. The building spans 171,000 square feet and features 4,750 original electric light fixtures, as well as an 8-foot statue of an eagle on the top of its dome.
Jefferson City, Missouri
Missouri’s capitol in Jefferson City. Bettman/Getty Images
Missouri’s state capitol was completed in 1917, according to its official website. Ceres, the goddess of grain, sits at the top of its dome.
In addition to Missouri’s state legislature, the 500,000-square-foot building houses the Missouri State Museum with exhibits about the state’s history and natural resources.
Helena, Montana
Montana’s state capitol in Helena. Education Images/Universal Images Group/Getty Images
The main building of Montana’s state capitol was completed in 1902, and its two wings were added in 1911 and 1912, according to the Montana Historical Society. Inside, the building features works of art such as the mural “Lewis and Clark Meeting Indians at Ross’ Hole,” painted by Charles M. Russell in 1912.
Lincoln, Nebraska
Nebraska’s state capitol in Lincoln. Education Images/Universal Images Group/Getty Images
Nebraska’s state capitol was designed by architect Bertram Grosvenor Goodhue and completed in 1932, according to its official website. The 400-foot tower is topped with a 19-foot bronze statue called “The Sower.”
It is the only state legislature to be unicameral, meaning it only has one chamber.
Carson City, Nevada
Nevada’s state capitol in Carson City. Joe Sohm/Visions of America/Universal Images Group/Getty Images
Nevada’s state capitol was built from 1870 to 1871 out of sandstone sourced from a quarry belonging to Abe Curry, the founder of Carson City, according to Travel Nevada. It features a silver-colored dome, a nod to Nevada’s nickname as “the silver state.”
Concord, New Hampshire
New Hampshire’s state capitol in Concord. Joe Sohm/Visions of America/Universal Images Group/Getty Images
The New Hampshire State House was constructed between 1816 and 1819 with locally sourced granite from Rattlesnake Hill in Concord, according to the New Hampshire Division of Historical Resources.
In 1818, a wooden sculpture of an eagle painted with gold was installed on top of the capitol dome. It was replaced with a copper replica in 1957, but the original sculpture can be viewed on display inside the capitol, according to EverGreene, the architecture firm that restored the State House’s gold-plated dome.
Trenton, New Jersey
New Jersey’s state capitol in Trenton. Bobby Bank/WireImage/Getty Images
After Maryland, New Jersey State House is the second-oldest capitol still in use, completed in 1792, according to the state of New Jersey’s official website. Much of the original building, designed by architect Jonathan Doane, was destroyed in a fire in 1885.
Architect Lewis Broome restored the capitol and added a cast-iron dome plated with copper and gold and featuring the Latin phrase “Fiat Justitia Ruat Coelum,” meaning “There must be justice even though the heavens fall.”
Santa Fe, New Mexico
New Mexico’s state capitol in Santa Fe. Robert Alexander/Archive Photos/Getty Images
New Mexico’s capitol, known as the Roundhouse, is the only round capitol in the US, according to Santa Fe’s official tourist website. Architect Willard C. Kruger modeled the design after the Zia sun symbol, which he also incorporated into the capitol rotunda skylight. The symbol is also part of New Mexico’s state flag.
Albany, New York
New York’s state capitol in Albany. John Greim/LightRocket/Getty Images
When New York’s state capitol in Albany was finally finished after 32 years in 1899, it was at a cost of $25 million, making it one of the most expensive government projects in the US. In 2013, The New York Times reported the figure was equivalent to more than half a billion dollars today.
Inside the granite building, visitors can find 25 murals by William deLeftwich Dodge in the Governor’s Reception Room.
Raleigh, North Carolina
North Carolina’s capitol in Raleigh. LOGAN CYRUS/AFP via Getty Images
Completed in 1840, North Carolina’s 3-story capitol includes a copper dome, according to the National Park Service.
Bismarck, North Dakota
North Dakota’s capitol in Bismarck. KAREN BLEIER/AFP/Getty Images
North Dakota’s state capitol is the tallest building in the state at 241 feet and 8 inches tall, according to the official government website. The Art-Deco structure is nicknamed the “Skyscraper on the Prairie,” according to the Society of Architecture Historians.
Columbus, Ohio
Ohio’s capitol in Columbus. Jumping Rocks/Universal Images Group/Getty Images
Construction of the Ohio Statehouse took over 20 years, from 1839 to 1861, according to its official website. Much of the work was done by prisoners at Ohio Penitentiary, some of whom left graffiti on the walls that was uncovered during restoration work, the website says. Built in the Greek-Revival architecture style out of Columbus limestone, the Statehouse is a designated National Historic Landmark.
