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• New York Giants co-owner Carolyn Tisch Blodgett sees room for the NFL to grow.
• International games are crucial, Tisch Blodgett said, since there “isn’t enough room to continue to grow in the US only.”
• The sports investor is also optimistic that flag football will bring in new fans.

The NFL is America’s favorite league, and a New York Giants co-owner says there are ways to keep it growing.

Carolyn Tisch Blodgett, whose family owns a 45% stake in the Giants, said flag football and international games are the two biggest avenues for the NFL to build on its massive audience.

“There just isn’t enough room to continue to grow in the US only. You have to be thinking about international growth too,” Tisch Blodgett said at Business Insider’s The Long Play event.

Tisch Blodgett, who runs sports-focused venture capital firm Next 3 and Gotham FC in the National Women’s Soccer League, said that playing games abroad is crucial to the league’s long-term success, as it helps build a younger, more diverse audience.

“A sports fan today in 2026 looks different than a sports fan did maybe 100 years ago,” Tisch Blodgett said.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has made international contests a key cornerstone of his tenure for the last two decades. The league has played games abroad every year since 2007 (except for 2020), going from one game a year in London to nine this season across the globe in places like Melbourne, Rio de Janeiro, Paris, Madrid, Munich, and Mexico City.

Flag football, which will be an Olympic sport in 2028, is another way for the NFL to connect with new fans abroad and in the US, Tisch Blodgett said. That includes girls who may not have the opportunity to play tackle football.

Playing a sport is correlated with fandom, Tisch Blodgett said. She’s bullish that kids who try flag football will develop a lifelong affinity for the NFL.

“If we know we need people to be playing to be a fan, we’re going to invest in flag so that we continue to grow that fandom,” Tisch Blodgett said.

Flag football participation among high school girls surged 49% last year to over 100,000 — making it one of the 10 most popular sports for that demographic, according to a recent survey by the National Federation of State High School Associations. The NFHS said that four years ago, fewer than 16,000 high school girls played flag football, making it the fastest-growing high school sport in the years since.

Tackle-free football leagues are also open to boys whose parents may not want them to risk getting concussions, which have been an area of focus for the NFL in the last decade.

The NFL is investing in flag football, and its efforts include launching Premier Flag — a new pro flag football league that will start next summer.

“As tackle football has declined, they didn’t just sit back,” Tisch Blodgett said of the NFL.

• I tried Ina Garten’s chicken chili recipe.
• Garten came up with the recipe while running her Barefoot Contessa store in the Hamptons.
• She swapped beef for chicken, and it became even more popular than the original.

Ina Garten served traditional chili to her customers for 20 years while running her Barefoot Contessa store in the Hamptons.

One day, Garten decided to tweak the recipe and swap the beef for chicken. It became even more popular than the original dish.

The Barefoot Contessa store is long gone, but Garten’s chicken chili recipe still lives on — and it’s perfect for fall.

Ina Garten’s chicken chili features plenty of spices.

To make Garten’s chicken chili for six, you’ll need:

• 4 split chicken breasts, bone-in, skin on
• 2 (28-ounce) cans of whole-peeled plum tomatoes in puree, undrained
• 4 cups of chopped yellow onions
• 2 red bell peppers, cored, seeded, and large-diced
• 2 yellow bell peppers, cored, seeded, and large-diced
• ¼ cup of minced fresh basil leaves
• ⅛ cup of good olive oil, plus extra for chicken
• ⅛ cup of minced garlic
• 2 teaspoons of kosher salt, plus more for chicken
• 1 teaspoon of chili powder
• 1 teaspoon of ground cumin
• ¼ teaspoon of dried red pepper flakes, or to taste
• ¼ teaspoon of cayenne pepper, or to taste
• Freshly ground black pepper
• Chopped green onions, for serving
• Corn chips, for serving
• Grated cheddar cheese, for serving
• Sour cream, for serving

While these are Garten’s recommended measurements, I should note that I doubled some of the seasoning and added 2 teaspoons of chili powder, 2 teaspoons of ground cumin, ½ teaspoon of dried red pepper flakes, and ½ teaspoon of cayenne pepper.

I wanted the chicken chili to pack a punch, and doubling these spices turned up the flavor without making things too hot.

I prepped my ingredients and preheated the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

I chopped my onions and bell peppers and minced the garlic.

I misread Garten’s recipe and cut my bell peppers a bit smaller than she recommended, but their shape still held up well in the chili.

