• Tana Mongeau, who has 4.5 million YouTube subscribers, and Jake Paul, who has 19 million, got engaged at Mongeau's 21st birthday party in June.
• The pair have been "dating" since April, but openly admitted it was to fuel the rumors and to get more views. A successful experiment, since they have both gained hundreds of thousands of subscribers since then.
• They have both featured heavily on each other's YouTube channels — making out on camera, getting matching tattoos, and taking a pregnancy test.
• Nobody could really work out if the relationship is real or not, including many other YouTubers. When asked, Mongeau said, "I don't know, sometimes." But on Twitter, she insisted the proposal was real.
• Since getting married, both Paul and Mongeau have referred to their relationship as "open," but insist they are together in their own way. Even more confusingly, Mongeau keeps hinting that she is also dating Noah Cyrus.
• Brand consultant Brandon Relph said the couple are probably just enjoying themselves for now, but "history has shown things like this don't last forever."
• Visit INSIDER's homepage for more stories.

Two of YouTube's biggest stars are married. Maybe.

Since April 2019, Tana Mongeau, 21, and Jake Paul, 22, have been spending a lot of time together, but nobody can work out if their relationship is real or if it's all for show. And it's all gotten even more complicated since Paul apparently proposed to Mongeau on June 24 at her 21st birthday party, resulting in an over-the-top wedding ceremony in July. Mongeau now also might be dating Noah Cyrus, suggesting their marriage is open.

Here's a timeline of what we know about their relationship so far.

The relationship appears to have started as a joke

At the end of April, Mongeau uploaded a selfie video to her Snapchat that sent fans into a meltdown. She had just publicly split from her cheating ex-boyfriend Brad Sousa, but eagle-eyed followers realized the bed she was filming from wasn't her own. It was later posted by KEEMSTAR on his gossip channel DramaAlert that it belonged to Logan Paul's younger brother Jake at the Team 10 House — the mansion in Calabasas which he shares with fellow influencer friends.

A few days later on April 30, Mongeau uploaded a video to her channel called "Mukbang In Bed With My Rebound Jake Paul." Mukbang, meaning eating on camera, and rebound, hinting that Paul and Mongeau were an item.

At the start of the video, Mongeau added a caption saying she was with her "friend" Jake, and throughout filming, the pair joke around together, flirting and calling each other "babe."

On the same day, Paul posted a video titled "meet the girl i've been hiding from you.." where he refers to himself and Mongeau in jest as "two of the internet's biggest sociopaths." He maintains throughout the video the pair are just good friends, and they both just wanted to prove that rumors spread like wildfire on YouTube. Mongeau also admitted freely they should get together just for "the clout."

But then, confusingly, they also kiss at the end.

Since then, Paul and Mongeau have been caught in a bizarre in-between relationship, where they're sort of a couple, but sort of not. They've been featured heavily on each other's channels and referred to each other as boyfriend and girlfriend, but at the same time joke about it as if it's all a big prank.

The pair are both not without controversy

Brand consultant Brandon Relph, who specializes in the influencer space, told Insider it makes sense that Mongeau and Paul would end up filming together because both their careers have both taken some controversial turns.

"There are YouTubers who are generally liked by most people, and I wouldn't put those two in that category," he said. "Jake has had lots of controversies himself, but so has she. And Tana has this weird way about her where she kind of gets to do what she likes and gets away with it."

Almost exactly a year ago, Mongeau tried to put on her own convention to rival YouTube's VidCon, called TanaCon, which resulted in over-crowding, demands for refunds, and fans passing out and getting sunburned in the California sun.

Paul has faced backlash from creators and fans alike in the past for his stunts and pranks. YouTuber Shane Dawson even made an eight-part docuseries about whether or not he could be a sociopath.

"Now do I think it's fake?" said Relph. "To an extent, but maybe not all of it. I wouldn't necessarily doubt that they're attracted to each other."

Mongeau and Paul have both appeared in each other's videos

On Paul's channel, Mongeau has appeared in over 20 videos since they started dating, including one documenting their "first time making out on camera," one where they take a pregnancy test, and a vlog of how Mongeau's ex "wants to fight" him.

Paul has physically featured in five of Mongeau's videos, but she has openly spoken about him in various collaborations with other creators. For example, in a video with Vlog Squad member Josh Peck, he asked whether they were really together, and Mongeau replied: "I don't know, sometimes."

When talking with YouTubers Shane Dawson, Ryland Adams, and Morgan Adams, Mongeau said she never really wanted to be monogamous (she used to be in an open polyamorous relationship with Bella Thorne until they broke up in February) unless they were the "love of her life."

"And that's Jake Paul?" Ryland asked, to which Mongeau sarcastically replied, "Yeah."

Mongeau and Paul even got matching tattoos in May— reminiscent of a video Paul made with his ex-girlfriend Erika Costell.

Costell and Paul's relationship started out as seeming like it was all for clicks as well, said Relph, but then it developed into something real. He suspects this could be what's happening with Paul and Mongeau — they do appear to have gotten closer since the first time they filmed together.

"I don't think it's strictly like a 'come round and we'll film a video for business' thing," Relph said. "I think they genuinely hang out around that. But I do feel there's an element of over-broadcasting and over-compensating for the benefit of their careers."

Both Paul and Mongeau appear to be benefiting from the relationship by gaining subscribers

It's clear that both Paul and Mongeau have seen an increase in subscribers and viewing figures since all the speculation around them started.

Mongeau gained over 300,000 subscribers in May — her peak growth ever — according to Social Blade, a site that tracks social media statistics and analytics. She now has over 5.1 million. Paul also gained 375,000 in May, but that's far from his biggest month. He has 19.7 millions subscribers in total.

Despite their differences in subscriber counts, Relph believes Mongeau may be more in control over how long the relationship will go on for. She was racking up several million views per video before Paul started featuring in them, whereas Paul sees a bigger spike comparatively when she makes an appearance on his channel.

"Tana has a very, very different audience to Jake's audience," Relph said. "Jake is usually the person who brings numbers to people, but I think Tana has helped Jake more than Jake's helped Tana in this case. Because Tana has shown she can ride through controversies without needing anyone, and people still watch her."

But whether it will last forever, he said, he's not sure.

"I don't think there are any business ties between them that would force them to stay together making videos if they fall out," he said. "But I think it's one of those where it's a bit of an interesting show and an interesting study to watch."

Paul appeared to propose in June at Mongeau's 21st birthday

At the beginning of June, Paul uploaded an episode of his new series "Team 10 Uncut," where he explained how the rumors started and revealed he and Mongeau decided to play up to it to get more views.

However, it's still true that the pair's relationship may have organically developed further since then.

It certainly looked like it when Paul appeared to buy bought Mongeau a Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen for her 21st birthday (although this later turned out to be a prank). He also proposed during her celebrations — having bar staff at a night club bring over a cake with the words "Will you marry me Tana?" iced on.

She then showed off a massive diamond ring that he apparently bought her.

"JAKE JUST PROPOSED," she wrote on Twitter just seven hours ago, with several follow-up tweets insisting it wasn't a joke.

When Mongeau's ex-girlfriend Bella Thorne heard the news, she posted two photos on her Finstagram— and alternative Instagram account called " thatweirdbitchbella"— of her crying with the caption "When ur ex gets engaged," followed by 35 sobbing emojis.

At VidCon in July, Paul made a surprise appearance during a question-and-answer session with Mongeau. He read out a poem he'd written about their relationship, which was full of sexual innuendos (including rhyming "Tana" with "banana.")

He then announced their wedding date will be July 28. MTV will be filming the whole thing for Mongeau's digital reality show "Tana Turns 21,"according to People.

Mongeau seemed to further confirm their relationship on stage, saying she and Paul are "f---ed in the head in the same ways."

"No matter what I do, someone is going to try to negate it," Mongeau said. "You're crazy Jake Paul, but you're crazy like me."

On July 25, Mongeau tweeted that Logan Paul had finally come around to her and Jake's relationship. She said Jake's older brother had "cried" when he realized "Jana is real."

Later that day, she tweeted that she didn't care what people thought of their relationship.

There are a lot of questions surrounding the wedding ceremony

The day before the wedding, Mongeau uploaded an intimate, black-screen video to YouTube where she gently spoke an emotional ode to Paul about how much he means to her.

"I love you," she said. "It actually still scares me so much to say it because once I say it and it's somewhere other than my head, it becomes completely real and to be quite frank, I am so used to losing everything I love and I don't want to lose you."

Paul and Mongeau then got married at a $500,000 Vegas ceremony on July 28. The special day included a flight out on a private jet, a mansion, elaborate wedding cakes, a replica of Jon Snow's sword from "Game of Thrones," a mid-ceremony brawl, and some famous faces on the guest list.

The newlyweds left the event separately, but Mongeau later explained this was because she had to deal with a family emergency, while Paul went on their honeymoon without her.

It was also later revealed there was no record of the couple obtaining a marriage license in Nevada, and Armani Izadi, who officiated the wedding, was not licensed to do so.

Mongeau has also faced skepticism thanks to her MTV digital series "Tana Turns 21." While it was originally meant as a show to document her birthday celebrations, it morphed into more of an insight into Mongeau and Paul's decision to get married.

In one, Mongeau is shown discussing the wedding with her manager and the fact it had been planned very early on in their relationship, and rescheduled twice. She said the wedding was something "fun and lighthearted that we're obviously doing for fun and for content."

She also said she and Paul weren't officially exclusive, which many fans found confusing.

"I guess we would just take the openness from our relationship into the openness of marriage," she said.

Mongeau might or might not also be dating Noah Cyrus

Paul confirmed that he and Mongeau are in an open relationship in an interview on "Entertainment Tonight" in September.

He told the presenters Denny Directo and Cassie DiLaura that Mongeau might be hooking up with Noah Cyrus, which he thought was "dope."

"Since the start of our relationship it's been, like, an open type of thing because that's just how we both are," he said, adding he would have no issue with his wife sleeping with Cyrus, "especially if I could be there."

Mongeau referred to Cyrus as her "girlfriend"in a recent vlog, but Cyrus soon stated the two are "just friends" in an Instagram story.

Mongeau made it clear she was sick of the skepticism about the feelings she and Paul have for one another in a series of tweets in November.

"According to tana mongeau, the media can suck a dick sometimes,"she wrote, referring to an article that quoted Costell, Paul's ex, claiming the relationship was fake.

"Waking up every day to headlines like this is so defeating," she said. "Not asking for pity, knowing I subjected myself to this. This life has cons due to the incredible pros — but according to Tana Mongeau, f--- this s---."

She said she wished people understood how she felt, and insisted again she does love Paul.

"Maybe I'm an idiot for it & maybe all of my dumb mistakes are being aired as they happen in real life & that sucks," she said. "I know once again I signed up for all of this... I guess I'm just tired and don't want y'all to think I'm ignoring what I see everywhere."

Maybe Paul and Mongeau aren't ready to give up riding the wave of fame just yet. Or maybe the pair genuinely have had a whirlwind romance and decided to spend the rest of their lives together, and they're developing their relationship in their own way.

Whatever's going on, there are likely to be more twists and turns yet.

"History has shown things like this don't last forever," said Relph. "I think they're just both enjoying themselves and having a good time ... We're very much in the height of Jana world at the moment, and it will be a while until we realize where it's heading."

Read more:

The whirlwind romances and breakups of YouTube stars fuel our appetite for increasingly extreme and dramatic online entertainment

Jake Paul says his parents didn't approve of his marriage to Tana Mongeau but he's 'proving them wrong'

YouTuber Tana Mongeau defends marriage to Jake Paul as legit after she said their wedding was 'for fun and for content'

YouTuber Tana Mongeau said she turned down a $2 million deal with an energy drink company, even though she's 'cripplingly demonetized'

YouTuber Tana Mongeau is being called out for what appears to be one of her most extreme photo editing transformations yet

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• Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos threw his support behind the US Department of Defense on Friday, saying big tech firms have a responsibility to collaborate with the military or else "this country is in trouble."
• Employee movements within big tech companies including Amazon, Microsoft, and Google have been known to scupper big contracts with the Pentagon, the most high-profile being Google's abandoned military drone contract Project Maven.
• Bezos said it's the responsibility of management to push back against employee outrage towards military contracts.
• Amazon is currently appealing a Pentagon decision to award a $10 billion defense contract to Microsoft over Amazon.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos threw his weight behind the US Department of Defense on Friday, saying that unless big tech companies collaborate with the US military, "this country is in trouble."

