Catégorie : Business News

• F-35 combat operations have often been against terrorist and militant targets.
• Israel used the fighter jet in widespread strikes against Iran in late October.
• The success of that operation underscores the F-35’s ability to battle higher-level threats.

F-35 stealth fighters have been flying combat missions in the Middle East for years now, though largely in permissive airspace against lower-level targets. The jet’s recent victory against Iran’s air defenses, however, highlights its ability to combat higher-level threats.

Britain’s top military officer shared last week that when Israel used its fifth-generation F-35s to execute retaliatory strikes against Iran in late October, it wiped out nearly all of Tehran’s air defenses and hammered its missile production sites.

The suppression and destruction of enemy air defenses through penetrating strikes — that is the kind of higher-level mission for which the jet was made.

The F-35 has historically been used against weaker targets with either limited or nonexistent air defenses. Israeli F-35s have previously battled Syrian surface-to-air missiles and antiaircraft batteries and engaged in strikes on Iranian targets, but the expensive fighter jet has largely been employed against non-state actors like ISIS, the Taliban, and the Houthis.

Israel’s recent operation against Iran, which fielded very capable Russian-made surface-to-air missile systems, emphasizes how the jet is capable of engaging in combat at a higher level.

Mark Gunzinger, a retired US Air Force colonel who flew the B-52 Stratofortress bomber, told Business Insider that without the F-35, it would’ve probably been « a far more risky mission. »

The ‘power’ of the F-35

The F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter is an advanced single-engine, multi-role strike stealth fighter jet made by American defense contractor Lockheed Martin. Multiple variants of the aircraft are in use by several countries, including Israel.

Air National Guard Photo by Staff Sgt. Ryan Mancuso

Michael Bohnert, a licensed engineer at the RAND Corporation, said that the F-35 was designed to replace existing fighter jets like the F-117, F-16, and F/A-18 with increased stealth, ISR (intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance), and other capabilities.

« The F-35 is a great plane conceived out of the 1990s Pax Americana, » Bohnert told BI.

Israel, which operates a subvariant of the F-35A model designed for air force operations, was the first to fly the fighter jet in combat in 2018. The US military has since used it in missions across the Middle East.

The F-35 fighter faced probably its most daring operation in late October, when Israel struck Iran in response to Tehran’s huge missile attack at the start of the month.

« Israel used more than 100 aircraft, carrying fewer than 100 munitions, and with no aircraft getting within 100 miles of the target in the first wave, and that took down nearly the entirety of Iran’s air-defense system, » said Adm. Tony Radakin, the UK’s chief of defense staff.

JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images

Radakin, speaking in London at a December 4 lecture hosted by the Royal United Services Institute, said Israel demonstrated « the power » of jet and the « disproportionate advantage of modern ways of fighting » in its strikes against Iran.

Related stories

His remarks appeared to mark the first confirmation from a Western government that Israel used the fifth-generation aircraft in the strikes. It was reported shortly after the operation that Israel flew its F-35s and fired air-launched ballistic missiles.

Radakin’s praise of the F-35 came after Elon Musk criticized the jet and dismissed its stealth capabilities. The aircraft is the Pentagon’s most expensive weapons program, but it is widely considered a key warfighting capability for US allies and partners.

The F-35 is not just a fighter jet; it also acts as a bomber with penetrating ISR capabilities, a battlespace command and control platform, and an electronic warfare aircraft.

« The F-35’s capabilities are not a theory — they’re a reality, » said Gunzinger, the director of future concepts and capability assessments at the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, « and now they’re proven in combat against Russian-imported S-300 surface-to-air missile batteries that have been touted as the answer to stealth. »

KHOSHIRAN/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images

Bohnert said the F-35 « did exactly what it was designed to do » against Iran.

In the aftermath of the strikes on Iran, an Israeli security official told BI that the hits « accurately targeted » Iran’s radar and air-defense systems, putting the country at a « disadvantage. »

While the F-35 demonstrated its combat prowess against Iran, the jet would face a tougher fight in a conflict between Western powers and Russia or China, which field more advanced air-defense systems and have their own fifth-generation aircraft.

And the F-35 isn’t without its own challenges. The program faces rising costs and readiness issues. Mission capable rates are declining, even as program costs go up. Bohnert said it will be important to increase the aircraft’s maintenance and logistics capacity for any higher-end conflict.

Still, the F-35 is demonstrating its combat potential today, as Radakin and others have said. And the fighter jet’s advanced combat capabilities are not lost on Congress, where House lawmakers in their 2025 fiscal year defense spending bill called for more F-35s than what the Pentagon initially requested.