I think larger pieces might actually be too chunky for this dish because there’s so much chicken in the chili, so I recommend going with a smaller dice for the bell peppers instead.

I cooked the onions in olive oil for 15 minutes, then added the garlic.

“You want to cook the garlic for just a minute so it doesn’t get really bitter,” Garten explained in a “Barefoot Contessa” episode while demonstrating the recipe.

I added the bell peppers and seasoning.

I threw in the chili powder, cumin, red pepper flakes, cayenne, and salt, and cooked everything for one minute.

Then it was time to add the tomatoes.

“I always make this with canned tomatoes; life’s too short to peel a tomato,” Garten said in the episode.

According to the recipe, you can crush the tomatoes by hand or throw them in a food processor. If you opt for the latter, Garten recommends adding them in batches and pulsing the processor six to eight times.

I don’t have a food processor, so I crushed the tomatoes by hand. I also threw the leftover juice into the pot.

After adding basil, I brought my chili to a boil and then reduced the heat to a simmer.

Garten’s recipe is designed so the chicken and chili are ready at the same time, so she recommends cooking the chili for 30 minutes.

I had some extra time on my hands, so I allowed the chili to simmer for a little longer to give the flavors more time to develop.

While my chili simmered, I roasted the chicken.

During the “Barefoot Contessa” episode, Garten said she cooks the chicken with the skin on because she found it “really keeps it moist.” She also noted that she roasts the chicken instead of boiling it because it makes the meat taste better.

I rubbed my chicken breasts with olive oil and generously seasoned them with salt and pepper before throwing them into the oven for 35 minutes.

Garten said the chicken breasts should be “just cooked” when you take them out of the oven.

Once my chicken had slightly cooled, I separated the meat from the bone and started chopping.

“Tear off the bone with your hands; it’s the best way to do it,” Garten said in the “Barefoot Contessa” episode.

Garten then recommended cutting the chicken into ¾-inch chunks so the meat can be “really delicious and chunky.”

I added the chicken to the chili and continued simmering it uncovered.

Garten’s recipe calls for the chili to simmer with the chicken for 20 minutes.

While the chili was simmering with the chicken, I prepped my toppings.

Since I bought pre-grated cheese, all I needed to do was chop my green onions.

Garten’s chicken chili made for a fantastic dinner.

Garten’s chicken chili is so hearty and comforting. The rich tomatoes paired really well with the tender, juicy chicken, which soaked up so much delicious flavor, and the bell peppers and green onions added great texture. I also enjoyed the extra hit of acidity and creaminess from the sour cream.

I made this chili for my friend Kayla, who was also a huge fan.

“This chili is reminiscent of a chicken tortilla soup, but it’s so much heartier!” she added. “It makes you feel so warm and cozy.”

As temperatures continue to drop, Garten’s comforting recipe will definitely satisfy your chili cravings.

• This post originally appeared in the Business Insider Today newsletter.
• You can sign up for Business Insider’s daily newsletter here.

Americans are casting their votes in an election cycle that could reshape Washington’s power structure.

The GOP’s control of both the House and Senate seems likely to break, according to most forecasts. Democrats are favored to win the House, with a shot at the Senate if they can net four seats while defending their own.

BI’s Brent D. Griffiths and Madison Hoff broke down everything you need to know — from the key topics to the closest races — for the 2026 midterm elections. Throughout the day and into the evening, we’ll also have updates on the tightest races and the business world’s reaction, so keep checking our homepage.

Today’s results could serve as a litmus test for AI on multiple fronts.

Affordability remains a top concern for most voters. But one aspect of AI turned into a hot topic on the campaign trail.

Data centers were a major talking point for politicians. The vast majority of Americans previously said they don’t want them built where they live.

Politicians responded with everything from outright moratoriums to calls for additional safeguards to address data centers’ impact on water supply and electricity costs.

Midterm results could offer more color on the public’s appetite for AI infrastructure, shaping how tech companies try to appeal to voters going forward.

OpenAI is already thinking about the next major election cycle. A memo from its top lobbyist, obtained by Politico, shows it pitching 2028 hopefuls on how to talk about AI.

Others aren’t waiting to make an impact. Elon Musk has donated nearly half a billion dollars, the largest amount for a non-candidate to spend in a single election cycle, according to the New York Times. A good chunk of that money is supporting Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s Senate campaign, a key race for the GOP.

AI’s unofficial home state could also face a shake-up thanks to one proposal on the ballot.