Bezos was being interviewed at the annual Reagan National Defense Forum in California, and brought the conversation round to the issue employee movements within big tech companies to block contracts with the military.

"One of the things that's happening inside technology companies is there are groups of employees who for example think that technology companies should not work with the Department of Defense," said Bezos.

The most notable example of this was Google's military drone contract Project Maven, which the company abandoned after intense employee backlash.

"I think it's a really important issue, and people are entitled to their opinions, but it is the job of a senior leadership team to say no," said Bezos.

"It's the senior leadership's team to say to people, 'Look, I understand these are emotional issues, that's okay and we don't have to agree on everything, but this is how we're going to do it. We are going to support the Department of Defense.' This country is important," he added.

Amazon has also had its fair share of employee outrage for its work with government agencies. Amazon employees have petitioned the company's leadership to end its relationship with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). So far these efforts have been unsuccessful.

Bezos framed big tech's involvement with the military as a national security issue. "My view is if big tech is going to turn their backs on the Department of Defense, this country is in trouble. That just can't happen," Bezos said.

"We are the good guys, I really believe that. And I know it's complicated, but do you want a strong national defense or don't you? I think you do," he added.

Amazon is currently protesting a decision by the Pentagon to award a $10 billion cloud contract (called JEDI) to Microsoft rather than Amazon. Prior to Microsoft winning JEDI Amazon had been tipped as the company most likely to get the contract. Court documents unsealed last week showed Amazon is alleging anti-Amazon bias on the part of President Trump.

You can watch the entire interview below:

Do you work at Amazon? Got a tip? Contact this reporter via email at ihamilton@businessinsider.com or iahamilton@protonmail.com. You can also contact Business Insider securely via SecureDrop.

SEE ALSO: Trump's beef with Jeff Bezos could give Amazon all the opening it needs to fight Microsoft on the $10 billion JEDI cloud deal

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• Broadcasters have helped Boris Johnson frame the UK election on his own terms, according to an academic study.
• Researchers at Loughborough University found evidence that suggests Johnson's message that he will "get Brexit done," has been helped by broadcasters choosing to focus on the issue.
• By contrast, the opposition Labour Party's focus the National Health Service has received less than half the coverage in the first four weeks of the campaign.
• The authors found that "in proportional terms, TV coverage has therefore tended to align most closely with the Conservatives' Brexit agenda."
• The study also found that UK print media is overwhelmingly biased against the Labour party.

The BBC and other UK broadcasters have helped Boris Johnson frame the general election on his own terms, according to an academic study of media coverage of the campaign.

The prime minister's campaign has sought to focus the upcoming general election on the issue of "getting Brexit done" under his leadership. 

Now a new study by Loughborough University suggests that broadcasters have helped him in this aim.

The researchers found that "TV coverage has focused far more on Brexit than on any other issue," with 20% of broadcast coverage of the election focused on this theme.

This contrasts with just 8% of broadcast coverage focusing on the opposition Labour party's central issue of the future of the National Health Service.

The authors found that "in proportional terms, TV coverage has therefore tended to align most closely with the Conservatives' Brexit agenda."

The study also found that the print media was overwhelmingly biased against the Labour party. 

Examination of print media coverage in the first four weeks of the campaign found that Boris Johnson's Conservative Party received broadly positive coverage, whereas Jeremy Corbyn's campaign was portrayed in an overwhelmingly negative light.

Under UK broadcasting regulations, television and radio channels must give equal coverage to each party during a general election campaign.

However, a complaint by Labour last month about Sky News channel running its election coverage with the branding "The Brexit Election was rejected by the broadcasting regulators.

In their ruling Ofcom said that Brexit was an "important background contextual factor" in the election.

A Survation poll for ITV on Monday found that Johnson's party had opened up a 14-point lead over Labour. The Conservatives are on 45% ahead of Labour on 31% and the Liberal Democrats on 11%. 

If repeated at the general election on Thursday, this would result in a large parliamentary majority for the Conservatives.

Join the conversation about this story »

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• China has imprisoned at least 1 million Uighur Muslims in prison-like detention camps in the western Xinjiang region, according to numerous activists and researchers.
• Shohrat Zakir, the governor of Xinjiang, claimed without evidence on Monday that everyone in the camps, which China euphemistically calls "vocational training centers" is now out.
• Zakir said everyone had now "graduated" from the facilities, where reports of psychological and physical torture are common.
• He said all previous detainees now have stable employment and are leading happy lives.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Chinese authorities claimed Monday to have released all Uighur Muslims from the country's oppressive prison camps in Xinjiang, contradicting widespread reports that at least 1 million are locked up in its vast system.

Shohrat Zakir, the Uighur governor of the western Chinese region of Xinjiang, told a Monday press conference that people in those camps are all out and living happy, fulfilled lives, the Associated Press (AP) reported.

Zakir offered no evidence to support his claim. He referred to the camps as "vocational training centers"— a euphemism often used by Chinese officials to describe the prison-like camps.

Many of the Uighurs detained in those centers are white-collar professionals, and do not need vocational training, many relatives say.

Multiple activists and researchers have in recent monthspublished satellite images appearing to show China expanding the prison-camp network, seeming to contradict any suggest that everyone would be suddenly released.

Most estimates say there are at least 1 million people locked up inside.

Zakir said everyone in those centers had "completed their courses,"according to Agence France-Presse (AFP)

Uighurs abroad say they still cannot get in touch with their vanished relatives, and it is almost impossible to speak to anyone physically in the region. Authorities in Xinjiang consider it a crime to communicate with people outside.

Many Uighur exiles say they have been blocked by their family on social media and messaging apps.

China has for years carried out a coordinated surveillance and detention campaign on the Uighurs and other Muslim minority groups in the region, which it characterizes as a counterterrorism measure.

The Chinese Communist Party sees their religion as a threat, and often refers to Islam as a gateway to extremism or a disease.

Former detainees have told of being physically and psychologically tortured inside — a stark contrast to Chinese claims that they were learning vocational skills.

The party's tactics against the Uighurs were starkly revealed in a series of internal government documents that were leaked to The New York Times and the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) last month.

The ICIJ documents showed that Chinese authorities strictly control detention camps, which include double-locking dorm rooms to prevent escapes during bedtime, toilet breaks, or meals.

On Saturday, a Uighur Dutch woman named Asiye Abdulaheb revealed herself as having helped disseminate the ICIJ documents.

'The US feels uneasy'

Zakir on Monday also attacked recent legislation by US lawmakers, which mandates the White House to condemn and punish Chinese authorities behind the Uighur crackdown. The bill is now being passed back to the Senate.

"When the lives of people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang were seriously threatened by terrorism, the US turned a deaf ear," Zakir said, according ot the AP.

"On the contrary, now that Xinjiang society is steadily developing and people of all ethnicities are living and working in peace, the US feels uneasy, and attacks and smears Xinjiang."

"But no force can stop Xinjiang's progress toward stability and development," he added, according to Reuters.

Zakir's talking points mirrored those by other Chinese officials, who have repeatedly brushed off The Times and the ICIJ's reports on the leaked documents as fabrications and attempts by foreign media to "smear" successful counterterrorism efforts in Xinjiang.

In August Zakir claimed, again without evidence, that more than 90% of "graduates" from the camps had "found satisfactory jobs with good incomes."

This spurred Uighurs abroad to launch a social media campaign, under the hashtag #Provethe90%, to demand proof that their missing relatives and friends had returned home. China did not respond to that campaign.

• Read more:
• Mysterious automated calls, vanished relatives, and sinister Facebook comments: How China intimidates Uighurs who don't even live in the country
• A Uighur Dutch woman admitted to leaking secret Chinese cables on Muslim oppression. She's going public to stop China's death threats.
• Devastating leaks have deprived China of its main strategy to deflect mounting evidence of its mass oppression of Uighur Muslims
• Congress just kicked Trump's trade deal in the teeth for all the right reasons

Join the conversation about this story »

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• You may know Food52 as the website with all the creative recipes and food stories. 
• It also has a shop that sells the kitchenware and cooking tools you need to make these delicious meals, in addition to other food and home gifts. 
• Compared to other home and kitchen stores, its offerings are unique and unexpected. We found 35 gift ideas that range from a $30 multi-functional ginger tool to a $500 olive oil subscription. 

If you've ever looked up an online recipe, you've probably landed on the Food52 website at one point or another. Its creative recipes and food stories are enough to make anyone hungry.

It doesn't just provide interesting ideas — it also sells the kitchenware and cooking tools you need to make these delicious meals. In the Food52 Shop, you can find cookware, small appliances, kitchen accessories, and tons of other things you need in your kitchen and home. A number of its products can't be found anywhere else online, and it also participates in limited-edition collaborations with other brands. 

When you're stuck on finding a unique food or kitchen gift and you've already exhausted the traditional options, you'll find better luck shopping at Food52. The Shop is a great place to find smaller, indie brands and unexpected products that are difficult to find elsewhere. 

The top 5 gifts from Food52:

1. An at-home raclette set, $79
2. An assortment of silicone lids, $40
3. Pretty stoneware bowls with a variety of uses, from $58
4. A mixing bowl that's less tiring to hold, $54
5. A charcuterie slicer for the recipient who loves to entertain, $65

Find more food and kitchen holiday gift guides here: 

• Kitchen gifts from Williams Sonoma for the cook and foodie in your life
• Thoughtful cookbooks to gift to every type of home cook
• Affordable kitchen gifts under $50 that any home cook or baker will love
• Milk Bar makes and ships some of the best sweet treats around —here's why it's the perfect gift for a sweet tooth
• Goldbelly is a service that lets you send food gifts from iconic restaurants around the country — here's how it works

These are the 35 best gifts from the Food52 Shop. 

An assortment of silicone lids

Five Two Airtight Silicone Lids, $40

They're more sustainable than plastic wrap, and they look surprisingly nice. The set comes with five different sizes, which can cover bowls, cups, pans, and more. Since they can withstand temperatures of up to 550°F, it's ok to use them in the oven or microwave. 

A thoughtfully designed apron

Five Two Ultimate Apron, $45

This is the apron of their dreams. In addition to practical design considerations like extra long waist ties and an adjustable neck strap, there are cool details like built-in pot holders, a conversion chart sewn into one pocket, and a narrow chest pocket to hold tools like pens and thermometers. 

An attractive casserole carrier

Fancy Panz To-Go Casserole Carrier, $29-$39

The carrier instantly elevates the look of an aluminum casserole dish, plus it's more secure and safe to transport across town to your aunt's potluck. 

Colorful enamel cookware

Dansk Kobenstyle Pastels, $64-$264

Help them incorporate more color into their kitchen with these spring-hued pieces of cookware. You can get the butter warmer, saucepan, or casserole dish individually, or as a set. Then, choose from lavender, pink, or yellow. 

Creative, non-alcoholic spirits

Mikuni Wild Harvest Seedlip Non-Alcoholic Spirits, $45-$129

These cool non-alcoholic spirits prove that you don't need alcohol to make an exciting drink. Add tonic, fruits, sugars, and ice to create a mocktail worth remembering. 

A personal cast iron pan

Staub Mini Cast Iron Fry Pan, $79

Make breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert for one in this six-inch version of Staub's popular fry pan. It's okay to be a little selfish when using the pan. 

A sleek way to keep their wine cold

Vinglacé Wine Bottle Chiller, $35-$90

With the power of double-walled vacuum insulation, their wine can stay cold for up to four hours, and the exterior doesn't gather condensation. The sleek and sophisticated design, which comes in six colors, also won't look out of place on a dinner table. 

Pretty stoneware bowls with a variety of uses

Fisheye Brooklyn Gold-Dipped Pinch Bowls, $58-$170

Use these beautiful bowls for anything from nut mixes to jewelry. They also make excellent salt or sugar cube bowls. 

A sleek kettle

Fellow Clyde Stovetop Tea Kettle, $99

The modern kettle is also better than traditional ones because it gives a harmonic whistle instead of the usual high-pitched scream when your water starts boiling. 

A lantern that also plays music

Allsop Wireless Lantern with Speaker, $120

This device brings light and music to their next dinner party. It features five different light modes with seven LED colors, plus it's Bluetooth-compatible so they can play their favorite songs at the same time. With both going at the same time, the lantern can last for up to four hours. 