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Oklahoma’s state capitol in Oklahoma City. Jordan McAlister/Getty Images
Built in 1917, the dome on Oklahoma’s capitol was added more recently, in 2002, according to the Oklahoma Historical Society — it was left out of the original construction due to costs. The grounds of Oklahoma’s capitol also had active oil rigs until 1986. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.
Salem, Oregon
Oregon’s state capitol in Salem. Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
Oregon’s Art Deco capitol is made of white Vermont marble with a gold statue of an “Oregon Pioneer” atop the dome, according to the capitol’s official website. In-person guided tours are paused due to construction.
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania’s state capitol in Harrisburg. John Greim/LightRocket/Getty Images
Pennsylvania’s capitol, designed by architect Joseph Huston, cost $13 million to build when it was completed in 1906, which would be over $403 million today, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The building’s 272-foot dome is decorated with green glazed terra cotta tile, according to the capitol’s official website.
Providence, Rhode Island
Rhode Island’s state capitol in Providence. Education Images/Universal Images Group/Getty Images
The Rhode Island State House, built between 1895 and 1904, features the fourth-largest freestanding marble dome in the world, according to the Rhode Island Restoration Committee‘s official website. It has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1970.
Columbia, South Carolina
South Carolina’s state capitol in Columbia. Epics/Getty Images
The construction of the South Carolina State House began in 1854, but halted due to the Civil War. The building still features cannonball marks from when the Union army captured Columbia in 1865, according to Discover South Carolina. The State House was finally completed in 1903, and it was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1976, according to the South Carolina Department of Archives and History.
A portrait of state senator Clementa Pinckney, who was killed in the 2015 shooting at Charleston’s Mother Emanuel AME Church, hangs in the Senate Gallery.
Pierre, South Dakota
South Dakota’s state capitol in Pierre. Education Images/Universal Images Group/Getty Images
South Dakota’s state capitol was constructed between 1905 and 1910, not long after South Dakota became a US state in 1889, according to the South Dakota Bureau of Administration. An annex was added in 1932. The Neoclassical building features scagliola plaster columns, war memorials, and stained-glass windows, according to Travel South Dakota.
Nashville, Tennessee
Tennessee’s state capitol in Nashville. Raymond Boyd/Getty Images
The Tennessee State Capitol opened in 1859. The architect, William Strickland, died during its construction in 1854 and was buried on the capitol grounds along with President James K. Polk and first lady Sarah Childress Polk, according to the Tennessee State Museum.
Austin, Texas
Texas’ state capitol in Austin. James Leynse/Corbis/Getty Images
Completed in 1888, the Texas State Capitol dome is topped with a statue of Libertas, the goddess of liberty, according to the official website for the Texas House of Representatives. It stands 14 feet taller than the US Capitol.
Salt Lake City, Utah
Utah’s capitol in Salt Lake City. Universal Images Group/Getty Images
Utah’s State Capitol was designed by architect Richard K.A. Kletting and was completed in 1916, according to its official website. The rotunda features bronze and marble statues of Native American leaders, LDS pioneers, and US presidents such as Abraham Lincoln, according to its website.
Montpelier, Vermont
Vermont’s capitol in Montpelier. MyLoupe/Universal Images Group/Getty Images
The Vermont State House, designed in the Greek Revival architecture style, dates back to 1857, according to the National Park Service. A statue of Ceres, the goddess of agriculture, adorns the top of the dome.
Richmond, Virginia
Virginia’s capitol in Richmond. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Thomas Jefferson designed Virginia’s state capitol to look like the ancient Roman temple of Maison Carée, according to the Virginia General Assembly‘s official website. The building also features a bronze statue of Jefferson, who is depicted holding the capitol’s architectural blueprints.
Olympia, Washington
Washington’s state capitol in Olympia. Greg Vaughn /VW PICS/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
The Washington State Legislative Building features the tallest freestanding masonry dome in North America at 287 feet, according to the Washington State Department of Enterprise Services. Designed by Walter Wilder and Harry White, it was completed in 1928.
Charleston, West Virginia
West Virginia’s capitol in Charleston. Michael S. Williamson/The Washington Post/Getty Images
West Virginia’s capitol, designed by Cass Gilbert, took eight years and almost $10 million to construct before its completion in 1932, according to its official website. The dome stands at 293 feet tall — 5 feet higher than the US Capitol in Washington, DC.
Madison, Wisconsin
Wisconsin’s capitol in Madison. Scott Olson/Getty Images
Wisconsin’s state capitol features the only granite dome in the US, according to Travel Wisconsin. On top of the dome, a gilded bronze statue by Daniel Chester French is aptly named “Wisconsin.”