California’s proposed billionaire tax has already sent some AI-focused billionaires packing, with many relocating to Florida. Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg considered leaving the state over the tax before the tech giant stepped in to ease his concerns (and his potential tax bill).

The proposal is a one-time 5% tax on current billionaires, but its approval could prompt hopeful billionaires to reconsider staying in the state. When we asked founders if they’d remain in California under a wealth tax, we got mixed responses.

• Nearly 60,000 runners participated in the 2026 NYC Marathon, starting from Staten Island.
• Entry to the NYC Marathon is tough, with a 1% chance in the general drawing.
• Business Insider reporters who participated in 2026 take you inside the iconic race.

On Sunday, November 1, nearly 60,000 runners took part in the 2026 NYC Marathon, starting in Staten Island and crossing the finish line 26.2 miles later in Central Park.

It’s not easy — or cheap — to get in.

The odds of gaining entry through the general drawing are about 1%. New Yorkers can secure a spot through the “9+1” program, which requires completing nine NYRR races and volunteering at one. Charity bibs are another option, often requiring runners to raise thousands of dollars, and a select few can earn a spot with a qualifying time.

If you’re lucky enough to get your hands on a bib, registration will still cost upward of $300. In 2026, the fee was $333.11. It is also a major feat of preparation and training in the months leading up to the event.

My colleague Noah Sheidlower and I were among the runners who took on the five-borough race this year. Here’s what it was like.

Transit to the start begins as early as 5 a.m. The race falls on the first Sunday of every November, coinciding with the end of daylight saving time. The extra hour of sleep makes a difference when your alarm is set to go off in the 3s or 4s.

Noah and I take a bus from Midtown. The lines are long, but organized.

There’s also a bus from MetLife Stadium, and many runners take the Staten Island Ferry. The ferry ride, while cold, offers an epic flyby of the Statue of Liberty.

After arriving in Staten Island and going through security, we have a few hours to kill before the gun goes off. This year, temps are in the low 40s at the start. Runners bring blankets and wear layers they can shed at the start line.

There’s coffee and bagels in the starting village — and bathroom lines that can last half an hour.

There are five start waves, with Wave 1 beginning at 9:10 a.m. and Wave 5 at 11:30 a.m. Runners head to their assigned corrals about 30 minutes before their wave begins.

As we approach the start line, the vibes are immaculate. Music plays as runners make final preparations, take photos, dance, and high-five one another.

Just before the starting cannon fires, the soundtrack shifts to Frank Sinatra’s “Theme From New York, New York.” This is my seventh time running the race, and that exact moment — as soon as I hear, “Start spreading the news” — still sends goosebumps down my arms.

The first mile takes you over the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, from Staten Island to Brooklyn. It’s the steepest part of the course — and one of the most picturesque, with lower Manhattan in the distance.

After climbing for about a mile, we’re rewarded with a downhill that spits us out in Brooklyn. We spend the next 11 miles running through New York’s most populous borough. Lafayette Avenue, through Clinton Hill and Fort Greene, is particularly rambunctious, with block parties and live music. Passing through Williamsburg also feels like crashing a house party.

From Brooklyn, we cross the Pulaski Bridge into Queens around the halfway mark. We then run through Long Island City before approaching the dreaded Queensboro Bridge. It’s steep, silent, and soul-crushing — the only part of the course where spectators aren’t allowed.

But once we reach the apex and begin descending, we start to hear what’s known as the “wall of sound”: spectators waiting with open arms — and beer cans — at mile 16. Their energy is contagious, making it easy to forget that you still have a lot of running ahead.

The crowd carries us up First Avenue and into the Bronx, where we’re greeted with hip-hop music and some tricky hills.

If your name hasn’t yet fallen off your shirt — as happened to one of the authors — strangers cheer for you personally. That can help if you hit the infamous mile-20 wall, when your legs start to feel like lead.

We reenter Manhattan around mile 21, and prepare to face the 5th Avenue hill starting around 23. It’s brutal. As NYC Marathon veteran Casey Neistat described the course, it’s “not the hardest, it’s the meanest.”

The final three miles are the toughest, but the crowds are thick. They make sure you reach the finish line.

Crossing the finish line is emotional.

Almost as iconic as the finisher medal is the bright orange poncho volunteers wrap you up in. It keeps you warm — and guarantees enough “Congrats!” from strangers for the rest of the day that you can’t help but wonder if this is what it feels like to be Jalen Brunson.