The perfect cutting board for someone with a small kitchen

Food52 x Epicurean Matte Black Over the Sink Board, $69

Gift this board to students, New Yorkers, and anyone else crammed into a tiny apartment who needs to make the most of their space. It has a hole on one end, allowing them to place the board over their sink and push scraps directly into the trash or compost bin once they're done prepping. The natural wood fiber looks great in matte black. 

Another interpretation of the phrase "food baby"

Garbella Food Alphabet Baby Onesie, $25-$66

You don't have an entire alphabet's worth of letters and foods to choose from, but you can pick an adorable onesie with a taco, rugelach, peanut, empanada, dumpling, or bagel illustration. 

Puzzles that look like their favorite foods

Areaware Little Food Puzzles, $45-$105

While others are working on puzzles of boring landscapes and scenery, your recipient will be puzzling over how to create a fully formed cheese puff, bowl of ramen, or broccoli. The small puzzles are party pleasers that should only take 20 minutes to complete. 

Eye-catching ceramic vases

The Floral Society Ceramic Flower Frog Vase Collection, $34-$106

The artistic vessels are more unique than a typical vase but not so outrageous that they detract from any floral arrangement. Our favorite is the hanging vase. 

A minimalist knife rack

Epicurean Matte Black Knife Block, $85-$100

The block takes up less space than traditional knife block and is useful for holding only the knives they really need. The recessed magnets inside keep the knives straight and neat. 

A butter churner

Kilner Glass Butter Churner, $40

There's nothing like the taste and texture of homemade, churned butter. After hand-cranking the cream and adding any herbs or spices, they'll have a spread that tastes better than any store-bought butter. The set includes paddles to help shape the butter and a glass dish for storage and display. 

Decadent chocolate bars that contain EVOO instead of cocoa butter

K+M Extra Virgin Chocolate Bars, $45-$55

The substitution of olive oil for cocoa butter means these chocolates — which come in milk, dark milk, and dark flavors — have an extra silky texture and a higher amount of antioxidants. They're made by chef Thomas Keller and olive oil producer Armando Manni. 

A charcuterie slicer for the recipient who loves to entertain

Frieling Charcuterie Slicer, $65

It may be marketed as a slicer for salami and ham, but it's actually more versatile — it can also be used to slice cheese and vegetables to round out the appetizer platter. The wood construction makes it look less industrial and more home-y. 

Candles that smell like the forest

Food52 x Farmhouse Pottery Forest Candle, $38-$65

The fir, pine, and cedar-scented candles are seasonal without being blatantly holiday-themed. They're made from soy and hand-poured, exclusively for Food52. 

A modern reimagining of the classic dinner bell

Pat Kim Design Modern Dinner Bells, $60

Call it old-fashioned, or call it ingenious — everyone in the house will be able to hear when its dinnertime thanks to these steel bells. They sit on an English bridle leather hanger and come with a brass striker. 

An at-home raclette set

Raclette Party Set, $79

Enjoying raclette at home is just as fun and entertaining. The set has eight mini pans that sit over tea lights, which will melt their choice of cheese. It's ultra-satisfying to pour the melted cheese over potatoes, meat, and vegetables. 

The gift of olive oil — and the tree it came from

Especially Puglia Adopt an Olive Tree Gift Box + Subscription, $175-$500

Not only will they get to enjoy the finest organic olive oil, but they'll also help support the local farmers who made it. Each gift includes an adoption certificate for the tree that the olive oil came from. 

A single piece of rare black truffle

Mikuni Wild Harvest Black Perigold Truffle, $100 + $20 shipping

This single truffle costs $100. The rare indulgence can be found in France, only for a short amount of time each winter, so take advantage of this opportunity to impress your recipient while you can. 

A collection of specialty spice mixes

Oaktown Spice Shop Specialty Spice Collection, $119

Seasoning can make or break a dish. They'll have plenty of options to choose from in this 10-piece set that includes delicious mixes like Persian lime curry rub, za'atar, shichimi togarashi, and Mexican-style adobo. 

A vegan cookbook

Ten Speed Press Signed Copy: Food52 Vegan Cookbook, $24-$46

Chances are, there's someone in your life who has gone vegan this year. Beginner vegans can get recipe inspiration and help through this signed book written by a Food52 New Veganism columnist. Recipes like Tempeh Kebabs and Chai-Spiced Bread Pudding might give them a fresh perspective on vegan eating. 

Leather catch-all trays

Graf Lantz Felt, Denim & Leather Catch-All Tray, $76-$124

Beyond the kitchen, where the trays may be used to hold swizzle sticks and coasters, they can also hold jewelry, glasses, keys, and office supplies. The interior is lined with either denim or felt, while the exterior is a vegetable-tanned leather. 

A corkscrew and wine stopper set

Rabbit Two-Step Corkscrew & Wine Charms Stopper, $32

The handy tool contains everything they'll need to get the wine flowing: corkscrew, foil cutter, and cute, colorful wine charms. And once the party's over, the charms go back on the bottle stopper. 

A coffee press that follows them wherever they go

Palmpress Collapsible Coffee Press, $42

Even if they're out of the country, miles away from their home, they can still enjoy the comforts of their daily coffee. The stainless steel and silicone press only weighs 9.1 ounces and collapses into itself. It makes about 8.7 ounces of coffee. 

A mixing bowl that's less tiring to hold

Mason Cash Tilted Mixing Bowl, $54

Making whipped cream from scratch is a real arm workout, though it's a little less exhausting when they have this bowl on hand. The flat angled sides rest on the countertop to grant their arms some reprieve. 

Grilling tools that have built-in flashlights

Grilllight Tools, $25-$50

Night grillers, fear no more. These smart grilling tools (sets include a spatula, pair of tongs, and brush) have LED lights to illuminate the way and show them exactly what they're cooking. 

An intricate vintage ice bucket

Vintage French Glass Ice Bucket, $70 + $5 shipping

These striking ice buckets come from the French countryside. Since they're vintage, you won't know exactly which design your recipient will get — but that's all part of the fun. 

A tool that makes peeling and cutting ginger much easier

Microplane 3-in-1 Ginger Tool and Zester Set, $30

Use the plastic nub on the side to peel the skin, the sharp microplane to grate the ginger, and the mandolin slicer to cut thick slices. With all the time saved, they can make even more recipes that involve ginger. 

An herb growing kit

Modern Sprout Smoked Glass Garden Grow Kit, $25-$100

Each of these containers has a hydroponic system that allows them to grow plants without soil. You can get them one type of herb (basil, cilantro, mint, parsley) or a set of four to create a full collection. Homegrown herbs could be the small and simple trick to making their dishes taste better. 

A portable metal straw set

Lastrå Metallic Straw Wand Set, $30-$38

Once a fringe movement, metallic straws have gone mainstream. This sleek set contains three straws of different sizes and a cleaning brush, all in one space-saving case. 

A tea towel that lists every type of oyster in North America

Sir Madam Oyster Linen Tea Towel, $34

The ambitious task of listing out every single North American oyster has befallen tea towel brand Sir Madam. The final product isn't an exhaustive account, but it's an admirable and good-looking attempt. 

Looking for more gift ideas? We've got you covered.

• Our master list of every gift guide you'll ever need
• Creative gift ideas under $25
• Thoughtful gift ideas under $50
• Clever gift ideas under $100
• Cool stocking stuffers on Amazon
• Unique kitchen gifts from Sur la Table
• Affordable tech gifts under $25
• Thoughtful gifts for her, all under $50
• Cool gifts for him on Amazon

• Clint Eastwood's "Richard Jewell" is a moving look at the hero of the 1996 Summer Olympics bombing.
• When the fact that the FBI considered Jewell a suspect days after the bombing was reported on, his life went to pieces as the media ran with the story.
• Actor Paul Walter Hauser, as Jewell, delivers an Oscar-worthy performance.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

"Richard Jewell" (in theaters December 13) is one of those movies that will leave you feeling frustrated, puzzled, angry, but hopefully above all, moved.

Clint Eastwood's recounting of how a security guard saved thousands when he discovered a bag filled with pipe bombs at the 1996 Summer Olympics, only to become a suspect days later, is a cautionary tale. But it also leaves you feeling grateful that there are people in the world like Richard Jewell.

To pull that off, Eastwood collected a fantastic cast, including Sam Rockwell as the lawyer who defends Jewell, Kathy Bates as Jewell's mother, Olivia Wilde as the reporter who broke the story that Jewell was a suspect, and Jon Hamm as the FBI agent in charge of the case. But above all, it's the performance by Paul Walter Hauser as Richard Jewell that takes the movie to another level.

Hauser, who is best known for playing Shawn Eckhardt in 2017's "I, Tonya," delivers a career-changing role that shouldn't just put him in the best actor Oscar race, but should make him a frontrunner to win it. It's one of the best performances I've seen all year.

In the movie, Jewell is a good-natured guy who is completely engrossed in law enforcement. He's got books about it and plays shoot-em-up video games (if he's not on a real shooting range). He even does security for a college with pride and maybe is a bit overzealous (he's reprimanded for pulling over students outside of school grounds).

That leads us to 1996's Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia. Jewell is there working as a security guard at the town square of the games, Centennial Olympic Park. We watch everyone go through the motions as Kenny Rogers performs there one night and the crowd does the "Macarena" the next (it's the late '90s, guys, this is what was hip them). But through it all, Jewell's head is on a swivel, not just looking for anything shady going on but also people in need. A pregnant woman walks by him and he rushes to his bag to offer her a bottled water. It's that amped-up attitude that makes law enforcement not too concerned when Jewell notifies them of a suspicious bag under a bench. But when it's revealed that the bag in fact has pipe bombs in it, and thousands around it are able to get far enough away so the injuries are minor when it does explode (one death and 111 injured), there's no dispute: Richard Jewell is a hero.

By the next morning, Jewell's fifteen minutes of fame kicks in hard. There's on-camera interviews on the morning shows and a publishing company wanting his life rights. Jewell returns home to his mother, Bobi (Bates), feeling he's finally fulfilling his calling: to protect and serve.

Then as quickly as the good times showed up, they go away. Three days after the bombing, on the front page of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, it's reported that the FBI considers Jewell a suspect in the bombing.

As usual with Eastwood movies, he's not looking to be fancy with the storytelling. He lays it out straight and allows the actors that inhabit it to bring it to life. And do they ever.

Hauser as Jewell is heart-wrenching to watch. You just want to dive into the screen and give the guy a hug (Jewell died at the age of 44 of heart failure from complications of diabetes). Hauser slips in some great comedic moments to lighten the tension, but also plays him as a man with unwavering positivity. That makes it all the more powerful to watch when Jewell finally gets mad and fights back.

Rockwell also gives a fantastic performance as Jewell's lawyer, Watson Bryant. Some of the best parts of the movie are Hauser and Rockwell playing off each other. It's almost like an Abbott and Costello routine, but with much higher stakes.

It's an interesting time to spotlight the heroics by Jewell and the subsequent character assassination of him by the media and law enforcement. This movie feels like it could be weaponized by those who want to sow distrust of the media. I really hope that doesn't happen. If anything, Eastwood is showing us that rational thinking will always win over knee-jerk reactions. It's something to take to heart in the "if you're not first, you're last" world we live in today.

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Behind the scenes with Shepard Smith — the Fox News star who just announced his resignation from the network

• Nike revealed a first look at its new MLB jerseys that prominently feature the company's iconic swoosh symbol Monday.
• In January of 2019, the sneaker and athletic wear giant announced an agreement with the league and Fanatics to become Major League Baseball's official uniform provider in 2020.
• Photos of the new jerseys surfaced online Monday, and many baseball fans expressed discontent with the size and location of the swoosh.
• Check out photos of all 30 MLB teams' new jerseys below:
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more.

Major League Baseball has long resisted the blatant commercialation of its jerseys, but an agreement recently reached with the world's premier shoe brand appears to be taking the league's uniforms in a new direction.

In January, Nike announced that it would become the "exclusive provider of Major League Baseball's on-field uniforms" beginning with the 2020 season. According to the release, the deal — which involved both the MLB and sports merchandise giant Fanatics — allowed the athletic wear company to feature its signature Nike "swoosh" on the new jerseys.

On Monday, Nike released the first look at all 30 MLB teams' uniforms for next season. The photos, which surfaced online, show classic designs but feature the classic Nike symbol prominently on the chest.