Cheyenne, Wyoming
Wyoming’s capitol in Cheyenne. Michael Smith/Newsmakers/Getty Images
Wyoming’s state capitol, constructed between 1886 and 1890, was built in the Renaissance Revival architecture style, according to the Wyoming Department of Administration and Information. It is one of 20 state capitols designated as a National Historic Landmark, according to the National Park Service.
One grocery chain is expanding using a business model that’s somewhere between Aldi and T.J. Maxx.
Supermarket chain Grocery Outlet promises low prices, and it has a novel approach: Like Aldi’s locations, Grocery Outlet stores tend to be smaller than traditional grocery stores and emphasize low prices.
But like T.J. Maxx, Grocery Outlet often sells products that other retailers or food manufacturers can’t move themselves.
During the height of the pandemic in 2020, for instance, Grocery Outlet bought 30,000 cases of 1-gallon containers of salsa that were meant for restaurants, former CEO Robert Sheedy said on an earnings call at the time.
“Grocery Outlet buyers are experts at purchasing that product opportunistically,” the chief marketing officer, Layla Kasha, said in a statement to Business Insider in September.
That means finding products “outside of the normal retail channel as a result of packaging changes, product overruns, and other varied inventory circumstances,” she said. “Our suppliers offer us great prices on that surplus inventory, and we pass those savings along to our customers.”
This approach allows Grocery Outlet to sell products for 40% to 70% less than comparable items at traditional retailers, according to the company’s latest annual report.
Grocery Outlet had 563 stores as of its third quarter, which ended on September 27. The chain said in November that it planned to end 2025 with 37 new store openings for the year.
The San Francisco-based company already has a significant presence in the Western US, but it’s expanding in Eastern states, including Delaware, Maryland, and Pennsylvania.
I wanted to experience shopping at Grocery Outlet for myself, so I visited one of the chain’s relatively new stores in September. Here’s what I found.
Do you have a story idea to share about Grocery Outlet or another retailer? Contact this reporter at abitter@businessinsider.com.
I visited one of Grocery Outlet’s newer stores in Maryland.
This grocery outlet wasn’t too busy on a Wednesday afternoon. Alex Bitter/BI
Located in a shopping mall in Beltsville, Maryland, this store opened in July 2024.
Grocery Outlet’s emphasis on deals was clear from the moment I walked in.
This sign highlighted a major clearance on spring and summer items. Alex Bitter/BI
This sign outside the main entrance highlighted some of Grocery Outlet’s deals, including salted caramel cookies, cheese balls, and ribeye steaks.
Grocery Outlet also sells fresh produce and meat.
I saw this sign as I walked into the Grocery Outlet location. Alex Bitter/BI
Though Grocery Outlet says it’s “opportunistic” with its buying, the chain’s stores stock many of the same types of products thatyou’ll find at traditional grocery stores, such as produce. This sign reminded me of that as I walked in.
This Grocery Outlet store was similar in size to an Aldi or other small-format supermarket.
The front of Grocery Outlet included baked goods, plants, and other items. Alex Bitter/BI
Grocery Outlet stores generally take up between 15,000 and 20,00 square feet, according to the company’s latest annual filing. Aldi stores, by comparison, are generally about 22,000 square feet.
Both grocery chainsare much smaller than the format used by traditional supermarkets, which can take up twice as much space at about 40,000 square feet.
Grocery Outlet sells more than food.
The tropical potted plants were $15.99 each. Alex Bitter/BI
As I walked through the front of the store, I found ceramic pots, gardening tools, and this selection of potted plants.
I found name-brand groceries …
There were three flavors of La Croix seltzer. Alex Bitter/BI
Grocery Outlet often touts that many of its products are name brands. That was true with these boxes of canned La Croix seltzer.
… as well as items I’d never heard of before.
Bottles of Good Sport were $0.99 each at Grocery Outlet. Alex Bitter/BI
I’ve written about and followed many food and beverage brands over the years, but I wasn’t familiar with Good Sport, a dairy-based sports drink.
Grocery Outlet also has its own brands.
These bags of tortilla chips were being sold under the SimplyGo brand. Alex Bitter/BI
Grocery Outlet makes some of its own products under the SimplyGo name, such as these tortilla chips.
The chain tries to stock store-branded goods and those from name brands “as evenly as possible,” Kasha told Business Insider.
Most of Grocery Outlet’s private-label items are “everyday grocery basics” such as butter, eggs, and paper towels, she said. “We source those traditionally to ensure our shoppers can find them each time they come to the store,” she said.
Many of the name-brand goods, meanwhile, are meant to create a “treasure hunt shopping experience,” Kasha said. Think about “a holiday-themed cereal, or a fun soda flavor that you’ve never heard of,” she said.
I saw products from some popular restaurant chains in the freezer aisle.