Despite the stiff legs and lost toenails, most runners — including yours truly — already can’t wait for next year.

• A private jet crashed in South Florida on Sunday, killing all nine people aboard.
• Weather data at the time of the crash shows thunderstorms and moderate turbulence in the area.
• NTSB officials said there is evidence of the jet breaking apart before impact.

Nine people aboard a private jet were killed when it crashed and exploded in a fireball near Palm Beach, Florida, Sunday afternoon.

The plane, a Learjet built in 2004 and registered as N722BD, had departed from Austin and was en route to the Bahamas.

The identities of the passengers and pilots were not immediately available. Authorities have not said what caused the crash.

“Please join me in praying for the families and loved ones of those we lost,” Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy wrote on X on Sunday.

National Transportation Safety Board Member Tom Chapman said during a press conference on Monday that access to the crash site is challenging because of the bad weather on the ground, causing the impact crater to fill with water. Officials also said crash debris was scattered across fields, homes, and businesses.

The crash occurred less than 10 miles from President Donald Trump’s Mar-A-Lago resort. Trump left West Palm Beach around noon aboard Air Force One to attend a rally in Iowa, according to White House pool reports.

What we know about the flight

Aviation-tracking data from FlightRadar24 showed the plane descending from 41,000 feet to about 35,000 feet as it entered Florida, then crossed the state before plummeting about 27,000 feet in about a minute to the ground near Palm Beach.

The plane was about two hours into the flight to North Eleuthera Airport in the Bahamas when it crashed.

In the minutes before the accident, a pilot can be heard on air traffic control recordings reporting the air temperature outside as -47 degrees Celsius (about -52 degrees Fahrenheit), as well as icing, precipitation, and moderate turbulence.

The pilot later declared “mayday,” saying the plane was descending at 10,000 feet per minute, and moments later, reported an overspeed condition before impact.

Video footage shared online of the crash shows that part of the Learjet’s T-tail may have separated from the plane.

Chapman said there is “some evidence that there was some breakup of the aircraft before impact” and the NTSB is “still seeking to determine that.” He also said the agency hopes to recover the cockpit voice recorder, but it’s unclear if the particular jet had one installed.

NTSB investigator Timothy Monville said during the briefing that the Federal Aviation Administration and the manufacturer Learjet, which is now a part of Bombardier, will assist the NTSB with the investigation.

“We at Bombardier are deeply saddened by this tragic event and extend our sincerest sympathies to all those affected,” Bombardier said in a statement. “We cannot comment on the potential cause of this accident until the investigation is complete and we will fully support the investigating authorities and cooperate as needed.”

What we know about the weather

Widespread thunderstorms moved through South Florida on Sunday afternoon. Aviation weather data for the area showed heavy rain, low visibility, and turbulence around the time of the crash.

“The weather conditions are a major focus of the investigation,” Chapman said. “You all saw what the weather was like here at the surface; what we have to determine is what the weather conditions were like at altitude.”

It’s not yet known what caused the crash, but retired Delta Air Lines pilot Mark Stephens told Business Insider that icing can occur at any altitude and, in some circumstances, cause a wing to lose lift and an aircraft to stall.

“If there was a failure on one wing, meaning that wing iced up, then the good wing would still fly, but the other would lose lift,” he said. “You’d have such an uneven lift that it would basically do close to exactly what the Learjet did; it can flop out of the sky.”

Stephens warned against immediately placing blame on the pilots, adding that anti-ice and weather radar systems can fail and that a number of factors beyond human error could have contributed.

‘She was doing her job’

NASA administrator Jared Isaacman, who is also a pilot, shared his thoughts on the crash on X and urged the public not to criticize the woman pilot in the ATC calls.

“She was the second-in-command (SIC), and while she was empowered to point out mistakes as part of good crew resource management, she was doing her job, communicating with ATC right to the end in a terrifying situation,” he wrote.

He added that she “likely knew before many of those calls that she was going to die,” and the public does not know factors such as the jet’s maintenance history, or whether there was structural failure and why. Isaacman also said that charter companies often hire commercial pilots “very early in their careers to gain experience,” alongside airline-qualified captains.

“She would still have the appropriate training, qualifications, and checkouts by an FAA examiner or designee,” he said. “Let people investigate, learn, and share the facts. Be respectful to those who perished and the families who carry their memories.”