Many baseball fans expressed discontent and ire with both the size and location of the swoosh:

Many people on Twitter thought the swoosh should have been stitched onto the sleeve:

Still, some other Twitter users mocked fans who were upset with the new uniform changes:

Check out photos of all 30 teams' new Nike jerseys for yourself below:

Arizona Diamondbacks

Atlanta Braves

Baltimore Orioles

Boston Red Sox

Chicago White Sox

Chicago Cubs

Cincinnati Reds

Cleveland Indians

Colorado Rockies

Detroit Tigers

Houston Astros

Kansas City Royals

Los Angeles Angels

Los Angeles Dodgers

Miami Marlins

Milwaukee Brewers

Minnesota Twins

New York Yankees

New York Mets

Oakland Athletics

Philadelphia Phillies

Pittsburgh Pirates

San Diego Padres

San Francisco Giants

Seattle Mariners

St. Louis Cardinals

Tampa Bay Rays

Texas Rangers

Toronto Blue Jays

Washington Nationals

Now check out the most memorable college basketball teams of the decade, from squads filled with one-and-dones to sleeper Cinderellas:

The 13 most memorable college basketball teams of the decade

• If you gift a product that has been featured on the show "Shark Tank," then you know it'll be both creative and practical. 
• Games, kitchen tools, skin-care products, and food are all thoughtful gifts you can give to the "Shark Tank" fan in your life. 
• If "Shark Tank" doesn't have the perfect holiday gift for your friends and family, we've rounded up a bunch of great gift ideas. 

One of our favorite shows to spot new products and enjoy some entertaining celebrity judge banter is "Shark Tank," which has returned for its 11th season. 

As we've seen over the years, some pitches do extremely well, while others aren't so lucky — but the fact remains that the show brings forward new and innovative ideas most of us have never considered.

That's why the products from the show tend to make especially good gifts. They're far from generic and they usually solve a common problem or annoyance. Conveniently, most are also available on Amazon.

Most of these items are available with two-day shipping, so don't stress too hard about scrambling for a last-minute gift — just remember that the sooner you order, the better your chances of a timely arrival.

The top 5 best gifts from 'Shark Tank':

1. The famous "Comfy" sweatshirt that they'll never want to take off
2. Adorable leather moccasins for babies
3. A reusable smart notebook
4. A drink accessory that keeps their beer cold
5. A baking pan that gives them more edge pieces

If your gift recipient loves watching "Shark Tank," they'll recognize these 26 awesome gift ideas:

The famous "Comfy" sweatshirt that they'll never want to take off

The Comfy Sweatshirt, from $40, available at Amazon

You can practically feel the comfortable softness and warmth of this oversized blanket sweater just looking at it. Cozy up in The Comfy by the fireplace, at sports games, or while watching holiday movies. 

A travel accessory that combines a hoodie with a memory foam pillow

HoodiePillow Memory Foam Travel Pillow, $29.95, available at Amazon

The clever design of this two-in-one hoodie and memory foam pillow, which feels like their favorite fleece sweatshirt, lets them fall asleep comfortably while traveling. The hood helps block out light and noise, while the pillow provides soft neck support. 

A baking pan that gives them more edge pieces

Baker's Edge Nonstick Edge Brownie Pan, $35.95, available at Amazon

The days of fighting over the limited number of edge pieces are over. With this unique pan, every piece has two delectable, chewy edges. Other than to make brownies, they can also use it for other desserts, pasta, or any baked good that requires some extra crust. 

A fun outdoor game

Spikeball 3 Ball Kit, $59.99, available at Amazon

On a beautiful sunny day at any park in the city, you'll probably see at least one group playing this fun and active game. With rules similar to volleyball, it's easy to learn — so the whole family can get involved. The company even holds nationwide tournaments if your recipient gets really good at the game. 

A funny gift box

Prank Pack Bathe & Brew Gift Box, $7.54, available at Amazon

The Prank Pack isn't the actual gift, but it is a funny way to prank your recipient and trick them into thinking they're receiving a strange or gimmicky present. The co-founder is a former writer at The Onion, so expect nothing less than hilarious fake products and product descriptions that your recipient will have to pretend to enjoy. 

Rich, dessert-like peanut butter spread packed with protein

Nuts 'N More Chocolate Maple Pretzel Peanut Butter Spread, $11.99, available at Amazon

For the family's resident sweet tooth or fitness enthusiast, get these chunky, sweet-and-salty peanut butter spreads. They contain whey protein isolate, providing 11 grams of protein per serving, and they're low-sugar and low-carb. Spread the creative flavors, which include birthday cake and ginger bread, over pancakes or fruit, or enjoy them straight out of the jar. 

Mini ornaments to hang in their hair

Beardaments Beard Ornaments, $9, available at Amazon

Beardaments Beard Lights, $20, available at Amazon

Now, in addition to ugly holiday sweaters, they can don fun and flashy beard ornaments. Each ornament has a clip that stays secure in their hair but won't damage it. Though the name may suggest otherwise, the ornaments can go in any type of hair, not just beards. 

A balance bike

KaZAM No Pedal Balance Bike, $49.99, available at Amazon

Featuring a patented footrest design that helps young kids find their center of gravity, this bike builds the confidence needed to transition to riding a proper bike. The ergonomic, adjustable handles and seat will get kids comfortable and ready to ride right away. The bike weighs only eight pounds and the puncture-free tires never need air. 

A memorable 3D card

Lovepop Pop Up Card, $13, available at Amazon

The cards are available in many beautifully crafted seasonal designs, or you can visit Lovepop's Amazon page to find other types of themes. Don't worry — there's still room to write an actual message for your recipient in the included notecard. 

A quirky holiday sweater

Tipsy Elves Women's Santa Unicorn Christmas Sweater, $39.95, available at Amazon

Founded by a former lawyer and a former dentist, the funny clothing brand Tipsy Elves exploded in popularity after its 2013 "Shark Tank" appearance and has made over $70 million to date. Its outrageous holiday sweaters, jumpsuits, and ski suits make memorable gifts for the jokesters and party animals in your life (plus they're really comfortable). 

A beach towel that gives back

Sand Cloud Black Acid Wash Beach Towel, $29.95, available at Amazon

This beautiful 100% Turkish cotton towel also works as a throw or wall tapestry. It's thin and compact, but durable. Plus, the company donates 10% of profits to help preserve marine life.

An appliance that turns any beer into draft beer

Fizzics White Waytap Beer Dispenser, $89.95, available at Amazon

Using sound waves, this cool appliance turns any can or bottle of beer into fresh draft beer by turning its natural carbonation into compacted micro bubbles. All they have to do is insert their favorite beer, then pull and push the tap to receive the enhanced version of their IPA, pilsner, or stout. 

A sturdy, inflatable paddle board

Tower Inflatable 9'10" Stand Up Paddle Board, $740.60, available at Amazon

Gift an avid outdoor adventurer this premium paddle board and you'll have a difficult time getting them to return to shore. Its design provides for better balance and stability, while a bottom fin makes it easier to maneuver. It inflates and deflates quickly, so it can be brought anywhere — but unlike many other inflatable boards, it's strong and rigid. 

A reusable smart notebook

Rocketbook Everlast Reusable Smart Notebook, Executive Size, $29.97, available at Amazon

The innovative tech of the Rocketbook lets them put pen to paper and organize and access those thoughts with the same convenience of digital notes. The 36-page notebook is infinitely reusable because the contents get sent to their chosen cloud service before being wiped clean with a damp cloth. 

Adorable leather moccasins

Freshly Picked Kids' Soft Sole Moccasins (Infant/Toddler), $49-$59, available at Amazon 

The creator of the cutest little baby shoes you've ever seen got her start picking up yard sale leather scraps and selling on Etsy. Today, parents everywhere are obsessed with the unique and comfortable 100% leather designs that infuse style into their baby's every step. 

A temperature-regulating machine that goes under their bed

BedJet V2 Climate Comfort for Beds, $379, available at Amazon

As an engineer who developed the heating and cooling systems of NASA spacesuits, the creator of BedJet has the perfect background to improve the sleep experience. Since temperature often impedes a good night's sleep, the BedJet blows hot or cold air onto the bed and over their body and creates "biorhythm sleep sequences" throughout the night. 

A better protein mixing bottle

Ice Shaker 26-Ounce Stainless Steel Protein Mixing Cup, $35, available at Amazon

The problem with traditional plastic protein powder shakers is that they tend to absorb odor and won't keep the contents cold. Former NFL player Chris Gronkowski's stainless steel water bottle is double-insulated, spill-proof, and odor-free — the upgrade that gym rats deserve. 

A drink accessory that keeps their beer cold

BottleKeeper The Standard 2.0, $34.99, available at Amazon

Is there anything more frustrating to an avid beer drinker than a cold one that's less than cold in just half an hour? The insulated stainless steel BottleKeeper, complete with bottle opener, keeps their beer colder for a longer period of time. It's also a smart way to protect against drops and spills. 

A WiFi-enabled sous vide cooker

Nomiku WiFi Sous Vide 1100-Watt Immersion Circulator, $249, available at Amazon

This sous vide connects to your phone to make sous vide cooking more streamlined than ever. You can create and send recipes to the machine and precisely control the temperature from your phone with the app, letting you keep tabs on your meal even when you're not in the kitchen.

An all-in-one water sports board

ZUP You Got This 2.0 Board Handle Combo, $331.20, available at Amazon 

This versatile board lets all ages and skill levels enjoy the exhilaration of skimming across the water. It can be used as a knee board, water skis, or a wake board, or ridden lying down. Whichever position they choose, they'll feel comfortable and safe during the ride. 

A funny card game that tests the financial limits of various outrageous scenarios

Pricetitution Card Game, $20, available at Amazon

Every card begins with the prompt, "How much money would it take me..." followed by a funny situation. It was a big success on both "Shark Tank," with four Sharks giving offers, and on Kickstarter. 

A smart video doorbell

Ring Video Doorbell Pro, Works with Alexa, $249, available at Amazon

Ring may not have secured a deal with the Sharks, but it did strike up a deal with Amazon for over $1 billion last year, so it's doing just fine. The smart security system has two-way talk, sends motion-activated alerts, and works with Alexa, giving homeowners the peace of mind that their house will be safe, regardless of whether they're home. 

A suction silicone place mat

ezpz Happy Mat, $24.99, available at Amazon

Parents will appreciate any help given this holiday season. The place mat stays right in place on any flat surface, making it that much easier to get food from the plate into their child's mouth.

A back support belt

BetterBack, $49.99, available at Amazon

Insider Picks editor Sally Kaplan can't recommend this posture corrector enough. If your recipient suffers from back pain, this ergonomic belt provides the relief they'll need. 

A rapid ramen cooker

Rapid Ramen Cooker, $7.99, available at Amazon 

What seems like a gag gift has actually come in handy for many busy students, parents, and office workers because it takes away the need for a stove and dish-washing session, cooks the noodles more quickly, and requires less water. It's the perfect size for a block of ramen and a faster, more reliable alternative to stovetop cooking. 

A pair of lightweight running sandals

Xero Shoes Barefoot-Inspired Sport Sandals, Men's Z-Trek, $64.99, available at Amazon

Xero Shoes Barefoot-Inspired Sport Sandals, Women's Z-Trek, $64.99, available at Amazon

After constantly getting injured while running, cofounder Steven Sashen switched to barefoot running and loved the effects, so he created a thin running sandal. These comfortable and supportive shoes are great for runners and could inspire them to kick-start their 2019 running goals. They can also be used for outdoor activities like hiking and kayaking. 

Looking for more gift ideas? We've got you covered.

• Our ultimate list of every gift guide you'll ever need
• Creative gift ideas under $25
• Thoughtful gift ideas under $50
• Clever gift ideas under $100
• Cool stocking stuffers on Amazon
• Affordable tech gifts under $25
• Thoughtful gifts for her, all under $50
• Cool gifts for him on Amazon

• Microsoft made its first public comment on Amazon's legal push to overturn the results of the bid for JEDI, a $10 billion cloud contract with the Pentagon. Microsoft officially won the deal in October.
• Amazon is challenging the decision in the US Court of Federal Claims and, in documents made public on Monday, said President Donald Trump led "repeated public and behind-the-scenes attacks" to ensure the company didn't get the contract, in order to harm CEO Jeff Bezos, his "perceived political enemy."
• Since the decision, Amazon has repeatedly touted what it believes is its own "technical superiority" over Microsoft.
• Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives believes Microsoft won based on its technology and lobbying efforts, and on Monday said Amazon's lawsuit is just "noise" that won't affect Microsoft's win of the contract.
• Click here to read more stories on BI Prime

Microsoft has finally broken its silence about Amazon's lawsuit challenging the company's victory in a $10 billion cloud computing contract with the Pentagon, saying the bidding process was fair and Microsoft won on its own merits.