I bought a box of these Hooters-branded crab cakes. Alex Bitter/BI
These Hooters-branded crab cakes piqued my interest, given my reporting on the chain’s bankruptcy earlier this year.
I bought a box and tried them at home. They were unremarkable.
Some parts of Grocery Outlet looked like any other grocery store.
Lemons, limes, and other fruit sit in the produce section of Grocery Outlet. Alex Bitter/BI
In the back of the store, I found the produce section, which had many of the basic types of fruit and vegetables that other stores have, from eggplants to lemons.
The quality of the produce seemed decent.
Grapes in a cooler at Grocery Outlet. Alex Bitter/BI
I bought some red, seedless grapes and was happy with the quality.
Price tags that highlighted savings were everywhere.
Every price tag at Grocery Outlet included a price for the item “elsewhere.” Alex Bitter/BI
These grapes were $1.99 a pound at Grocery Outlet. The tag said that they’d cost $3.99 a pound “elsewhere,” which seems plausible to me, though I had no clue which other stores they were talking about.
There was a robust selection of Latin American groceries.
I bought some dried chiles at Grocery Outlet. Alex Bitter/BI
Besides jars of salsa and tortillas, there was a range of spices often used in Mexican cooking. I picked up some dried chiles for my next homemade salsa rosa.
As I ventured deeper into the store, I saw more unusual products.
These Old Bay-flavored sausages intrigued me. Alex Bitter/BI
I’d never seen sausages flavored with Old Bay, which I wanted to try but opted not to because I had a long drive home.
I saw products I didn’t know existed from popular brands like DiGiorno.
I bought one of these breakfast croissants. Alex Bitter/BI
This frozen personal DiGiorno “breakfast croissant” was $2.49, so I picked one up.
Many of the products I bought were fine, though not wonderful.
The breakfast croissant, after the prescribed 20 minutes in the oven. Alex Bitter/BI
The breakfast croissant was good, though I probably won’t be rushing back for more.
Other products were surprisingly niche.
There was one last bottle of noni juice on the shelf at Grocery Outlet. Alex Bitter/BI
I almost bought the last bottle of juice squeezed from noni, a fruit native to Southeast Asia and common in parts of the Pacific such as Hawaii.
Curious, I did a quick Google search and found that this same bottle was selling for more than $40 online, as the price tag said.
I started to get a sense of Grocery Outlet’s strategy the more I saw.
Oreo Truffles Mix sat next to a cookie mix from a Chrissy Teigen brand in the baking aisle. Alex Bitter/BI
Many of the products that Grocery Outlet sold at the location I visitedwere a little outside what you’d expect in a normal grocery store.
Oreo truffle mix? A breakfast croissant with cheese and ham? It felt like I had asked the beta version of an AI model to generate pictures of normal groceries.
Many of the prices were much lower than those in other stores in the area.
These cans of diced tomatoes were in the center of the store. Alex Bitter/BI
These cans of diced tomatoes were from a brand I’ve never heard of — California Healthy Harvest. At $0.50 each, I bought two, since I hadn’t seen canned tomatoes so cheap elsewhere in the DC area where I live.
For the really value-focused shoppers, there was this “last chance” shelf in the back of the store.
There was a limited selection of products in the “last chance” section at Grocery Outlet. Alex Bitter/BI
Given Grocery Outlet’s model, I was curious to see what kinds of groceries ended up in the clearance section.
The answer: huge tins of soda crackers for $1.17 each and 6-pound cans of salsa verde for $2.57 each.
As I headed for the checkout, I saw more merchandise that wasn’t food.
This Reese’s-branded blanket was $7.99. Alex Bitter/BI
There was a selection of candy-themed blankets, such as this orange Reese’s throw.
I also found an homage to the founder of Grocery Outlet.
A depiction of Grocery Outlet’s founder, Jim Read, was painted in one corner of the store. Alex Bitter/BI
Jim Read started what would become Grocery Outlet in 1946 by selling surplus military supplies, according to the company.
Like any supermarket, there was candy near the register, tempting me as I waited.
Marshmallow Peeps were on steep discount nearly five months after Easter. Alex Bitter/BI
These packs of Peeps came individually wrapped to make them easier to hide in Easter eggs.
It’s a great idea, but given that I was shopping at Grocery Outlet in September, I could see why they were so heavily discounted.
Shopping at Grocery Outlet was one of the most novel experiences I’ve had at a store.
I took one last look back at the Grocery Outlet as I walked out. Alex Bitter/BI
The product selection was eclectic, and that’s no accident. Grocery Outlet’s “treasure hunt” strategy encourages customers to stop by regularly to see what’s new.
That could make it a hard place to shop if you tend to buy the same groceries every week or have dietary requirements.