The jet’s development came with more than its fair share of difficulties, but, Gunzinger said, the « F-35s today are operational and ready for the fight. »

• I was dating a guy I met on Hinge for two months before we had a fight.
• After the fight, he sent me a voice note, telling me he wanted to end our relationship.
• I felt hurt because I deserved better, but I’m proud of how I handled the situation.

At the start of this year, I dated a guy for two months.

We met on Hinge. I loved spending time with him because he never made me question whether he was into me. He was always attentive and validated my feelings. He’d bring me flowers and ask me about my day.

We got into the habit of sending each other voice notes and keeping each other updated on our daily lives. Sometimes, I would rant to him if I had a bad day at work, and he was always there to listen and validate my emotions. He’d tell me about his family, his dog, and his friends.

But never in my wildest dreams did I imagine he would break up with me via voice note while I was on a work trip abroad.

We had gotten into a fight right before my trip

I expressed that I didn’t like it when he had no plan for our dates in advance. We started bickering about gender roles in relationships, and then our fight escalated.

I felt angry that we were bickering over something in texts that was supposed to be an in-person conversation and was only getting worse. But at no point did I think something so silly could lead us to call things off.

I thought it would be good to spend 10 days apart. I traveled to Tbilisi, Georgia, for work, which was a seven-hour flight away from him.

But five days later, during my trip, I decided to send a voice note, apologizing. I’m an only child, and as a kid, whenever my needs were unmet by my emotionally unavailable parents, my coping mechanism was to throw a tantrum to get them to notice my needs. Hence, when I felt like he wasn’t meeting my needs, I bull-dozed into complaining rather than healthily addressing it. He sent a voice note back, breaking up with me.

Of course, it was confusing and painful. I couldn’t believe it was real. I cried for two weeks straight after the breakup.

The pain still haunts me

Finding out I was single again via a voice note was hard. I understand that no one really owes anyone anything for just two months of dating, but I still feel like I deserved a face-to-face conversation. It felt like my feelings didn’t matter in this scenario.

Related stories

But I’m proud of myself because I was vulnerable for the first time in a relationship, especially during those breakup voice note exchanges. Before that, I was always playing the chill, cool girl who just didn’t care because I wanted to hold the power. I am also proud that I didn’t try to get him to change his mind once he said that he wanted to break up. A previous version of me would have done that.

Plus, I definitely won’t be sending constant voice notes in the future when I have just started dating someone. I realized it builds a false sense of intimacy. We got into a pattern of constant voice notes because I was anxious that he would be dating other people, so I wanted to know what he was doing throughout the day. I can see that now — now that I’ve had some space from this experience.

Thankfully, I’ve learned to be more secure in my relationships. Moving forward, I plan to move important conversations about relationships out of the phone and prioritize connection via in-person experiences.

• Montana contractors are struggling to hire due to a construction labor shortage.
• Many contractors say they are actively recruiting Gen Z to get more young people into trades.
• Some firms have apprenticeship programs that help young workers learn on the job.

Although Montana’s population has grown considerably in recent years, it’s facing worker shortages in several trades, according to a September report from the Montana Department of Labor and Industry.

Construction and healthcare were identified by Sarah Swanson, the department commissioner, as industries that would « need considerably more employees between now and 2032. »

Contractors say that although demand for construction in Montana is strong, they can’t hire enough people to keep up with all the potential work.

Now some Montana contractors are investing in recruiting efforts to attract more workers to the field, including by launching educational and apprenticeship programs and visiting high schools to encourage Gen Zers to consider construction as a career.

« We’re trying to prove and show that these hands-on careers do have value, » Bill Ryan, the education coordinator at Dick Anderson Construction, one of the largest contractors in Montana, told Business Insider.

« The tide is turning a little bit, » he said. « We’re starting to see more Gen Z consider going into trades. »

Contractors are raising wages to attract workers

The construction labor shortage is not just hitting Montana, putting added pressure on contractors trying to hire.

Brian Turmail, the vice president of public affairs and workforce at the Associated General Contractors of America, told BI contractors around the US are struggling to fill roles.

AGC’s annual workforce survey released in December found 94% of contractors said they had openings that were difficult to fill.

Ken Simonson, the chief economist at AGC, told BI that the number of workers in construction in Montana grew by 7% year-over-year as of October, compared to 3% growth nationally. Even as the sector is growing in the state, there’s still more roles to fill.

Turmail said one factor driving the shortage is not unique to construction: an aging workforce.

« We just have a lot of people hanging up the tool belts and moving off to Florida to retire, » he said.