"We have confidence in the qualified staff at the Department of Defense, and we believe the facts will show they ran a detailed, thorough and fair process in determining the needs of the warfighter were best met by Microsoft," a Microsoft spokesperson said in a statement. "We've worked hard to continually innovate over the past two years to create better, differentiated offerings for our customer."

The Department of Defense on October 25 selected Microsoft for the controversial contract known as the Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure, or JEDI, contract worth as much as $10 billion over the next decade to move the agency's sensitive data to the cloud.

Amazon is challenging the decision in the US Court of Federal Claims and, in documents made public on Monday, said President Donald Trump led "repeated public and behind-the-scenes attacks" to ensure the company didn't get the contract, in order to harm CEO Jeff Bezos, his "perceived political enemy."

Amazon was considered by some to be a shoo-in for the contract because of the company's market-dominant position and high security clearance compared to competitors including Microsoft.

Since the decision, Amazon has repeatedly touted what it believes is its own "technical superiority" over Microsoft, including in a meeting with employees last month during which AWS CEO Andy Jassy said Amazon's technology is at least two years ahead of Microsoft, according to a recording obtained by Business Insider,

Not all analysts agree. Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives believes Microsoft won based on its technology and lobbying, and on Monday said Amazon's lawsuit is just "noise" that won't affect Microsoft's win of the contract.

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Taylor Swift is the world's highest-paid celebrity. Here's how she makes and spends her $360 million.

• The Nikon Small World in Motion contest highlights the best microscope videos taken each year.
• This year's first-place winner is a video of a polyp bursting out of bright green coral like a beating heart.
• Other winners include videos of a developing mouse embryo and a microorganism that creates a whirling vortex to capture its prey. 
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

It's tough to capture the world's tiniest organisms in photos, but it's even tougher to capture footage them in action. After awarding the best microscope photography of 2019, Nikon has revealed the winners of a second competition, called Nikon Small World in Motion.

The contest was launched in 2012 to showcase time-lapse photography or short clips taken through a microscope. This year's winning videos reveal how life looks beyond what the naked eye can see, giving rare glimpses into the bizarre and fascinating ways microorganisms transform and interact. 

Sometimes, those interactions are vicious, as the 2019 selection shows: The best microscope videos of the year include a parasite emerging from its dead host and two "water bears" eating a member of their own kind.

Take a look. 

SEE ALSO: The best microscope photos of the year reveal a strange and hidden universe in astonishing detail

The video that took first place in this year's competition shows a polyp bursting out of bright green coral like a beating heart.

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Polyps divide into thousands of clones that eventually form coral reefs. The magenta specs represent the algae that's living inside the coral. 

Coral is sensitive to light, so biologist Philippe Laissue had to use a low-light technique when capturing this video. A bright light may have damaged the coral's cellular structure and prevented the algae from undergoing photosynthesis.

"Coral reefs are in alarming decline due to climate change, pollution, and other human-made disturbances," Laissue said in a press release about the footage. "I hope this video shows people the beauty of these organisms while raising awareness of their decline."

The runner-up shows a parasite emerging from its dead host, a marine plankter.

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The videographer who captured this footage, Richard Kirby, had to transfer live samples into his laboratory before making the movie.

By the end of the video, the parasite — which resembles a small white bubble — bursts through the plankter (that's the term for an individual organism of plankton) like a squeezed pimple. It's gross, but transfixing. 

A video of a microorganism creating a whirling vortex to capture its prey took third place.

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This microorganism, called Stylonychia, is often found in fresh water and sediment. It uses the vibrating hairs on its surface, known as cilia, to motor through the water and trap its next meal. That process is shown in this movie by New York videographers Tommy and Jesse Gunn. 

Tardigrades, also known as "water bears," are shown eating one of their own in this video, which took fourth place.

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The eight-legged micro-animals can survive extreme pressures, radiation levels, and temperatures. They were the first animal species from Earth to survive in the harsh vacuum of outer space. 

Some tardigrades get their food by sucking the fluid from algae and moss, but others (like the ones in this video taken by Hunter Hines at the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute in Florida) are cannibals. 

The video that took fifth place shows an expanding blue blob — a developing mouse embryo.

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Kate McDole and Philipp Keller at Virginia's Howard Hughes Medical Institute captured the embryo as its neural tube — the hollow structure that forms the brain and spinal cord — was folding and closing. When the neural tube doesn't close properly, that can result in birth defects.

Some honorable mentions in this year's competition are too spectacular not to highlight. This reverse time-lapse shows a snowflake turning back into ice.

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Snowflakes develop when a water droplet freezes onto a dust particle in the sky, resulting in an ice crystal.

Instead of melting before they disappear, some snowflakes undergo a process called "sublimation," which essentially skips the liquid stage of matter and moves straight from solid to gas. Photographer Caleb Foster's video (above) shows the sublimation process in reverse. 

Foster's still image of a snowflake placed fifth in the Nikon Small World photo contest. 

A trippy video of a developing frog embryo looks like something from outer space.

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Videographer Dave Lewis filmed the embryo of a common frog from day 10 to day 13 in its development. Common frogs' embryos are surrounded by a thin jelly capsule.  

This skeleton or "ghost" shrimp is so slender, it can disappear among seaweed.

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Skeleton shrimp, also called caprellids, sit motionless in shallow marine environments before sneaking up on their prey (usually protozoa or worms). Videographer Raul Gonzalez captured the creature's subtle movements. 

Gonzalez also filmed hydroids zipping through water in an electric display of light.

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Hydroids are one stage in the life cycle of jellyfish-like predators called hydrozoa. Blink and you'll miss the video's mesmerizing end. 

• With Leesa's holiday mattresses deal, you can save up to $400 today, December 9. Take $200 off the Original Mattress, $300 off the Hybrid Mattress, and $400 off the Legend Mattress. 
• Check out these other great Green Monday deals to save on tech, bedding, clothing, beauty, and more.
• To potentially save more on Green Monday and holiday deals this year, visit Business Insider Coupons to find the most up-to-date Leesa coupons and promo codes.

Updated 12/09/2019 at 5:50 p.m.

Online mattress startup Leesa's holiday deals are still going, with today's Green Monday deal offering up to $400 off mattresses. All three of Leesa's mattresses are on sale, plus you can find discounts on the brand's sheets, pillows, and bed frames. 

Leesa is a certified B Corp that beats out all other mattresses with its Hybrid Mattress, which is $300 off during the sale. Other Leesa sleep products we recommend are the Original Mattress, adjustable bed frame, and Hybrid Pillow— and they're all on sale.

With this extended Cyber Monday sale, you have time to learn more about the company and decide which mattress you want to buy. Even if you're not in the market for a mattress, you can still pick up a comfortable sleep accessory like a pillow or sheet set as a holiday gift for someone in your life. 

Shop the best Cyber Monday deals from Leesa and other stores below. 

The 5 best deals from Leesa: 

1. Leesa Original Mattress, $799 (originally $999) [You save $200] 
2. Leesa Hybrid Mattress, $1399 (originally $1699) [You save $300] 
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• Away's cofounder Steph Korey is out as CEO after an explosive report into the company's culture.
• On Monday, Away announced that the Lululemon executive Stuart Haselden would replace Korey as the company's CEO, effective January 13.
• The news follows an investigation published by The Verge last week on the company's "cutthroat culture." 
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Away's cofounder Steph Korey is out as CEO of Away, following an explosive report into the company's culture. 

On Monday, the travel brand announced it hired the Lululemon executive Stuart Haselden as the company's new CEO. Korey will assume the role of executive chairman. Haselden will also join Korey and cofounder Jen Rubio on Away's board of directors. 

The news follows an investigation that The Verge published last week. The investigation cited 14 former employees who described a "cutthroat culture" at the company, in which Korey demanded workers work almost constantly and pressured them against taking time off. 

In a press release on Monday, Rubio and Korey framed Haselden's hiring as part of the company's plan for long-term growth. 

"With the immense growth of the Away brand, the complexities of our business have evolved as well," Rubio, Away's president and chief brand officer, said in a statement. 

"Stuart's impressive track record in strategically scaling retail businesses and teams offers invaluable expertise as Away enters its next phase of growth," Korey said in a statement. "I believe Stuart's leadership, supported by other key executives who have joined Away this year, will have an enormous impact on our business, community, and culture, and we look forward to learning from his depth of experience."

Last week, Korey apologized for her behavior while leading Away after the publication of The Verge's investigation.

"I can imagine how people felt reading those messages from the past, because I was appalled to read them myself. I am sincerely sorry for what I said and how I said it," Korey said in a statement emailed to Business Insider. "It was wrong, plain and simple."

Away told The Wall Street Journal that the company has been searching for a new CEO since spring. Haselden will start his role as CEO of Away on January 13. 

SEE ALSO: The HR chief at $1.4 billion Away told us the company wants employees to 'bring their full authentic selves to work.' But a new bombshell investigation describes a cutthroat culture of bullying and burnout.

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: At its peak, Forever 21 made $4.4 billion in revenue. Here's what led to the brand's downfall and bankruptcy.

• Patagonia has long been a cult-favorite brand among nature lovers and outdoor adventurers, but if you've been paying attention to street-style trends as of late, you'll know there are also plenty of folks who shop there for fashion reasons alone.
• It seems that Patagonia is leaning into its popularity among style-driven shoppers with a new collection called Fleecelab, but they're not sacrificing their values to do it. 
• The Fleecelab Collection uses sustainable materials like recycled polyester, recycled wool, and reclaimed down to create high-quality, fashion-forward styles that have a low impact on the planet.
• We put three of the new designs — the Retro-X Fleece Pullover, Woolie Trucker Jacker, and Woolie Chore Coat— to the test in our everyday lives and found them to be just as warm, comfortable, and functional as Patagonia's more technical gear.

For the past several decades, Patagonia has been known largely for its extremely well-made, eco-friendly, and outdoor-ready clothing and gear. But the reality is that a good portion of the people who wear Patagonia are less interested in scaling rock faces or trekking into the unknown and are more interested in simply looking good and feeling comfortable. 

Read more: These are the 8 Patagonia styles we wear in our everyday lives

While many of Patagonia's existing technical styles naturally lend themselves to casual wear, the brand is finally putting more emphasis on casual style rather than performance with a new collection called Fleecelab. 

The new Fleecelab Collection combines Patagonia's sustainable approach to clothing with fashion-forward designs for men, women, and kids. Materials used include recycled polyester, recycled wool, and recycled duck and goose down (reclaimed materials from down products). 

We put three of the new designs — the Retro-X Fleece Pullover, Woolie Trucker Jacker, and Woolie Chore Coat— to the test in our everyday lives and found them to fashionable, comfortable, and super warm. Keep reading for our full reviews.

Shop the Patagonia Fleecelab Collection now. 

Review of the Shelled Retro-X Fleece Pullover, $159:

Over the last few years, Patagonia has become one of my favorite brands for fleeces, but I have to be honest: I am far from an outdoorsman or a mountaineer. Of course, Patagonia is a true outdoors brand at heart, but it was the timeless, casual style of the pieces that made me fall in love with the brand — not their technical performance specs.

Compared to the original Retro-X jackets, this Shelled Retro-X Pullover version has a stylish yet functional fleece hood with drawstrings, kangaroo-style front pockets, and a polyester shell on the inside.

From a design standpoint, it's a wardrobe staple that literally anyone can pull off with their favorite jeans, sneakers, or boots. I dressed very casually by pairing my fleece with a MoMA x New Era Yankees hat, my favorite denim, Outerknown Selvedge S.E.A. Jeans, and "Cool Grey" Air Jordan 4s (not pictured).

Aside from the aesthetic attributes, the Shelled Retro-X pullover is extremely warm. In fact, it's the warmest fleece I currently own, and this isn't my only Patagonia fleece. The first time I wore the fleece, I completely underestimated just how warm it would be by wearing it layered under a jacket, and I quickly overheated. The second time around, I left my jacket behind and I was perfectly warm in chilly fall weather.