On the other hand, many shoppers are looking to save money after years of inflation.
There are also signs that buying food from big, recognizable brands is no longer as important for shoppers as it once was, as evidenced by Aldi’s success with its store brands and Kraft Heinz’s decision to split into two companies.
Grocery Outlet reported comparable sales of just over 1% in the third quarter, the most recent reporting period. CEO Jason Potter said on an earnings call in November that he was “dissatisfied with” that result but hoped that sales would pick up in 2026.
I’ll probably be back, especially if Grocery Outlet opens more stores in my area.
This grocery outlet was about 40 minutes from Washington, DC, proper. Alex Bitter/BI
Grocery Outlet continues to open new stores, including another location in Pennsylvania in August.
If the chain continues to expand — especially on the East Coast — I bet I’ll be back at some point.
Almost 1,000 flights to and from the Caribbean were canceled on Saturday after the US raid on Venezuela.
The Federal Aviation Administration banned commercial aircraft from flying over Venezuelan airspace before expanding restrictions to much of the Caribbean.
Puerto Rico was the most affected, with 400 flights canceled to or from the main airport in San Juan.
There were also over 140 cancellations in the US Virgin Islands, and 91 in Aruba, which is only about 20 miles off the Venezuelan coast.
Using data from FlightAware, Business Insider put together this map to show the scale of the disruption. You can hover over an icon to see the number of cancellations at the airport.
After airspace restrictions ended early Sunday, airlines added dozens of extra flights to help passengers get where they needed to go.
The region is a particularly popular destination for vacationers seeking some winter sun over the New Year holiday.
American Airlines added 43 extra flights on Sunday and Monday, with room for 7,000 passengers.
For the first time in over a decade, it operated interisland flights in the eastern Caribbean on Monday. Namely, to Puerto Rico from Anguilla and the British Virgin Islands.
American’s expanded schedule included deploying a Boeing 777-300, the largest model in its fleet, to ferry passengers between Miami and Puerto Rico.
United Airlines listed 17 additional flights scheduled for Sunday and Monday, to and from its hubs in Houston, Newark, and Washington, DC.
Delta Air Lines said that it has added space for 2,600 people on Monday. It didn’t immediately provide details of the extra flights it has scheduled.
Airlines have waived change fees and fare differences for passengers flying to or from the Caribbean, to rebook for flights later in the month.
Have you been affected by the travel disruption in the Caribbean? Reach out to this reporter at psyme@businessinsider.com or via Signal at syme.99
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Vibe coding has upended software engineering, strapping developers with a suite of new AI tools.
OpenAI and Tesla alum Andrej Karpathy, who coined the term, recently said he’s “never felt this much behind.”
Are you a software developer? Take our vibe-coding survey below.
Software engineering is changing — and we want to hear from those navigating the moment.
Programmers today find themselves with a whole new suite of AI tools, from Claude Code to Cursor to Codex. These editors enable engineers to generate entirely artificial lines of code or modify their handwritten code with the assistance of a large language model.
There’s a term for this type of AI-assisted programming: “vibe coding.”
Engineers from Meta to Google are embracing a vibe coding approach in their day-to-day work. Everyone, from teenagers to non-technical workers, suddenly seem to be building their own apps — or at least vibe-coding their way to a prototype.
It’s a whole new skill set for engineers to learn, though, one that can vary from tool to tool. (Replit is different from Lovable, which is different from Bolt, and the list goes on.) It’s also not clear, for the most experienced programmers, whether there are actually productivity gains.
Andrej Karpathy coined the famous term “vibe coding” early last year. He was a founding team member of OpenAI and led AI efforts at Tesla. In a recent X post reflecting on the field, Karpathy wrote that he had “never felt this much behind as a programmer.”
“I have a sense that I could be 10X more powerful if I just properly string together what has become available over the last ~year,” he wrote. “A failure to claim the boost feels decidedly like skill issue.”
Are you a programmer? Answer our vibe-coding survey below:
Jason Lemkin, known to some as the Godfather of SaaS, says the time has come to push the limits of AI in the workplace.
In practice, Lemkin, the founder of SaaStr, the world’s largest community of business-to-business founders, said on Lenny’s Podcast recently that this means he will stop hiring humans in his sales department.
Instead, SaaStr is going all in on agents, which are commonly defined as virtual assistants that can complete tasks autonomously. They break down problems, outline plans, and take action without being prompted by a user.
He said the company now has 20 AI agents automating tasks once handled by a team of 10 sales development representatives and account executives.
That move from an entirely human workforce to an agent-based workforce was rapid.