He said there’s also been about 40 years of federal government policy that focused on encouraging every student in America to go to college to get a four-year degree and work in the « knowledge economy. »

As a result, he said there’s been underinvestment in vocational or technical training, and in turn fewer young people pursing trades.

Some construction companies have tried to draw more people to the field with proactive recruiting efforts and higher wages — including trying to attract workers from out of state. Montana has already lured a high number transplants in part due to a relatively lower cost of living, especially when compared to a state like California, where many have moved from.

Ian Baylon, a tradesman from California, told BI earlier this year that when he visited Montana in 2022 and was considering moving there, he decided on a whim to see if anyone was hiring.

When he reached out to a company about an opening, they quickly invited him in for an interview. A week later when he was back home, they offered him the job — matching his Bay Area salary, plus moving costs and other perks.

In Montana, wage growth in construction grew annually by an average of 0.6% from 2020 to 2023, according to the state government report, with an average salary of $67,386.

Still, some say the growth in wages has not been enough to keep up with the rising costs of living in the state. An analysis by Construction Coverage, an industry site that reviews construction software and other services, found the average construction worker in Montana would need to work 68 hours a week to afford a median-priced home.

Noah Clayton/Getty Images

Apprenticeship programs allow young workers to ‘earn and learn’

Two of the largest contractors in Montana told BI that folks interested in getting into construction do not need any experience in the industry to get hired — they can learn on the job.

Representatives of both companies, Dick Anderson and Sletten Construction, said they also have dedicated apprenticeship programs that are a draw for new workers to the field, especially young people.

Ryan, of Dick Anderson, said he was hired by the company in 2021 to develop an education program that would help attract and retain employees. The four-year apprenticeship program allows employees to work and earn while also enrolling in classes at a college they partner with. Students who complete the program can come out of it with an associates degree, real work experience, and actual earnings.

While jobs in construction do not require an associates degree, Ryan said they can help with career advancement and promotions, as well as satisfy a desire to pursue some level of college.

« When we are talking to young people and mom and dad are saying, ‘You’re not going to work. You need to go to college,’ we can at least say, ‘Well, what if they’re doing both at the same time?' »

Michelle Cohens, who works in human resource management at Sletten, said the company also has a four-year apprenticeship program that allows employees to « earn and learn. » Employees in the program also take a week several times a year to do trainings with the union, and then come back and hop right back into work.

Both companies said they’ve developed relationships with high schools and high school educators to help reach young people, who they said seem increasingly open to forgoing college and considering trades.

After several years of trying to get in front of students, Cohens said the efforts do seem to be paying off, with more reaching out about jobs. She said young people are drawn in by the chance to work with their hands rather than sit at a computer all day, and the chance to avoid taking on student loans.

« We highlight how good paying jobs they are, how you can get into the trades right out of high school or without any true knowledge, » she said, adding, « You’re not paying us to learn, we’re paying you to learn. »

David Smith, executive director of the Montana Contractors’ Association, said companies are also evolving their culture to meet Gen Z workers where they’re at. Young people today, he said, don’t necessarily want to work 55 hour weeks in the summer. They want breaks. They want to take time off.

In the last five or ten years contractors have realized « you can’t just throw a job out there and say, ‘Hey, we pay big wages,' » he said. « You’ve got to have other things, and the construction world has to think differently too. »

Have a news tip or a story to share? Contact this reporter at kvlamis@businessinsider.com.

• A series of NATO air policing missions around Estonia has seen F-35 and Rafale jets called into action.
• French Rafale jets intercepted a Russian IL-18 aircraft off Estonia’s coast on Friday.
• Dutch F-35s intercepted three Russian aircraft over the Baltic Sea last week.

A series of recent NATO air policing missions around Estonia has seen Dutch and French fighter jets called into action to intercept Russian aircraft.

Two French Rafale jets intercepted a Russian Ilyushin Il-18 airliner off the coast of Estonia on Friday, the General Staff of the French Armed Forces said in a post on X.

NATO Air Command said the mission was the Rafale’s first scramble since it began an air policing mission based out of Šiauliai, Lithuania.

It comes after Dutch F-35 fighter jets intercepted a number of Russian aircraft over the Baltic Sea last week.

The Dutch defense ministry said two F-35s stationed in Estonia were scrambled after three Russian planes — an Antonov An-72, a Su-24, and an Ilyushin Il-20 — were identified in the region.

Dutch F-35s have been keeping a watch over NATO airspace on the alliance’s eastern flank since the start of December, the ministry said.

It’s not the first time such an incident has occurred in recent months.

