Today's guest is Ted Brown, the Libertarian Party candidate for U.S. Senate in Texas. Brown is facing off against Republican Ken Paxton and Democrat James Talarico in a closely contested race. Brown received more than 267,000 votes in his 2024 Senate campaign and is now challenging both major parties on their commitment to individual liberty. He argues that Republicans have abandoned limited government while Democrats increasingly embrace economic policies that undermine the free market.
Nick Gillespie talks with Brown about Paxton's corruption scandals, Talarico's hostility toward billionaires, and why Texas ranks poorly on personal freedom despite its business-friendly reputation. Brown makes the case for returning to an Ellis Island–style immigration system, cutting federal spending to confront the $40 trillion national debt, and ending America's military involvement in the Middle East. They also discuss abortion rights, government surveillance, online age-verification laws, and how regulations drive up the cost of healthcare. Brown explains what it will take to rebuild the Libertarian Party and why he believes a senator could accomplish more by stopping bad legislation than by passing new laws.
0:00—Freedom in Texas
4:01—Paxton's corruption
6:21—Talarico's platform
8:53—Texas governance
10:33—Ellis Island–style immigration
13:58—Abolishing the federal income tax
15:29—Entitlement reforms and defense spending
18:19—Abortion
21:21—Transgender healthcare
22:24—Age-verification laws
25:05—Healthcare and property insurance
31:22—Who is Brown appealing to?
33:27—The Libertarian Party
36:08—Brown's pitch to undecided voters
39:06—Threats to individual liberty
The post Could a Libertarian Swing the Texas Senate Race? appeared first on Reason Magazine.
© Illustration: Fatima Ruiz
Ilary Blasi è una delle conduttrici più conosciute della televisione italiana e, dopo anni di carriera tra programmi di intrattenimento, reality show e produzioni per le piattaforme digitali, può contare su diverse fonti di reddito. Dai compensi televisivi alle collaborazioni commerciali, passando per il patrimonio immobiliare e i progetti realizzati con Netflix, il suo profilo economico si è evoluto insieme alla sua popolarità.
Stabilire con precisione a quanto ammonti oggi la ricchezza della conduttrice, tuttavia, non è semplice. Non sono disponibili dati pubblici completi sul suo patrimonio personale, né un bilancio ufficiale che permetta di sommare immobili, liquidità, investimenti e guadagni professionali. Le cifre che circolano sui media devono quindi essere considerate stime o indiscrezioni, non valori certificati.
Una parte importante delle entrate di Ilary Blasi deriva dalla sua lunga carriera televisiva. Il rapporto con Mediaset le ha permesso di consolidare la propria presenza sul piccolo schermo, conducendo programmi di grande visibilità come L’Isola dei Famosi, Grande Fratello Vip e altri format di intrattenimento. Numeri alla mano, secondo indiscrezioni riportate dalla stampa, il cachet di Blasi per il ritorno al Grande Fratello Vip nel 2026 si aggirerebbe intorno ai 25.000 euro a puntata. Se si considera una stagione composta da circa 26 appuntamenti, il compenso lordo potrebbe avvicinarsi a 650.000 euro. Si tratta, però, di una stima legata alla durata ipotizzata del programma, non di una cifra ufficialmente confermata dalla conduttrice o dall’emittente.
In passato sono circolate anche valutazioni più elevate per altri programmi, tra cui compensi che sarebbero arrivati a circa 50.000 euro per puntata per L’Isola dei Famosi. Anche in questo caso, in assenza di conferme contrattuali, è opportuno però distinguere le indiscrezioni dalle informazioni verificate. In ogni caso, i programmi televisivi rappresentano una componente centrale del suo potenziale patrimonio economico.
Negli ultimi anni, la conduttrice ha affiancato alla televisione tradizionale nuove esperienze professionali sulle piattaforme digitali. Tra queste rientrano Unica e Ilary, produzioni Netflix che hanno raccontato aspetti della sua vita privata e del percorso successivo alla separazione dall’ex calciatore Francesco Totti. Non sono però disponibili dati pubblici sufficienti per stabilire quanto Blasi abbia effettivamente incassato da ciascun progetto. Le cifre circolate sulla stampa, comprese quelle che attribuiscono a Unica un compenso di circa 700.000 euro, non possono essere considerate guadagni certificati senza una conferma attendibile.
A questi introiti potenziali si aggiungono le opportunità commerciali collegate alla notorietà acquisita: sponsorizzazioni, campagne pubblicitarie, collaborazioni con marchi e contenuti pubblicati sui social network.
Il capitolo immobiliare è uno degli elementi più rilevanti nelle ricostruzioni sulla ricchezza della conduttrice. Al centro dell’attenzione c’è la villa situata nel quartiere Eur di Roma, associata per anni alla vita familiare di Ilary Blasi e Francesco Totti. Il valore dell’abitazione è stato stimato da diverse testate in circa 18 milioni di euro. La residenza, descritta come una proprietà di dimensioni eccezionali, disporrebbe di oltre 1.500 metri quadrati, numerose stanze, piscina, spa, sala cinema privata e un ampio giardino.