I'm hoping for a mild winter this year, but when the temperatures drop well below freezing, this will be my go-to mid-layer.  —Amir Ismael, Insider Picks reporter

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Review of the women's Woolie Trucker Jacket, $179:

This woolie trucker jacket is one of those items that, at first glance, could be from either Patagonia or an upscale chain like Aritzia. It's cropped, tailored, and fits into the rising trend of trucker jackets in nontraditional fabrics. But it's also highly functional; it's warm enough to verge on hot when worn under a peacoat in 30-degrees, and compact enough to be tucked into my tote on the go. And while it looks stylish enough to be found at a trendy fashion boutique, I appreciate that it's a more ethical choice made with recycled wool and from a responsible supplier. —Mara Leighton, Insider Picks reporter

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Review of the men's Woolie Chore Coat, $199: 

A lot of times, recycled nylon, polyester, and/or wool is awfully scratchy. It really hasn't ingratiated itself to me in the past, but this stuff is different. Patagonia's Chore Coat offers a warm, electric-blanket-like, narcotic comfort that suddenly has me — a barefoot-walking, summer-loving soul to boot — screaming "Bring it on, winter!"

It's a loose, homely sort of look, and probably not something you'd want to wear on certain occasions, but the pocket size and placement makes it great for, well, chores, I suppose. I've worn it tinkering around in the yard, working on my skiff, and on chilly fall days on the beach before and after surfing. It's a delightful piece out of which I'll get a ton of use.

If you do decide on getting one of these things, consider erring on the smaller side with size. I went with large, which I can usually pull off, but it's extremely oversized and looks a little cloak-like, and medium would have been better. But hey, you do you.  — Owen Burke, senior Insider Picks reporter

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Shop the Patagonia Fleecelab Collection. 

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• Nine months into the job, Bleacher Report's CEO Howard Mittman spoke with Business Insider about his plot for 2020 to build the digital brand into a sports media powerhouse that could close some of its gap with ESPN.
• Content for Bleacher Report's audience of legal sports gamblers is key to that strategy.
• Sports gambling, which more US states are moving to legalize, is helping expand Bleacher Report's reach and revenue at a time when many digital media companies are under pressure to consolidate to survive.
• Gamblers are also five times more engaged within Bleacher Report's app than non-bettors, the company said. 
• Bleacher Report wants to woo the "other 95%" of gamblers who are casual bettors with entertaining betting-related programming, like its forthcoming "B/R Betting Game Show," Mittman said.
• Click here for more BI Prime stories.

On Thursday, Bleacher Report is premiering a weekly game show for sports gamblers that will be filmed live at its studio in Caesars Palace's sportsbook in Las Vegas.

Players in the "B/R Betting Game Show" will try to predict the outcome of athletic contests and other challenges for a chance to win cash prizes. It'll be hosted by a rotating cast of pro athletes and influencers, including ex-NFL player Chad Ochocinco, with a goal of creating moments that Bleacher Report can distribute on its app and social accounts throughout each week.

The game show, which is part of Bleacher Report's B/R Betting vertical, is one of the ways the digital sports media brand, geared toward millennials and Generation Z, is trying to get gamblers to spend more time within its app and website, and engaging with its social accounts. 

The plan to woo casual sports bettors — a group that is growing as more US states move to legalize sports gambling— is one piece of a broader strategy to expand Bleacher Report's reach and revenue going in 2020, and close the gap with some of its larger competitors like ESPN, CEO Howard Mittman, who took on the job in February, told Business Insider. 

"We see significant opportunity not only to continue to elevate ourselves up from the broader publishing set, but to really start knocking on the door in terms of becoming a real, true challenger brand unlike anything else that we can see around the landscape of sports media," Mittman said.

The digital media brand, which was acquired by Turner in 2012 and is now part of AT&T's WarnerMedia, will become the main digital hub for all of Turner Sports, beginning in 2020. Bleacher Report's main app will also be combined with its subscription-streaming offshoot, B/R Live, in the next 12 to 18 months.

Sports gamblers are growing opportunity for the broadening Bleacher Report, as well as other sports media brands

At the same time, Bleacher Report is expanding its breadth of gambling content, which is housed in one of its verticals, B/R Betting. It aims to get its audience of young, mostly 21- to 34-year-old sports fans, more engaged with its app and website.

The company found through surveys that 82% of its users are current bettors or interested in betting. Bettors can be lucrative audiences. Gamblers are five times more engaged within Bleacher Report's app than non-bettors, the company said.

That's more eyeballs that Bleacher Report can serve ads to and generate other revenue from, such as fees for referring sports fans to sportsbooks or betting platforms. Affiliate fees are not a significant part of Bleacher Report's revenue today, Mittman said, but the company could explore the opportunity.

The opportunity around sports gambling comes at a time when many digital media startups are consolidating to survive, as Business Insider recently reported.

Bleacher Report isn't the only digital media brand vying to be advertising's gateway to sports gamblers. Other digital media brands like Barstool Sports are making plays for betting audiences, as are traditional media companies like Fox, which partnered with a Canadian bookmaker to launch a sportsbook this year.

Bleacher Report is trying to draw gamblers in with fun, entertaining stories

Mittman said Bleacher Report is taking a slightly different approach from its competitors. It's not pursuing hardcore gamblers, or "sharps." It's interested in the "other 95%" of sports fans of gambling age who bet or might be interested in betting recreationally, Mittman said.

Bleacher Report is courting them on social media and its own platforms with content, like the "B/R Gaming Show," that is meant to entertain more than gambling shows that are loaded with stats and betting picks. 

"It's part of the evolution of how we see betting content continuing to develop to entertain younger consumers," Mittman said. "There's a fun, interactive element to what we're doing that brings sports betting to life, pulls them into our ecosystem, and then gives us a chance to expose them to all of the different, even sometimes more traditional, kind of content experiences that we offer."

Bleacher Report is also exploring narratives that center on unique characters, celebrities, or talent, like a November video about a man who bet millions on the Houston Astros during the 2019 World Series. The team lost.

In February, around the time that Mittman was promoted to CEO, Bleacher Report announced a partnership with Caesars Palace to launch a studio at its Las Vegas sportsbook, and share betting data that the media brand can use in its content. 

"It was an evolution of the sports betting content that we had already been creating and a significant advancement of it," Mittman said.

Bleacher Report has found some early success with the betting vertical

Bleacher Report has found some early success with its betting vertical.

The company shared a few stats: 

• B/R Betting averages 13.3 million video views per month across all platforms, four times as many views as it garnered two months earlier.
• On Instagram, B/R Betting recorded 8.4 million video views over the last two months.
• B/R Betting's Instagram followers have increased by 50% since September 1.

Mittman also said B/R betting has been a "meaningful contributor" to the company's overall revenue.

The company declined to reveal its revenue. Sahil Patel reported for Digiday in June that Bleacher Report, overall, was on track to grow in 2019 its revenue by 50% to $200 million. 

"We are significantly, in terms of revenue, behind ESPN, although we out punch them relative to social scale and engagement," Mittman said of Bleacher Report as a whole.

Next year, for Bleacher Report and Turner Sports, will be about trying to alter that equation as much as possible, with a little help from sports betting.

SEE ALSO: Meet the 22 power players leading the explosion of the US sports betting space

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Documentary filmmaker Ken Burns explains why country music is universal

• In 2017, investigations uncovered numerous allegations of sexual assault against legendary producer Harvey Weinstein. 
• Since then, the details of Weinstein's powerful social and legal network have been revealed by the same reporters. 
• Some Hollywood heavyweights sounded off on the case, and key figures who were closest to Weinstein in the fallout of the investigations fought hard to push back on the reports. 
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

In 2017, the New York Times and The New Yorker published investigations into repeated settlements paid out by legendary producer Harvey Weinstein over the course of several years in response to sexual misconduct allegations. 

Since then, more of Weinstein's accusers have come forward and reporters have mapped out an extensive network of women who have said they were harassed or assaulted by him.

In the midst of the allegations, some top lawyers and celebrities were vocal about not rushing to judgment in Weinstein's case, with some even coming to his defense. 

In the time since, some have walked back and clarified their comments in the wake of the case that shook Hollywood and set off the #MeToo movement as books, "She Said" and "Catch and Kill," by the reporters who broke the Weinstein story, detailed the extensive networks that worked to defend Weinstein and silence his accusers. 

These are the people that defended Harvey Weinstein, and what they have to say on the matter now.

Attorney Lisa Bloom

Bloom was arguably the most surprising member of Weinstein's defense, and triggered massive blowback when she joined his team as a legal adviser. 

She resigned two days after the Times released its investigation and later said she regrets joining the defense, saying she joined the team to "educate him about sexual harassment laws, about the power imbalance, about what is appropriate and not appropriate in the workplace," but was later  "mortified that I was connected with him in any way."

In a November 10, 2017 appearance on The View, Bloom said she was interested in the case because it gave her "the opportunity get on the inside and talk to this guy directly," and she wanted Weinstein "to change the response...apologize for what you did, acknowledge the wrongdoing, don't go after the women... that is what he did. I did accomplish that."

However, Bloom has also claimed sweeping ignorance that doesn't match up with a memo published in "She Said" that shows Bloom was working with Weinstein at a rate of $895 an hour to quash the journalists' investigation and organize a multi-faceted campaign to silence one of his most high-profile accusers, Rose McGowan.

Once the full spectrum of allegations had been surfaced in detail in the Times investigation, Bloom said she was "shocked." 

When reached for comment, Bloom referred to a previous statement given to outlets after "She Said" and "Catch and Kill" were released, where reiterated that joining the team was a "colossal mistake." 

"I thank Jodi Kantor, Megan Twohey and Ronan Farrow for forcing me to confront the colossal mistake I made in working for Weinstein two years ago," she wrote. "While painful, I learn so much more from my mistakes than my successes.

Attorney David Boies

In addition to being Weinstein's longtime lawyer, Boies took extraordinary measures to undermine the Times' investigation into the allegations against the producer, who has worked with Boies and his family on projects including a book deal and a role for Boies's daughter, an aspiring actress.

Boies personally signed a contract with a private investigation organization, Black Cube, to smear and discredit the investigation into Weinstein and mislead Times reporters in an undercover operation that was eventually unearthed and cost Boies's firm its contract with the Times. 

In Ronan Farrow's November 2017 article detailing the extensive network around Weinstein that silenced his accusers and threatened the Times' investigation, Boies said, "I don't believe former lawyers should criticize former clients," but acknowledged his role in suppressing the allegations. 

"Although he vigorously denies using physical force, Mr. Weinstein has himself recognized that his contact with women was indefensible and incredibly hurtful,"Boies told Farrow. "In retrospect, I knew enough in 2015 that I believe I should have been on notice of a problem, and done something about it. I don't know what, if anything, happened after 2015, but to the extent it did, I think I have some responsibility. I also think that if people had taken action earlier it would have been better for Mr. Weinstein."

Boies did not immediately reply to Insider's request for comment. 

Attorney Gloria Allred

Though Allred has a longtime reputation as one of the most vocal crusaders against sexual harassment and assault, "She Said" revealed her key role in the network around the Weinstein case that silenced at least one accuser with overwhelmingly common legal and financial arrangements.

Ashley Matthau is identified in "She Said" as a dancer who said she first met Allred shortly after she was assaulted by Weinstein while filming a movie. Allred's firm went on to help negotiate a confidential settlement in 2004 between Weinstein and Matthau, of which Allred took a 40% cut.

Allred told Ronan Farrow in 2017 that her firm had represented "thousands" of people who have entered into confidential settlements and said, "some people don't want their parents, their friends, members of their community to know."

Allred hasn't aired any regrets since, even defending confidential settlements in an interview included in "She Said" as an option for accusers, adding that clients are not forced to sign them and can be optimal for those looking for closure and privacy.

Allred did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

Hillary Clinton's publicist, Nick Merrill

Farrow reported that he was digging into Clinton's ties to Weinstein, such as Weinstein's donation of more than $26,000 to her campaigns since her Senate run in 2000.

Farrow wrote that her publicist Nick Merrill sent him an email trying to prevent the story's release, writing that the "big story" he was working on was a "concern for us."

Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey, the authors of "She Said," reported that actress Lena Dunham had told them she warned Clinton's campaign as a whole to cut ties with Weinstein, which went ignored. 

Merrill did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment. 

NBC Universal CEO Stephen Burke

Farrow reported that Burke, who is also a top executive at the network's parent company Comcast, made the ultimate decision for NBC News to not run the story detailing allegations against Weinstein.

