State officials and pension-affiliated stakeholders remain concerned about Tesla, even with Musk's pledge to step back from DOGE

Elon Musk said he would step back from his role in the White House and commit more time to Tesla by May.

Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images

Some Tesla investors have expressed concerns that Elon Musk is too distracted by government work.The Tesla CEO said on Tuesday that he'll step back from his role in the White House in May.Some state treasurers and stakeholders told BI that it may not be enough.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk said on Tuesday that his role at the White House DOGE office will be...

Ex-DoD official warns trying to make the Pentagon run like a business could backfire

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth greets troops during a visit to Marine Corps Base Hawaii in March 2025.

Sgt. Julian Elliott-Drouin, U.S. Marine Corps.

A Biden-era Pentagon official is warning against trying to run the Pentagon like a business.The Department of Defense requires reform but differs fundamentally from corporate structures, she said.Risk is present throughout all parts of the military in a way that's not seen in civilian companies.

A Biden-era DoD official is warning that trying...

Google made an extra $8 billion last quarter but won't say how. I have some guesses.

Google reported an $8 billion gain on a company it's invested in. But which one?

Vuk Valcic/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

Imagine making an extra $8 billion and not really caring about it.That's Google, right now: The company says the value of one of its investments increased by $8 billion this quarter, but won't say which one.I have some ideas.

Most companies would make a big deal if they found an extra $8 billion in their couch cushions.

Google is not one of those companies.

Tucked...

Google's CFO says consolidating teams has helped the company cut costs and build products faster

Google CFO Anat Ashkenazi.

Eli Lilly

Google consolidates teams to cut costs and boost speed, CFO Anat Ashkenazi said Thursday.She said these moves aim to enhance efficiency and resilience amid economic uncertainties.Google planned $75 billion in capital expenditures, focusing on data centers and AI.

Google has been aggressively consolidating teams, and its CFO says this has helped the company cut costs and move faster.

Google reported its Q1 earnings on Thursday, announcing that it generated...

Honda orders US staff back to the office by October. Read the memo.

Honda issued an RTO order on April 23, requiring US-based staff to work in the office at least 80% of the time by October 6.

Kevin Carter/Getty Images

Honda on Wednesday issued a return-to-office order for its US-based staff.The internal memo says that employees must work in the office at least 80% of the time by October 6.The automaker joins a list of major companies, including JPMorgan and Amazon, issuing RTO orders.

Honda on Wednesday issued a return-to-office order for its US-based staff,...

CEOs can't stop saying these 4 words on earnings calls

President Donald Trump has been the talk of earnings calls recently.

Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

CEOs mentioned Donald Trump in 88 earnings calls in the past 30 days, up from 5 in the same period last year.Trump's tariffs on imports have driven increased CEO discussions in earnings calls.CEOs frequently mention tariffs, with 569 instances in 30 days, up from 58 last year.

One quarter into Donald Trump's second term and executives just can't stop saying his name.

The number of earnings calls in...

Charms are finding their way onto every Gen Z girl's bag. Here's a peek into the origins of bag charm cult culture.

Jeremy Moeller/Getty Images

Take a look at any Gen Z or Gen Alpha's bag — chances are, multiple charms are hooked onto it.The hottest trend of late is bag charms: Cute keychains and figurines that can be hooked on zips and straps.From showcasing personality to being a marketing tool for brands, here's why everyone's crazy about them.

Gone are the days when the clickity-clack of stilettos used to signal a woman's entrance into a room. It's now replaced by the clickity-clack of the dozen...

Ex-Waymo CEO shoots back after Elon Musk's Tesla earnings diss

Former Waymo CEO John Krafcik dismissed Tesla CEO Elon Musk's latest jabs at the Alphabet company.

Sean Gallup; Marc Piasecki/Getty Images

Elon Musk said on Tuesday that Waymo robotaxis cost more money to build.The Tesla CEO said his company has the upper hand because of its ability to scale quickly.Ex-Waymo CEO John Krafcik told BI that Tesla still has a lot to prove.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk took multiple digs at one of his biggest competitors in the robotaxi race, Waymo, during Tuesday's earnings...

This couple gave up high-paying tech jobs to travel the world after a car crash and major burnout. Here's what they've learned on the road.

Darien Tan, 26, and Joanna Wong, 26, quit their full-time jobs in September to travel the world.

Darien Tan and Joanna Wong

Darien Tan and Joanna Wong, both 26, left their high-paying jobs in the tech industry last year.Since then, the married couple have spent time living in Indonesia, Thailand, and China.Tan said a near-death experience prompted them both to rethink how they wanted to live their lives.

Darien Tan can still vividly remember the day he nearly lost his life.

Tan had a near-death...

Jeff Bezos-backed Slate Auto wants to take on Tesla and Rivian with this $25,000 electric truck

Jeff Bezos is an investor in EV startup Slate.

Slate

Michigan-based startup Slate Auto introduced an all-new $25,000 EV pickup on Thursday in LA.The low-cost, back-to-basics pick-up is designed to allow buyers to add features after purchase.The startup, which counts Jeff Bezos as an investor, expects to begin delivery at the end of 2026.