Secondo alcune ricostruzioni giornalistiche, la conduttrice disporrebbe anche di altre proprietà immobiliari, tra Roma e Milano. Si è parlato di almeno cinque ulteriori abitazioni nella capitale e di un immobile nel capoluogo lombardo.
La vicenda con Francesco Totti ha avuto anche conseguenze economiche, soprattutto per quanto riguarda il mantenimento dei figli e la gestione delle spese familiari. Il Tribunale civile di Roma avrebbe ridotto nel luglio 2026 l’assegno mensile a carico dell’ex calciatore da 12.500 a 10.900 euro per il mantenimento dei figli. A questa somma si aggiungerebbero le spese straordinarie e quelle scolastiche, secondo le modalità stabilite in sede giudiziaria. Le questioni economiche tra gli ex coniugi comprendono inoltre la gestione delle spese relative alla villa e altri aspetti della separazione.
Oggi Ilary Blasi è sposata con Bastian Müller-Pettenpohl, imprenditore tedesco legato a una famiglia attiva da generazioni nel settore delle perforazioni e della costruzione di pozzi.
Prima di entrare nell’attività di famiglia, avrebbe lavorato nel settore dell’ospitalità di lusso a St. Moritz, in Svizzera, dove tra il 2007 e il 2015 si sarebbe occupato di servizi esclusivi per clienti facoltosi. In seguito avrebbe proseguito il proprio percorso professionale nell’azienda di famiglia. Alcune ricostruzioni giornalistiche attribuiscono al gruppo Müller-Pettenpohl un valore di circa 2 milioni di euro, segnalando anche la presenza di debiti. Non sono però disponibili valutazioni ufficiali e aggiornate che consentano di determinare con precisione il patrimonio personale dell’imprenditore nel 2026.
US President Donald Trump said Elon Musk had restored Ukraine’s Starshield speeds, but the restrictions remained in place on 23 October, according to Ukrainian officials.
The cap, in place since 14 October, has disrupted interceptor drone missions against jet-powered Shaheds flying above 400 km/h for more than a week. On 16 October, Trump told reporters that, from what he understood, nothing had changed with the service. His latest claim that Musk restored it appears to acknowledge the restriction, even as he denies ordering it.
“At the moment, there is no confirmation that the restrictions have been lifted,” a Defense Ministry official told LIGA.net on the morning of 23 October. The official said connections continued to drop at above 161 km/h.
Presidential adviser Serhii Beskrestnov wrote on Telegram on 23 October that no lifting had been recorded. He said occasional operation above the limit could result from SpaceX algorithms or usage conditions.
A day earlier, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had promised to return with information in “48 plus hours,” according to his remarks to reporters in Kyiv. A Ukrainian official separately told The Kyiv Independent that reports of restored speeds were “all false.”
A senior European official told the Associated Press that the cap remained at about 160 km/h and that Ukraine had no clear explanation of who ordered it or why.
Trump said Musk had restored the speeds but declined to clarify whether he had contacted him.
“I guess the bottom line, he put it back,” Trump said.
Meanwhile, AP reported that the Wall Street Journal said Musk had agreed to lift the restrictions. The Ukrainian drone and mapping channel Kartohraf posted on the evening of 22 October that the cap had been lifted. The Economist’s Oliver Carroll said that frontline drone commanders thought it had likely been lifted but were still testing, according to his post on X.
The order came from inside the White House, according to a Reuters report on 15 October. Days later, the Wall Street Journal reported that Musk ordered the slowdown. Rubio denied White House involvement, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on 20 October that the US had not ordered the restriction. Meanwhile, Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal announced an inquiry into how the service was slowed, AP reported.
The 3rd Army Corps’ Operation Vivaldi retook ground north of Lyman in Donetsk Oblast with drones, many of which rely on Starlink or Starshield, and those gains could erode if the cap stays.
At the same time, Radio Svoboda reported that Ukraine needs a limit of at least 450 km/h and that Germany pays for the service under a contract running until April 2027.
Daniel SLIM/AFP via Getty Images, Bloomberg/Getty Images
As airlines across the industry bolster their premium offerings to attract higher-paying passengers, first-class amenities are only getting more luxurious.
In some first-class cabins, travelers can enjoy private suites with double beds and food by Michelin-starred chefs. Other airlines offer spacious pods with multiple seating options and headrests with built-in speakers.
Between September 2025 and August 2026, travelers from over 100 nationalities filled out an airline passenger satisfaction survey conducted by Skytrax, an aviation rating company, to determine the best airlines to fly first class.
Here are the winning first-class carriers in Skytrax's 2026 World Airline Awards.
Bloomberg/Getty Images
Qatar Airways made the top 10 of Skytrax's ranking with amenities such as an à la carte menu, Diptyque amenity kits, and loungewear from The White Company.