Norwegian F-35s were called into action in November in response to Russian aircraft « not adhering to international norms » off the coast of Norway, NATO’s Air Command said at the time.

Italy’s air force also intercepted a Russian Coot-A plane flying over the Baltic Sea on the same day.

The Rafale

The Dassault Rafale is a French twin-jet fighter aircraft that can operate from both an aircraft carrier and a land base.

Related stories

It entered service with the French Navy in 2004 and with the French Air Force in 2006.

It is used to carry out a variety of missions, including air policing, deep strikes, and reconnaissance, according to the manufacturer.

The F-35

The F-35, which is billed as the « most advanced fighter jet in the world » by manufacturer Lockheed Martin, has faced criticism from Elon Musk.

The Tesla CEO said on X in late November that the jet’s design « was broken at the requirements level, because it was required to be too many things to too many people. »

« This made it an expensive & complex jack of all trades, master of none. Success was never in the set of possible outcomes, » Musk wrote, adding: « And manned fighter jets are obsolete in the age of drones anyway. Will just get pilots killed. »

Some reports have suggested that Musk may be eyeing the F-35 program, and possibly other fighter jets, for potential spending cuts through his role in the Department of Government Efficiency.

Although he would likely face an uphill battle to do so, as Business Insider previously reported.

• The infamous « lock-in » effect that’s restricting home supply may be going away next year.
• Realtor.com‘s chief economist expects more homeowners to list their homes for sale in 2025.
• High levels of home equity and life changes will encourage home sales, Danielle Hale said.

2024 has been a tough year for homebuyers.

Affordability levels are still low with elevated home prices and mortgage rates. A huge jump in mortgage rates to around 6.8% today from under 3% in 2022 has also created a « lock-in » effect, where existing homeowners don’t want to sell into a higher mortgage rate environment than when many of them bought — further limiting home inventory coming onto the market and sending prices soaring even higher.

There’s reason to be optimistic, though. The US housing market will see more favorable buying conditions in 2025, according to Danielle Hale, chief economist at Realtor.com. Hale sees two trends that will help encourage existing homeowners to put their homes up for sale.

Existing homeowners have built up home equity

Existing homeowners have reaped big home equity gains in recent years thanks to rapidly rising home values.

Homeowners are also increasing their home equity by making monthly mortgage payments, as those who bought houses a few years ago have had the opportunity to make a sizable dent in their mortgage, Hale said. Homeowners with a smaller mortgage balance may be less sensitive to the higher interest-rate environment of today’s housing market.

According to Lawrence Yun, chief economist of the National Association of Realtors, homeowners are feeling richer now thanks to the home equity they’ve accumulated over the last few years of dizzying home price increases. As a result, more listings are being put on the market.

Homeowners can put their home equity to work when they move and buy a new house.

« If they’re using their home equity to make a move, that enables them to either be a cash buyer or take out a very small mortgage, » Hale said. « That gives them a bit more flexibility in today’s market. »

Mortgage rates may become less important to buyers and sellers

Homebuying decisions can also be influenced by factors other than mortgage rates or home prices, according to Hale.

The more time that passes since a homeowner’s initial purchase, the more likely it is that they’ll have a life change requiring them to move, regardless of the cost of moving, Hale said.

People buy houses for reasons other than financial ones, Hale pointed out. Big life changes that could spur a move include a new job, retirement, marriage, or having children.

« All of these can be reasons that people might make a move even if the costs are more expensive to buy a home, » Hale said.

Additionally, consumers might be getting accustomed to high mortgage rates, according to Redfin.

« Buyers realized mortgage rates may not drop below 5%, and probably not below 6%, in the near future, » Mimi Trieu, a Redfin real-estate agent, said. Existing homeowners holding off on moving due to high mortgage rates may soon give up on waiting it out.

Related stories

A more « buyer-friendly » housing market

These changes won’t be immediate, but they will have a noticeable impact on the housing market, according to Hale. She believes that the housing market is trending in a more « buyer-friendly direction. »

« It’s going to take more time, » Hale said of the lock-in effect. « But as it diminishes, that’s going to free up more sellers. »

Lower interest rates — and subsequently, lower mortgage rates — would certainly speed up the erosion of the lock-in effect, Hale said. However, even if mortgage rates hover around the 6% range in 2025, which is what Realtor.com expects, the lock-in effect will still fade.

Homebuyers could see a notable change by the end of next year, Hale predicted.

« In mid-2024, 84% of homeowners with a mortgage had a mortgage rate under 6%. We think that by the end of 2025, that share will be 75%, » Hale said.

Johnny Manziel — 2012 Heisman winner

In 2012, Manziel became the first freshman to win the Heisman Trophy after a stellar season at Texas A&M.