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

• I worked as a supermarket cake decorator for two years before opening my own bakery.
• Ask for whipped cream if you want a less-sweet cake, or for two cake flavors to please more guests.
• It could be worth asking about free smash cakes or using your own toys for kids’ birthday cakes.

Supermarket cakes can be an easy, more affordable way to celebrate any occasion. However, not all of these cakes are served and created equally.

Take it from me: I worked in the bakery section of a popular supermarket for two years, prepping treats and decorating cakes, before opening my own bakery.

Here are my go-to tips for ordering the best cake from your local supermarket. 

Place your order long before your party

Some supermarkets bake cakes on-site, but many work with prebaked, frozen cakes.

In these cases, the bakery will keep a stock of common cake flavors (vanilla, chocolate) on hand, and maybe a more limited selection of additional flavor choices (carrot, red velvet, marble). 

To make sure you get the flavor you want, order your custom cake with two to three weeks’ notice. This can help give the decorator and the bakery time to ensure your desired flavor is in stock.

Ask for whipped cream if you think grocery-store cakes are too sweet

If you’ve stayed away from grocery-store cakes because the typical buttercream frosting is a bit too sweet for you, check if the bakery has other options. 

Vanilla buttercream is often a default choice, but it’s usually not the only one. Some supermarket bakeries can use fresh whipped cream for topping a cake.

Other choices might include cream-cheese frosting, chocolate frosting, coconut-pecan frosting typically used for German chocolate cakes, and even chocolate ganache.

Generally, you won’t know for sure unless you ask.

Check if the bakery can do half-and-half flavors

You may not have to choose between chocolate or vanilla cake.

When ordering, ask about doing half vanilla and half chocolate so everyone at your party can enjoy a slice of their preferred flavor.

This is often possible with half-sheet cakes and two-layer round cakes. (And it might also work with other cake flavors, too.)

Order with the cake decorator if you want something very specific

You can generally speak with any bakery employee to order a cake, but if you have a specific or out-of-the-box request for decorations, ask when you can speak with the cake decorator by phone or in person.

In my experience, they often work early shifts so they can begin preparing orders and items for the display case.

Decorating is their specialty, and they can be the best person to tell you if tackling the specific design you’re hoping for is achievable.

And, if not, they may be able to help brainstorm an alternative.

Consider bringing in your own toys for kids’ cakes

Supermarket bakeries usually have a look book of designs that cake decorators are trained to make, and children’s cakes often include character toys from popular movies and shows.

If the bakery doesn’t have your child’s favorite character, don’t be afraid to ask staff what’s possible.

Depending on the store and decorator, you may be able to bring in small, washed figurines for the decorator to incorporate into the design. Or you can try asking the decorator to leave space for a specific toy when creating the design.

Don’t be afraid to order a plain cake if you want to dress it up yourself

Remember that cake decorators don’t have to dress up your cake with a border, sprinkles, and writing if you don’t want them to.

If you want a semi-customized dessert, just order a plain, frosted cake in your desired size. That way, you can take it home and turn it into anything you want.

Add edible flowers to dress it up for a more formal occasion, or top it with candy and sprinkles in your desired shades. You can even try adding your own fun candles, toys, and knickknacks on top.

Request a plastic cake container instead of a bakery box

At many bakeries, custom cake orders are packaged in cardboard boxes for pickup.

If you anticipate you’ll have leftover cake, ask for a plastic cake container instead. This will provide an airtight solution for easily storing leftovers.

Keep in mind that this tip may not work for every bakery, and it could depend on the supplies they have on hand.

Ask about a free smash cake for kids

If you’re planning to order a birthday cake for a young child, ask if your supermarket bakery also offers free smash cakes.

A smash cake is tiny, typically 4 inches in diameter, meant just for a kid to dig into on their birthday. These are usually served alongside a larger sheet cake meant for guests.

Some bakeries will give you a free smash cake when you order a larger decorated cake or meet a minimum order size.

Check last-minute options if you forgot to order ahead

Even if you forgot to order a few weeks in advance, there may still be options the store’s cake decorator can pull together for you. If it’s a few days before your event, or the morning of, it doesn’t hurt to ask.

The decorator may be able to put together a simple design while you shop for other items in the store. Or you can grab a premade option from the bakery case and ask for writing on top and extra sprinkles along the edges to spruce it up.

Just keep in mind that your options may depend on how busy the bakery is when you visit.

This story was originally published on March 25, 2023, and most recently updated on November 2, 2026.