Qantas
First-class travelers on Qantas can enjoy perks like armchair seating with in-seat massages and a self-service bar and lounge.
David Slotnick/Business Insider
First class on ANA includes sliding doors, lie-flat seats, and lavish meals featuring items such as sashimi, wagyu beef, and miso soup.
JFK
First-class suites on Japan Airlines' Airbus A350-1000s come with double beds, headrests with built-in speakers, wardrobes, and 43-inch TVs.
Swiss International Air Lines
Swiss International Air Lines' first-class cabins include armchairs that transform into lie-flat beds, pajamas designed by Zimmerli of Switzerland, and Cuvée Louise Champagne from Maison Pommery.
Cathay Pacific
Cathay Pacific's first-class suites feature luxuries like 600-thread-count sheets, BOSE noise-canceling headphones, and an extensive wine selection.
Emirates
In addition to flying in private suites, first-class passengers on Emirates' Airbus A380 fleet also have access to a shower and lounge.
Lufthansa
In a 2023 press release unveiling Lufthansa's new first-class suites, Lufthansa Airlines CEO Jens Ritter said that the design "conveys the feeling of privacy and individuality similar to a hotel room." Skytrax named Lufthansa the third-best airline to fly first-class.
ROSLAN RAHMAN/AFP via Getty Images
Singapore Airlines' first-class suites are spacious enough for a bed plus a reclining chair, and two suites can be combined into a double for two people. It's the runner-up in Skytrax's ranking of the best first-class airlines.
STR/AFP via Getty Images
Skytrax named Air France, whose first-class cabins offer a nearly 38-square-foot La Première suite and food created by Michelin-starred chefs, the best airline for first-class travel.
A war of words has erupted over who is responsible for the restrictions on Starshield access in Ukraine
A war of words has erupted between the Trump administration, officials in Kyiv and Elon Musk over who is to blame for limiting Ukraine’s access to Space X’s military-grade version of Starlink.
The restrictions to Starshield have rendered many of the drones used by Kyiv to strike behind the frontlines inoperable and hampered air defence systems that stop Russian attacks, according to Ukrainian officials.
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© Composite: Reuters/Pool EPA/AP
© Composite: Reuters/Pool EPA/AP
© Composite: Reuters/Pool EPA/AP
Kent NISHIMURA / AFP via Getty Images
Meta wants more than rank-and-file employees at the office. It wants CEO Mark Zuckerberg there, too — even if that comes at a hefty price.
The tech giant's board said in a securities filing Wednesday that it would create a new class of non-voting stock in part to keep Zuckerberg in control and give him a financial incentive to continue living near its headquarters. It described his presence at the office as "critically important" to its future success. Meta has required employees to come in at least three days a week since 2023.
Zuckerberg previously told the board he was considering moving in response to a proposed California billionaire tax. The stock deal would give the CEO $20 billion in "immediate liquidity" to cover the tax by selling stock without losing control of Meta, the filing said.
That arrangement carries particular weight at Meta, where Zuckerberg is leading the company's AI push. It also speaks to a common belief that has driven return-to-office mandates: The best work happens when people — including senior leaders — are physically together.
Cole Rubin, cofounder of sports technology company FanFeed, said CEOs and other execs are sending a message to employees by physically working alongside them.
"You're not going to question why you're working long hours if you actually can see the leader doing the same," Rubin told Business Insider.
Having bosses in the office can also help a company move faster when unexpected opportunities arise, he said. Employees can walk into a leader's office, get an immediate answer, and act before the moment passes.
"It's not the scheduled calls where the magic happens," Rubin said. "When you have the decision-maker there, it gives people a lot of freedom to be able to feel heard."
A leader's presence is especially important during crises, said Bill George, former chairman and CEO of Medtronic, a medical-technology company. Being together lets executives quickly assess what has happened, gauge employees' reactions, and decide on a course of action.
"We've got to really feel what's going on emotionally, and we actually physically have to discuss it," he said.
George also noted that RTO demands placed on workers can ring hollow if the CEO doesn't follow them. "You've got to be there if your employees are there," he said.
Meta wouldn't have been the first company with a long-distance CEO if Zuckerberg had opted to leave the Golden State.
Brian Niccol was living in California when he was named CEO of Seattle-based Starbucks in 2024. The coffee chain had agreed as part of his hiring package not to require him to relocate. Later, it built a 4,624-square-foot satellite office five minutes from his home so he could work alongside colleagues, Business Insider first reported. Niccol has since purchased a property in Seattle.
Companies with long-distance CEOs don't perform as well on average as those with leaders on-site, according to a 2025 study by Boston College and Arizona State. They also have lower valuations and worse insider reviews, the findings show.
Meta's decision to woo Zuckerberg to stay in California was made by a special committee on its board, which said it was informed by challenges the company faced when he couldn't be physically present with management during the pandemic.
The committee said it didn't want Meta "to face similar challenges going forward."
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