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In May, SaaStr had just one AI agent in production that it used for various digital tasks, Lemkin said. That month, though, during the SaaStr Annual — its yearly gathering of over 10,000 founders, executives, and VCs — two of its high-paid sales representatives abruptly quit.
Lemkin said he turned to his chief AI officer and said, “We’re done with hiring humans in sales. We’re going to push the limits with agents.”
Lemkin’s calculus was that it just wasn’t worth the cost of hiring another junior sales representative for a $150,000 a year position who would eventually quit, when he could use a loyal AI agent instead.
Amelia Lerutte, SaaStr’s chief AI officer, told Business Insider by email that by June, the company began ramping up the number of agents it had in production.
“We had only 1 non-core agent at the time with Delphi, but didn’t go deep on 2 to 20+ until the beginning of June,” she said. “It was a conscious choice after their departure to reallocate some (but not all) head count spend to agents.”
At the SaaStr office, the 10 desks that once belonged to humans on the go-to-market team are now labeled with the names of agents, like “Quali for qualified,” “Arty for artisan,” and “Repli for Replit,” Lemkin said.
Lemkin said SaaStr is training its agents on its best humans.
“Train an agent with your best person, and best script, then that agent can start to become a version of your best salesperson,” he said.
SaaStr’s process is similar to how Vercel, the cloud-based platform for developers, trained a sales agent off its top performer for six weeks by documenting every step of their work, and then building an agent to mimic their process.
Many companies are experimenting with AI agents, but risks remain. One of the big ones is the threat of data leaks and cybercrime.
“AI agents, in order to have their full functionality, in order to be able to access applications, often need to access the operating system or the OS level of the device on which you’re running them,” Harry Farmer, a senior researcher at the Ada Lovelace Institute, recently told Wired.
All of that access creates more potential attack points for cybercriminals.
Security threats aside, Lemkin said that the net productivity of agents is about the same as humans. However, he said, agents are more efficient and can scale — just like software.
Alarms blare over the factory floors, and work at Patria’s Hämeenlinna facility grinds to a halt.
The soft thrum of an explosion echoes through the campus. Moments later, roughly 700 workers continue making their armored vehicles bound for Japan, Sweden, Slovakia, and other countries. The blast is not a test-firing of its new combat vehicle, but part of the construction for its expanding manufacturing facility.
Patria, Finland’s largest defense company, is planning to nearly double production at its main hub just north of Helsinki, clearing rocks with explosives on-site to make way for several new assembly lines.
Construction crews are paving the way for a new assembly line in Patria’s Hämeenlinna facility.
Matthew Loh for Business Insider
The Hämeenlinna factory manufactures Patria’s 8×8 armored personnel carrier and a relatively new, up-and-coming vehicle: a wheeled 6×6 troop transport that’s receiving surging demand from northern and western Europe.
Work on the 25-foot-long, 17-ton vehicle began in 2020 under a joint program between Finland and Latvia called the Common Armored Vehicles System. Both countries sought a cost-effective, mass-produced armored vehicle that could be used by their militaries for interoperability.
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Latvia has since sent at least 42 of these vehicles to Ukraine, armed with heavy machine guns and rolled out in batches over the last year. The vehicle can cross tundra and even rivers while shielding up to 10 troops it carries from land mines and artillery fire to get them to forward positions.
Latvia handed over 21 of its promised Patria 6×6 vehicles to Ukraine in November.
Alexander Welscher/picture alliance via Getty Images
When Business Insider visited Patria’s factory, representatives for the company — which is majority-owned by the state of Finland — said the firm wasn’t authorized to share details about the 6×6’s performance in Ukraine.
But the CAVS 6×6 program has been quickly drawing attention from the rest of Europe: What began as a partnership between two countries has expanded into a consortium of seven member states.
Sweden joined the Common Armored Vehicles System program in 2022, followed by Germany, Denmark, the UK, and Norway in subsequent years.
Finland and Latvia have placed orders for just under 500 of these vehicles, while Sweden has requested 415 of the 6×6s to be delivered over the next five years. Stockholm’s latest order for 94 vehicles, announced in early December, priced each one at about $1.75 million.
Germany has become the program’s largest buyer, signing contracts in mid-December to acquire 876 of the 6×6 vehicles, valued at $2.3 billion. These vehicles will be split into four variants, including one that features a mortar turret.
Meanwhile, Denmark, which joined the program this year, has already placed an order for 129 6×6 vehicles.
The UK and Norway are still negotiating 6×6 orders with Patria.
Inside the CAVS 6×6
The CAVS 6×6 can accommodate roughly 10 troops, along with a typical crew of two or three, and features up to NATO standard level 4 armor designed to withstand direct hits from large-caliber machine gun fire, mine explosions, and nearby artillery blasts.