Burke "had a rapport" with Weinstein throughout the reporting process and a former member of Weinstein's staff described the executive to Farrow as being "in Weinstein's pocket," according to Farrow's written account.

The executive has also been under scrutiny for Farrow's claim that he was warned in 2015 of a culture of sexual harassment at NBC's news division, two years before anchor Matt Lauer was fired for harassment amid graphic allegations that surfaced from three initial accusers.

A person close to NBC News told Insider that Burke did not have a relationship with Weinstein and did not actively stifle the story. 

NBC News President Noah Oppenheim

Farrow details NBC News President Noah Oppenheim's key role in kicking off the story by suggesting he interview Rose McGowan, who he said he noticed had "tweeted something about a studio head."

McGowan would go on to be one of the report's key sources, telling Farrow and his team that Weinstein had sexually assaulted her at the 1997 Sundance Film Festival, but as Farrow's reporting charged on, he wrote in the book that Oppenheim became one of his most direct opponents in releasing the report.

"Harvey Weinstein grabbing a lady's breasts a couple of years ago, that's not national news," Oppenheim said, according to the book, before telling Farrow it would be a better fit for The Hollywood Reporter, or the "Today" show. It was one of several hard stops Farrow wrote that Oppenheim ordered.

Farrow claimed that Oppenheim was aware of the allegations, though the executive has denied any knowledge and dismissed Farrow's book as "a smear." 

A person close to NBC News told Insider that Oppenheim did not have a relationship with Weinstein and did not actively stifle the story. 

NBC News and MSNBC Chairman Andy Lack

Farrow reported that NBC News and MSNBC Chairman Andy Lack, an NBC veteran, was one of Weinstein's key points of contact that he pressured to get the story on his misconduct killed.

Lack is described as one of Weinstein's surest allies among NBC executives, as Farrow cited a phone call between Lack and Weinstein's lead attorney David Boies, during which Lack told Boies that there wouldn't be a story.

"We've told Harvey we're not doing a story," Lack reportedly said. "If we decide to do a story, we'll tell him."

Nearly one year after the story was released, Lack pushed back on Farrow's allegations, writing in a memo to employees obtained by Insider echoing his colleagues' defenses that he didn't feel there were enough sources and corroborating information to publish the story, and even included a 10-page timeline of the reporting process.

A person close to NBC News told Insider that Lack did not have a relationship with Weinstein and did not actively stifle the story. 

MSNBC President Phil Griffin

Griffin, along with Lack and Oppenheim, were part of the "the triumvirate," a term Farrow wrote that Weinstein's assistants coined to refer to the executives that fielded his calls as Farrow's reporting continued throughout 2017.

In a "fact sheet" released by Oppenheim to push back on some of the book's claims, he wrote that Griffin received 13 calls from Weinstein, but had no role in supervising Farrow or his reporting.

A person close to NBC News told Insider that Griffin did not have a relationship with Weinstein and did not actively stifle the story. 

Actress Lindsey Lohan

The actress sparked blowback when she took to her Instagram story to say that in the wake of the allegations, she felt "very bad for Harvey Weinstein right now," and she didn't think "it's right what's going on."

"He's never harmed me or done anything to me,"Lohan said, according to Vanity Fair. "We've done several movies together. And so I think everyone needs to stop. I think it's wrong. So stand up."

Lohan quickly took down the supportive videos she posted to Instagram before saying in a statement to the Daily Mail: "As someone who has lived their life in the public eye, I feel that allegations should always be made to the authorities and not played out in the media."

Representatives for Lohan did not immediately reply to Insider's request for comment. 

Designer Donna Karan

The DKNY founder told the Daily Mail in October 2017 that she thought "we have to look at ourselves," before pointing to accusers as the potential problem. 

"You look at everything all over the world today and how women are dressing and what they are asking by just presenting themselves the way they do," Karan said. "What are they asking for? Trouble." 

She described Weinstein and his wife Georgina Chapman as "wonderful people." 

One day later, Karan released a statement saying that her comments "were taken out of context and do not represent how I feel about the current situation concerning Harvey Weinstein," but did not appear to be edited out of context. 

"I believe that sexual harassment is NOT acceptable and this is an issue that MUST be addressed once and for all regardless of the individual," she clarified. 

DKNY did not immediately return request for comment. 

Director Oliver Stone

Oscar-winning director Stone said shortly after the allegations were reported that he would withhold judgment until the case reached court, and said, "a man shouldn't be condemned by a vigilante system."

"I'm a believer that you wait until this thing gets to trial," Stone said in October 2017, according to The Hollywood Reporter. "It's not easy what he's going through, either. During that period he was a rival. I never did business with him and didn't really know him. I've heard horror stories on everyone in the business, so I'm not going to comment on gossip. I'll wait and see, which is the right thing to do."

After his comments were published, Stone wrote on Facebook that when he initially spoke, he was unaware of the extent of the allegations against Weinstein because he was traveling, and said he was "appalled."

"After looking at what has been reported in many publications over the last couple of days, I'm appalled and commend the courage of the women who've stepped forward to report sexual abuse or rape," Stone wrote on Facebook.

Representatives for Stone did not immediately return Insider's request for comment. 

Director Woody Allen

Allen initially said he felt "sad" for Weinstein and that he worried women speaking out would start a "witch hunt," according to The BBC.

"The whole Harvey Weinstein thing is very sad for everybody involved," Allen told The BBC. "Tragic for the poor women that were involved, sad for Harvey that [his] life is so messed up."

Despite the nature and volume of the allegations, Allen said that "you also don't want it to lead to a witch hunt atmosphere, a Salem atmosphere, where every guy in an office who winks at a woman is suddenly having to call a lawyer to defend himself."

"That's not right either," Allen said.

Allen's comments raised eyebrows, considering the director had faced years of criticism over his relationship with Mia Farrow's adoptive daughter Soon-Yi Previn.

Allen's other adoptive daughter, Dylan Farrow, has alleged he sexually assaulted her in 1992, mentioning it in a 2013 interview with Vanity Fair and in an open letter published in The New York Times in 2014, but her first televised interview was granted to CNN in January 2018.

Allen later clarified his comments and further condemned Weinstein, telling Variety that he meant the producer was a "sad, sick man."

"When I said I felt sad for Harvey Weinstein I thought it was clear the meaning was because he is a sad, sick man," Allen told Variety. "I was surprised it was treated differently. Lest there be any ambiguity, this statement clarifies my intention and feelings."

Representatives for Allen did not immediately return Insider's request for comment.

• Whether it's for Mom, Dad, a friend, or a coworker, small kitchen accessories make nice gifts for just about everyone on your list. 
• We rounded up 30 fun and practical kitchen accessories that make great gifts, and they're all $50 or less. 
• Some of our favorite affordable kitchen gifts include a quality bottle of Brightland olive oil, a thoughtfully-designed apron, a modern twist on a bento box, and more. 
• Check out all of our 2019 holiday gift guides for more inspiration. 

Whether they have a cookware collection that rivals Martha Stewart's or their most prized kitchen accessory is their drawer of takeout menus, any friend or family member on your gift list will appreciate a nice new kitchen tool to add to their space.

For a solid gift you can bank on them loving, check out our list of kitchen accessories that'll please kitchen pros and newbies alike. It runs the gamut from practical to quirky and everything in between, plus you can find all of it for $50 or less. 

Most of these items are available with two-day shipping if you have Amazon Prime, so don't stress too hard about if shopping on a time crunch — just remember that the sooner you order, the better your chances of a timely arrival.

The top 5 best affordable kitchen gifts:

1. A high-quality bottle of olive oil from Brightland
2. A DIY kit that helps them make homemade sushi
3. A modern bento box for adults
4. A small melting pan that lets them top everything with gooey, melty cheese
5. The ultimate apron from Food52

Keep reading for 30 great kitchen gifts under $50:

A stovetop espresso maker

Bialetti Moka Express Stovetop Coffee Maker (1-cup), $17.99, available at Amazon

For the coffee-loving types who have already tried just about every way to get their morning brew, give them this Moka pot. Bialetti actually invented the first stovetop coffee maker in the early 20th century and, even after all these years, the original model is our favorite option out there. 

A thoughtfully designed apron

Five Two Ultimate Apron, $45, available at Food52

This is the apron to top all aprons. In addition to practical design considerations like extra-long waist ties and an adjustable neck strap, there are smart details like built-in pot holders, a conversion chart sewn into one pocket, and a narrow chest pocket to hold tools like pens and thermometers. 

A cheese melt pan

Cuisinart BBQ Cheese Melt Pan, $9.99, available at Amazon

If they're not already melting cheese on all of their favorite foods... they should probably start. Help them out with this pan that makes the ooey, gooey, cheesy topping of their dreams a reality. 

A beautiful batter bowl

Food52 x Mason Cash Cane Batter Bowl, $40, available at Food52

Chip-resistant, dishwasher- and microwave-safe, and embossed with unique patterns, Mason Cash's mixing bowls are iconic — you may recognize them the Great British Bake-Off. This collaboration with Food52 comes in a unique gray hue plus it has a handle and spout for easy whisking and pouring. 

A smoothie set

Chef'n Smoothie Set, $34.95, available at Williams Sonoma

This set has all the little prep tools they never thought they needed. A strawberry huller, citrus juicer, and kale and green stripper will help them quickly turn their favorite fresh produce into a delicious smoothie. 

A cheeky pig trivet

Felt Pig Trivet, $34, available at Food52

Keep your countertops safe from hot pans and dishes with this trivet. It's made from 100% merino wool felt and is adorably shaped like a pig. 

Note: Charcoal color is currently out of stock

A rapid egg cooker

Dash Rapid Egg Cooker, $18.49, available at Amazon

Whether they like them hard boiled, poached, or scrambled, this rapid egg cooker lives up to its name — it makes cooking eggs way faster and easier than ever before. 

A foldable cutting board

Joseph Joseph Foldable Plastic Cutting Board, $9.83, available at Amazon

They probably already have a cutting board, but this one is a seriously smart upgrade. With a sturdy handle and sides that fold up when squeezed, this board will help them seamlessly chop and then pour into a pot or pan, without dropping any of the good stuff along the way. 

Mickey Mouse ramekins

Le Creuset Disney Mickey Mouse Ramekins (set of 2), $50, available at Williams Sonoma

Good ramekins are useful for baking and serving just about any dish —  and these Mickey Mouse ones are some of the cutest out there. They're adorable, but they're also seriously durable stoneware that'll last them a lifetime. 

A 3-in-1 avocado slicer

OXO 3-in-1 Avocado Slicer, $9.95, available at Williams Sonoma

The only tool avocado lovers need — it can halve, pit, and slice an avocado all in one go. Plus, it's all plastic so they don't have to worry about any avocado-related injuries. 

A pizza stone and cutter

Heritage Black Ceramic Pizza Stone and Cutter, $37.99, available at Amazon

You can't give them a wood fired oven (well, maybe you can), but you can bring them a little closer to getting that crispy, pizzeria-quality crust. Any frozen pizza will be given an upgrade when cooked on this pizza stone.

A popcorn maker

Whirley Stainless-Steel Induction Popcorn Maker, $49.95, available at Williams Sonoma

A vintage-style stovetop popcorn maker that you crank by hand — this thing is the real deal. It's a little more effort, but they'll never want to return to the microwave stuff after this. 

A ravioli mold

Ravioli Mold with Roller, $26.95, available at Williams Sonoma

They could just pop some frozen ravioli into a pot of boiling water and call it a day, but the homemade version is undeniably more fun (and delicious) to make. This mold and roller set is a simple way to get them started. 

A mini rice cooker

Dash Mini Rice Cooker, $19.99, available at Amazon

This appliance is small, but mighty — it can make rice, stews, soups, pasta, and more. The two-cup capacity is good for making small meals and won't take up too much of their precious counter space. 

A spiralizer

Paderno 4-Blade Spiralizer, $49.95, available at Williams Sonoma

Zucchinis, sweet potatoes, carrots, beets — anything can be a noodle if you really believe, or if you use a spiralizer. Plus, these spindly shapes make eating veggies a lot more fun. 

A splatter screen

Silicone Splatter Screen, $24.95, available at Williams Sonoma

Save them from one of the perils of frying foods at home: the dreaded hot oil splatter. This screen has holes to release steam, so everything stays crunchy, but keeps all of the grease in the pan as it's intended to be. 