EV startup Slate Auto, which counts Amazon founder Jeff Bezos as a key investor, just unveiled its first vehicle.

The new pickup, revealed at an event on...

Alphabet's Q1 earnings shattered analyst expectations, sending the stock soaring. Google's CEO credits its AI efforts.

Google's parent company, Alphabet, posted Q1 earnings on Thursday.

picture alliance/dpa/picture alliance via Getty Images

Alphabet reported its 2025 first-quarter results on Thursday.Google CEO Sundar Pichai credited an "unique full stack approach to AI" for "strong Q1 results."Revenues mostly exceeded initial estimates, except for Google Cloud, which once again fell short.

Alphabet, the parent company of Google and YouTube, reported its first-quarter earnings Thursday after the market close,...

Meta lays off Reality Labs employees while continuing to hire hundreds more

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg.

Andrej Sokolow/picture alliance via Getty Images

Meta laid off employees in Reality Labs amid restructuring efforts in hardware and VR.The layoffs affected Oculus Studios and Supernatural, Meta's VR gaming and fitness apps.Meta's Reality Labs faces a critical year as it aims to succeed in metaverse ambitions.

Meta laid off an undisclosed number of employees in Reality Labs, its hardware and virtual reality division, this week as part of a broader restructuring...

Béis carry-on review: I'm a chronic overpacker who travels carry-on only. This roller bag somehow keeps up.

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The Béis Carry-On Roller is my go-to bag. It's traveled with me on countless trips and is the roomiest carry-on I've found.

Rebecca Shinners/Business Insider

On any airport trip, there's always that one effortlessly put-together traveler who evokes style envy. She's likely wearing a matching sweat set — and chances are she's wheeling a Béis rolling suitcase in a vibrant hue beside her.

Béis,...

Motorola still makes foldable Razr phones, in case you were wondering. The brand just launched 3 new styles with some serious tech upgrades from the original Paris Hilton days.

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Motorola's new Razr phones are available to preorder on May 7.

Motorola

Motorola announced three new foldable Razr phones on April 24, including the standard Razr, Razr Plus, and Razr Ultra. The phones will be available to preorder on May 7 before a May 15 release date.

All three flip phones feature upgraded titanium hinges and common AI features from Google and Motorola. Otherwise, each Razr phone's...

Lorde's new song 'What Was That?' is full of references to heartbreak and MDMA. Here's a close reading of the lyrics.

Lorde in a press photo for her single "What Was That?"

Thistle Brown

Lorde released her new single "What Was That?" on Thursday.She said the song was written in late 2023 in the midst of a painful breakup.The lyrics also include references to drug use and other songs in Lorde's discography.

On the heels of her impromptu pop-up in Washington Square Park on Tuesday, which drew a crowd so large it was shut down by the NYPD, Lorde officially launched her new era of music on Thursday with the...

Hasbro's CEO says tariffs could hit the toy industry as hard as the 2008 recession

Hasbro's CEO said that tariffs could hit consumer spending on games as hard as the 2008 recession.

Brandon Bell/Getty Images

Shoppers could pull back spending on toys due to tariffs, Hasbro's CEO said.The tariffs could have as severe an effect as the 2008 recession, Christian Cocks said.While consumers are still spending, companies are predicting fallout from Trump's duties.

Playtime could be over for one of the largest toy makers if tariffs stick around.

Hasbro, which makes Nerf dart guns and...

Are designer bags actually made in China?

Various suppliers are claiming on TikTok that they are the original manufacturers of designer bags from Hermes and Louis Vuitton. They are urging users to buy the branded products directly from China to avoid Trump's tariffs.

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Where to watch the NFL Draft: Live stream the 2025 picks

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Quarterback Cam Ward of Miami is one of the top prospects at the 2025 NFL Draft.

Todd Rosenberg/Getty Images

The NFL and college football seasons may still be months away, but fans can get a taste of what's to come with the NFL Draft. We've compiled everything you need to know about where to watch the NFL Draft, featuring global streaming options for fans around the world.

The three-day event will see...

Here's what happens to every major character in the 'You' season 5 finale

Penn Badgley as Joe Goldberg and Charlotte Ritchie as Kate Lockwood in season five of "You."

Netflix

Netflix's thriller "You," starring Penn Badgley, concluded with season five, released on Thursday.The final season definitively wraps up Joe Goldberg's story.Not every character makes it out of season five alive.

Warning: Major spoilers ahead for season five of Netflix's "You."

Joe Goldberg's story has finally come to an end.

The fifth and final season of Netflix's "You" picks up three years after...

Nintendo Switch 2 vs. Switch 1: Here's how the gaming consoles compare

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Nintendo Switch 2 vs. Switch: Pricing and availabilityThe Switch 2 will be available on June 5 for $450 by itself or $500 with "Mario Kart World" included.

Nintendo

The Nintendo Switch 2 is priced between $450 and $500, while the original Switch is priced between $200 and $350. The original is available now from all major retailers, while the Switch 2 will be released on June 5. You can learn more...