The CAVS 6×6 competes with other wheeled troop transports, such as Rheinmetall’s Boxer and General Dynamics Land Systems’ Stryker, the latter of which is extensively fielded by the US Army.
The Finnish company said it can tweak the vehicle for each customer’s needs, but a typical model features climate control that enables the vehicle to operate in temperatures as low as -40°F.
“Inside, it will be comfortable enough to easily survive. We are talking about temperatures of the plus centigrades,” Mikko Rantanen, Patria’s director for 6×6 vehicle programs, told Business Insider from inside the rear compartment of one of the vehicles.
Patria’s 6×6 can sit roughly 12 to 13 people total.
Matthew Loh for Business Insider
The 6×6’s rear interior is spartan: Cloth-covered metal-frame seats and headrests for five people on either side, with space behind each seat for equipment and small arms.
There’s just enough room for a soldier to sit with their knees touching the opposite passenger’s. A few fire extinguishers inside are connected to an automatic suppression system that can detect a blaze in the rear cabin.
The interior of Patria’s 6×6 features a relatively simple design, with metal seats and storage compartments for firearms and equipment.
Matthew Loh for Business Insider
Screens allow troops to see outside the vehicle through exterior cameras, while a rear hatch provides the option of fitting a machine gun or crewed weapon module on top of the 6×6.
On the right-hand side of the vehicle, a small passageway also lets troops pass between the rear compartment and the driver’s cabin, which resembles that of a truck and features an automatic gearbox.
The driver’s cabin of the 6×6 is like that of a truck’s. The vehicle is driven in auto.
Matthew Loh for Business Insider
Optional propellers on the 6×6’s underside enable it to transition seamlessly from traversing land to crossing small bodies of water, such as rivers or lakes.
“We can enter the water without needing preparation in this configuration,” said Rantanen.
A showcase vehicle of the Patria 6×6 sports propellers for when crews have to move the APC through water.
Matthew Loh for Business Insider
However, the 6×6’s speed in the water is just under 5 mph, and Rantanen added that it’s not meant to be a landing craft or amphibious assault vehicle.
On land, it’s designed to drive at speeds of over 60 mph, easily cross trenches that are four feet wide, and surmount obstacles about two feet high.
Screens in the 6×6 show what’s happening outside the vehicle. The passageway here leads to the driver’s cabin.
Matthew Loh for Business Insider
Moving fast in the Arctic
Building weapons and vehicles specifically for arctic terrain is a specialty for contractors in Finland, a country renowned for holding off the Soviet Union for over 100 days in deep snow and dense forest during World War II.
Patria said that while the 6×6 can be outfitted for various terrain types, including the desert, the arctic domain is its forte.
The CAVS 6×6 is designed to cross both snow and marsh terrain.
Patria
Snow isn’t the only challenge in arctic warfare. Few roads are available on Finland’s border with Russia — the priority threat for NATO — and its vast hinterland is peppered with thousands of small lakes and marshland that can bog down armored transport.
“In the wintertime, it’s snow,” said Petri Hepola, Patria’s executive vice president for sales and marketing and its chief program officer for the F-35. “In the summer, lots of wet soil and swampy areas. One of the most important features is how fast you can move your troops and tools through these areas.”
The wet terrain in the summertime for northern regions means the 6×6 has to be capable of moving fast in both mud and snow.
Patria
Finland and Norway are the only two members of Patria’s 6×6 program that share Arctic borders with Russia.
However, as northern Europe, especially the Baltic and Nordic states, grows increasingly concerned about conflict with Moscow, the Kremlin has been bolstering its military presence in the high north, repopulating key bases and transforming its Arctic fleet into a separate strategic theater.
Since Finland joined NATO in 2023, alliance forces have been rushing to train on the country’s terrain and frigid temperatures, making it one of the most active spots for joint exercises in recent years.
“Our products have been surviving very well in that environment,” Hepola said.
Gearing up for 2027
With an order backlog of nearly 2,000 6×6 vehicles, Patria hopes its new facility in Hämeenlinna will be ready for production by 2027. The factory campus serves only the tail end of the entire manufacturing cycle, which can take weeks in most cases, or several months for more complicated variants.
Inside, hundreds of workers conduct welding, surface treatment, assembly, tests, and other final processes that can each take weeks to complete. Dozens of vehicles line the factory floors, and dozens more sit in parking lots, each marked with a flag to designate the country for which it has been modified.
Patria vehicles are seen during the official opening ceremony for a new production facility in Latvia in 2024.
GINTS IVUSKANS/AFP via Getty Images
Before delivery, each one is supposed to be driven at least 200 km, or 124 miles.
Rantanen, director of the 6×6 program, said Patria has been integrating counter-drone systems, such as jammers, on the vehicle.