A s'mores maker

S'mores Maker, $49.95, available at Williams Sonoma

When it's too cold to head out to the fire pit, they'll appreciate this thoughtful set with all of the tools they need to get outdoor quality s'mores — without ever having to leave the kitchen. 

A state pride dish towel

State Dish Towel, $20, available at Uncommon Goods

Add some sentimentality to their kitchen with a dish towel of their home state. The bright towels include iconic names, landmarks, and images of what makes their favorite state so special. 

A sushi kit

DIY Sushi Kit, $29.95, available at Williams Sonoma

If they love sushi, and a good challenge, they'll love trying to make their own rolls with this set. It comes with tools and ingredients like rice, nori, and wasabi powder so they can recreate recipes their favorite sushi spot from the comfort of their own kitchen. 

A molcajete

Molcajete, $49.95, available at Williams Sonoma

An old-fashioned mortar and pestle set is the key to crushing and grinding everything from fresh herbs and spices to making perfectly smooth guacamole. 

An Oreo cup

Dunky Cup, $22.95, available at Amazon

A thoughtful gift that shows you understand their Oreo obsession, this cup helps them get the perfect cookie dunk every time. It also comes with a pack of Oreos for good measure. 

A bento box

Modern Large Bento Box, $35, available at Food52

This bento box is made up of multiple stackable components. It's dishwasher- and microwave-safe, and surely an upgrade to the brown paper bag.  

A microwave grill

Microwave Grill, $40, available at Uncommon Goods

If a small kitchen or lack of an outdoor space is stopping them from grilling their favorite foods, they'll love this. They can put their favorite veggies in between the two plates and just pop in the microwave for perfect grill marks every time.

A serving board

Anolon Marble/Teak Serving Board, $39.99, available at Amazon

This serving board makes a beautiful backdrop for charcuterie boards, appetizers, and more. The piece even made it onto Jennifer Lawrence's Amazon wedding registry. 

A martini shaker and glasses

Libbey Capone Entertaining Set, Shaker and 4 glasses, $36.47, available at Amazon

Amateur and experienced mixologists alike will get a kick out of shaking up their own cocktails, and presenting them in these classy martini glasses. 

Fancy olive oil

Alive Extra Virgin Heirloom Olive Oil, $37, available at Brightland

A drizzle of good olive oil adds a flavorful punch to any dish. Brightland's high-quality olive oils are sharp, peppery, and come in sleek, coated glass bottles that will look nice on their kitchen counter. 

A cookie spoon pan

Cookie Spoon Pan, $18, available at Uncommon Goods

Indulge their sweet tooth with this innovative pan that lets them turn their favorite cookie doughs into spoon-shaped cookies. They can use them to scoop ice cream, stir their coffee, or dip into the Nutella jar — every use is equally delicious. 

An automatic pan stirrer

Automatic Pan Stirrer with Timer, $25, available at Uncommon Goods

Help them save time and elbow grease with this little gadget. All they have to do is place it in the pan, set the timer, and let it whiz around so they can do other kitchen tasks while their sauce is stirred for them. 

A pancake pan

Nordic Ware Silver Dollar Pancake Pan, $34.95, available at Crate & Barrel 

This pan lets them cook seven silver dollar pancakes at once and ensures that each one is a perfectly round circle. 

A food scale

Bamboo Food Scale, $23.96, available at Crate & Barrel

If they're serious about baking, they'll appreciate this food scale. It'll help them make sure they're using the exact measurements every time. Plus, the bamboo and sleek LED display make it look nice in their space. 

Looking for more gift ideas? We've got you covered.

• Our master list of every gift guide you'll ever need
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• Google parent company Alphabet announced on Monday that Frances Arnold, a scientist at the California Institute of Technology, will join the company's board of directors.
• Arnold, who won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2018, will be one of three women on Alphabet's 11-person board.
• Pichai's announcement marks his first official move since taking over for founders Larry Page and Sergei Brin last week.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Google parent company Alphabet announced in a press release Monday that scientist Frances Arnold would join the company's board of directors effective immediately. In a tweet, Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai said that "Frances brings incredible academic and industry expertise" and that he looks forward to looking with her.

In the press release, Arnold said: "I've long admired Alphabet's commitment to technology and research, and to improving the lives of people around the world, and I'm excited to be a part of that."

Arnold currently works at the California Institute of Technology and received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2018 for her work developing a novel method of bioengineering that is "used in hundreds of laboratories and companies that make everything from laundry detergents to biofuels to medicines," according to a press release from the school.

The move marks Pichai's first official move as Alphabet CEO, a role he recently stepped into when Google co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin announced their resignation as Alphabet CEO and president, respectively. Page and Brin both remain on Alphabet's board and maintain controlling shares of the company.

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• Louis Vuitton released its "League of Legends" collection, and it doesn't come cheap.
• The collection has about 40 products, many of which cost well over $1,000.
• Products are set to ship in February or March of 2020.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

For the person who has everything, maybe a $5,000 League of Legends Louis Vuitton leather jacket is the perfect gift this holiday season. 

The fashion house Louis Vuitton released a capsule collection on Monday in collaboration with Riot Games' "League of Legends." The collection, branded as LVxLOL, was designed by Nicolas Ghesquière, the fashion label's artistic director of women's collections. The pieces range in price from a $170 bandeau to a $5,600 leather jacket. 

The companies have collaborated in the past. The partnership was first announced in September, and in October, "League of Legends" released Louis Vuitton skins also designed by Ghesquière. Players could purchase the outfits for their characters for around $10.

The collaboration is no doubt niche. Riot Games refers to it as the "first-ever collaboration between a global eSport and a luxury fashion house." 

Louis Vuitton says products will ship in February or March of 2020. Even if you can't purchase any pieces from the collection, you can take a look here.

SEE ALSO: A new children's book based on Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos aims to inspire kids to 'dare to dream big without being afraid to fail'

This outfit, with a peplum top, leggings, plus purse and archlight sneakers, costs $6,020. These are some of the most understated pieces in the collection, and a passerby might not notice any "League of Legends" connections.

This look, with "League of Legends" character Qiyana printed on a t-shirt, has a more clear connection to the game. The tee, jogging pants, hoodie, sneakers, and watch make this look $8,890.

Here's what the full-body sweatsuit looks like.

Louis Vuitton also made a shirt dress version. The dress, plus a fanny-pack-style bag and heeled boots, comes in at $5,740.

This parka alone is $4,450, plus a $1,070 crop top and $940 cycling shorts. The mini backpack goes for $2,310.

For a buyer with nearly impossible storage needs and money to burn, this bracelet bag sells for $730.

This leather biker jacket with the Louis Vuitton logo is one of the most expensive pieces in the collection at $5,650. The bubble skirt is one of the most feminine pieces, and costs $2,680.

Louis Vuitton paired it with $1,060 platforms that have the collection's signature camo pattern, and a charm bracelet that costs $345, one of the lowest costs in the collection.

Even this pocket square costs $485

This "Neverfull" tote goes for $1,760, and the "League of Legends" key holder and charm is $515.

Finally, this $730 bucket hat is somehow one of the most wearable pieces in the collection.

• The NFL is investigating the New England Patriots after an official for the Cincinnati Bengals saw a crew member in Patriots gear filming the Bengals' Week 13 game against the Cleveland Browns.
• According to reports, the Patriots were filming an advanced scout for a feature called "Do Your Job" and were credentialed by the Browns.
• According to a report from ESPN's Diana Russini, the videographer identified himself as an employee of Robert Kraft, had the camera focused on the Bengals sideline for the first quarter, and when confronted by Bengals security, asked if the situation could be forgotten if the footage was deleted.
• The details in Russini's report has striking similarities to accusations of how the Patriots filmed opposing teams during what became known as "Spygate."
• The NFL now has the tape. Its contents are unknown at this time.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

The NFL is investigating the New England Patriots after an unusual situation took place during the Cincinnati Bengals' Week 14 game versus the Cleveland Browns.

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Patriots had an advance scout at the game filming a feature titled "Do Your Job" that the team produces. The series covers a day in the life of different members of the Patriots organization. Schefter added that the Browns credentialed the video crew.

According to multiple reports, a Bengals official saw the video being taped and alerted Bengals security, who then confiscated the tape. The NFL has the tape, and it is unknown what's on it. Bengals coach Zac Taylor told reporters on Monday that he was aware of a situation that took place but would not comment on it.

The Patriots play the Bengals in Week 15 in Cincinnati.

ESPN's Diana Russini reported some eyebrow-raising details from the confrontation between the Bengals official, Bengals security, and the Patriots crew.

According to Russini, the cameraman in the box identified himself as an employee of Robert Kraft. A source at the scene told her the camera was focused on the Bengals' sideline for the first quarter. A source also told Russini that the pro scout allegedly being featured in "Do Your Job" was interviewed before the game but was not interviewed once the game began.

According to Russini, when Bengals security arrived to interview the Kraft cameraman, the cameraman "asked if they could just delete the footage, and it all be forgotten."

According to Russini, the Patriots no longer have the tape, and the Bengals would not release the tape to ESPN.

Similarities to "Spygate"

The situation bears striking similarities to how the Patriots filmed opposing teams during the "Spygate" scandal.

ESPN's Don Van Natta and Seth Wickersham reported in 2015 that the Patriots would send scouts to opponents' games undercover as media members. They would get media credentials listed under "Patriots TV" or "Kraft Productions" and were prepared with excuses for what to say they were filming if security asked.

Van Natta and Wickersham wrote in 2015: "The videographers also were provided with excuses for what to tell NFL security if asked what they were doing: Tell them you're filming the quarterbacks. Or the kickers. Or footage for a team show."

Patriots head coach Bill Belichick was on WEEI on Monday and denied knowledge of the "Do Your Job" feature. He said it is unrelated to the team.

"We have absolutely nothing to do with anything they produce or direct or shoot," Belichick said. "I have never seen any of their tapes or anything else. This is something that we 100% have zero involvement with."

The NFL forced the Patriots to give up their first-round draft pick in 2008 after "Spygate." The league also fined Patriots head coach Bill Belichick $500,000 and the team an additional $250,000.

The Patriots did not immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment on the incident.

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• A man was shot and killed Monday in the Glendale, Arizona office of Integrity Staffing Solutions, an Amazon contractor that places employees in warehouses and fulfillment centers, according to Fox 10 and KTVK 3TV & KPHO CBS 5.
• The suspect entered the building and shot the victim, who was hospitalized with "life-threatening injuries" before dying, Fox 10 reports.
• "The incident that occurred today at the office of our staffing partner is a terrible tragedy," an Amazon spokesperson told Business Insider. "Our thoughts are with the victim and everyone who has been impacted by this incident."
• Police told Fox 10 that there was no longer an active threat to Integrity Staffing Solutions.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

A shooting at the Glendale, Arizona office of Amazon contractor Integrity Staffing Solutions has left one man dead, Fox 10's Linda Williams reported Monday. Max Gorden, a reporter for KTVK 3TV and KPHO CBS 5, has also reported that police said the man has died.

While a representative for the Glendale Police Department was not immediately available for comment, the department's official Twitter account posted on Monday evening that a suspect had been shot. "One suspect shot, officers are okay," the tweet states. "PIO will be enroute. Thanks for your patience. We will update as soon as possible." 

In a statement to Business Insider, an Amazon spokesperson confirmed an incident had occurred and shared well wishes to the victim. No additional information was provided.

"The incident that occurred today at the office of our staffing partner is a terrible tragedy," the Amazon spokesperson said. "Our thoughts are with the victim and everyone who has been impacted by this incident."

According to a local Fox 10 news report, the suspect is believed to be a former employee who "entered the business and was involved in a disagreement with another man." Police at the scene told Fox 10 reporter Linda Williams that the suspect shot the victim inside building located 95th Avenue and Camelback Road and fled in his vehicle. Police later told Fox 10 that the victim had died.

Integrity Staffing Solutions works with Amazon to place employees in warehouses and fulfillment centers around the nation. Amazon currently employees more than 250,000 full-time fulfillment workers.

In 2014, Integrity Staffing Solutions was at the center of a Supreme Court case involving workers seeking compensation for lost wages due to time spent undergoing Amazon's extensive security protocols. In a unanimous 9-0 reversal of a previous holding denying compensation, the court voted in favor of paying employees for time spent going through security. 

A representative for Integrity Staffing Solutions was not immediately available for comment.

SEE ALSO: Here's What It's Like To Work In An Insanely Secure Amazon Warehouse

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