Armored vehicles in Ukraine have especially struggled against pervasive minefields and small drones with explosive payloads, some of which are controlled via a fiber optic cable connection that can’t be jammed. In response, soldiers there have relied more on firearms such as shotguns and machine guns to counter such attacks.
Rantanen said Patria hasn’t yet officially added any kinetic weapons that can take down drones.
“The drone threat is currently evolving at such a speed that it’s hard to keep track of it closely,” he said. “But we are hard at work for the countermeasures against drones as well.”
At the center of the US operation that captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife was an elite and secretive special operations group, per multiple reports.
Citing officials, outlets like The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal reported that Delta Force, alongside law enforcement personnel, carried out the extraction of Maduro as part of Operation Absolute Resolve, a surprise nighttime raid of the Venezuelan leader’s compound in Caracas.
Business Insider wasn’t able to independently confirm the participation of the elite unit in the operation. The Pentagon directed BI’s queries to the White House.
In discussions of the complex operation, President Donald Trump said only that it was executed by “the most highly trained soldiers in the world,” adding that “there’s nobody that has their talent.”
Caracas, the capital of Venezuela
Juan BARRETO / AFP via Getty Images
The president may have been speaking about all of the personnel involved. US officials said that the operation to grab Maduro included land, air, sea, space, cyber, and intelligence forces. But Trump’s language could easily apply to Delta Force, a top-tier special operations unit.
Here is what we know about this elite force.
An essential but highly secretive group
Delta Force, officially known as the 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta (SFOD-D), is tasked with capturing and eliminating high-value targets. Like other tier-one special mission units, such as SEAL Team 6, Delta Force tackles some of the US Army’s most covert and complex tasks.
The special operations unit, founded by Col. Charlie Beckwith in the 1970s for direct combat action, unconventional warfare, and counterterrorism, is headquartered at Fort Bragg in North Carolina, also home to other Army special operations forces.
Operators train for rapid infiltration and exfiltration, intense close-quarters combat, precision marksmanship, demolition, hostage rescue, and more. Unlike some other units, Delta pulls the best warfighters it can from across the US armed forces, though it mainly draws from Army special operations forces. Known as “quiet professionals,” Delta Force operators generally do not speak openly about their activities.
Much of the elite force’s work is highly classified, but some Delta missions are public knowledge.
Delta Force was involved in the US operation, Just Cause, that ultimately led to the capture of Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega during the 1989 invasion of Panama. And the group distinguished itself during the 1993 Battle of Mogadishu, made famous by the book and film “Black Hawk Down.” Two snipers were posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for their actions.
This century, this unit was among the US special operations forces that surged into Afghanistan immediately after the 9/11 attacks, played a role in the 2003 capture of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, and was involved in the death of the infamous Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in 2019.
Aircraft, explosions, and smoke were seen across Caracas, the capital of Venezuela, during the US operation.
Reuters
And now reporting indicates Delta Force, along with the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, was instrumental in capturing Maduro.
The assault on Venezuela and raid on Maduro’s compound
The US president and other US officials shared details of the raid that captured Maduro on Saturday.
Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the apprehension team broke into a fortified compound to capture Maduro after months of planning. US intelligence agencies watched and studied his patterns of life, while other teams trained for the operation on a replica of Maduro’s home. The US used a similar tactic to ready for the 2011 raid on Osama bin Laden’s compound.
Reports indicate Delta Force was inserted into the target area by the 160th SOAR, the Night Stalkers famous for their ability to get special operators in and out of tough spots.
With fighters, bombers, electronic warfare planes, and more delivering strikes and providing air cover, Caine said the helicopters carrying the extraction team were able to reach their target with “totally the element of surprise.”
During the complex apprehension operation, American operators moved fast through the building to find Maduro and his wife, seizing them before they could get the door closed on a steel safe room.
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro arrives in New York.
Reuters
Trump said that Venezuela’s military was overwhelmed by US forces. Several American personnel were injured, the president said, and one of the helicopters was hit but remained flyable. No troops or equipment were lost in the operation.
The Trump administration is holding Maduro responsible for supporting narco-terrorism (drug trafficking) and other criminal activity. The recent operation is also about oil, with the administration accusing Venezuela of using oil revenue to fund malign activities. Maduro has denied the allegations.
Trump said on Saturday that the US would run Venezuela until a “safe, proper” election could occur. He also said that US oil companies would be entering the country, which has the world’s largest proven crude oil reserves.
To secure these operations, he said that he’s not ruling out putting US troops on the ground. He said the US military is ready to conduct more attacks if needed.
US Attorney General Pamela Bondi said Maduro and his wife were charged in New York with drug and weapons offenses. He is due to appear in court.