Nicknamed « Johnny Football, » Manziel threw for 3,706 yards and 26 touchdowns and rushed 1,410 yards for an additional 21 touchdowns. He returned to the Aggies the following year and finished the season with 4,114 passing yards for 37 touchdowns, and 759 rushing yards for nine touchdowns.

After just two collegiate seasons, Manziel declared for the NFL Draft and was selected 22nd overall by the Cleveland Browns in 2014.

But before he could take his first NFL snap, Cleveland.com reported that the Browns were « alarmed » by Manziel’s off-field partying. His troubles continued into the season, from flashing an obscene gesture at the Washington bench during a preseason game in August to seeking treatment in January 2015.

In the post-game press conference, Manziel said he gets « words exchanged » with him throughout every game, adding, « I should’ve been smarter … I need to be smarter than that. There’s always words exchanged on the football field. » He also described the moment as a « lapse in judgement. »

He finished his rookie year having played in just five games, passing for 175 yards, no touchdowns, and two interceptions for a passer rating of 42.0. Manziel returned to Cleveland the following season, where he played in nine games and passed for 1,500 yards and seven touchdowns.

However, it was off-field troubles that continued to plague Manziel’s career, including a 2016 misdemeanor domestic violence charge. ESPN reported that the charges were dismissed in November 2017 after Manziel met the requirements of a dismissal agreement.

The Browns released Manziel in March 2016.

« When I got to Cleveland, I wasn’t in this head space to be able to just go play football, » Manziel told Business Insider’s Meredith Cash in 2023. « I was struggling to get out of bed in the morning. I was struggling to fight thoughts and feelings that I had never really had before in my life. »

« I know that I’m still gonna walk down the street or go to a restaurant or go to a football game and people are still gonna recognize me, » Manziel added. « But at the end of the day, I wanna live a more normal, simplistic lifestyle now. I’m finding things that truly do make me happy without having to be in a spotlight every day. »

Manziel did not reply to Business Insider’s request for additional comment for this story.

• Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour raked in over $2 billion, more than any tour in history.
• One of the reasons: She capitalized on some of her most popular spots with « mini-residencies. »
• Here’s a look at Swift’s touring strategy and how it’s made her so rich.

Taylor Swift wrapped up her Eras Tour in Vancouver last week — and it grossed more than any tour in history.

With 149 dates across 21 countries, the Eras Tour earned more than $2 billion, according to Pollstar. While that 10-figure sum is in large part due to the sheer number of shows she played — she said the tour was attended by over 10 million people — there was a strategy to her touring that helped her maximize the profits from each stop.

Swift spent eight nights in London and six in cities like Toronto, Los Angeles, and Singapore. Meanwhile, she skipped nearby cities that she visited on past tours, like Ottawa and Pasadena.

These mini-residencies likely added millions of dollars to her personal bottom line. 

The underlying business assumption was that Swifties would travel and pay big bucks for tickets, no matter where she performed. It turned out to be correct: All of her shows were sold out. Playing in fewer cities meant less money spent on production, travel, and labor — which in turn meant more profit for Swift and her team.

« It significantly reduces the overhead of a tour, » Nathan Hubbard, the former CEO of Ticketmaster who founded the management firm Firebird, told Business Insider. « Think about the cost of taking down an entire stage, packing up 50 trucks, moving it all to another town. Every night you can avoid striking the set saves millions of dollars. »

Swift’s representatives did not respond to a request for comment.

Swift isn’t the first performer to employ this strategy.

Harry Styles tested it with his 15-night runs at New York’s Madison Square Garden and Los Angeles’ Kia Forum, an extension of the Las Vegas residencies that have long minted millions for stars.

« Coming out of Covid, the largest artists understand that their fan bases will travel to be with them, » Hubbard said. « Previously, this was just happening in Las Vegas. But so many of these cities can be a fun excursion for a fan and their friends. That’s driving a lot of what we’re seeing in the evolution of touring right now. »

BI spoke with several fans who said they traveled out of state to see and across the Atlantic to see Swift perform.

« I probably would’ve come to Scotland at one point, but it was the concert that got me here, » one Swiftie from Minneapolis told BI.

« We said to ourselves, ‘Let’s just go and have an adventure, » her friend added. « Tickets are outrageously expensive in the US, and this entire trip for both of us was cheaper than our friends back home paid. »

Of course, it’s a delicate balance. Swift is considered among the pop stars most in touch with her fans and wouldn’t want to alienate anyone by skipping over their local venues. But with nearly 150 shows in 50-plus cities, it would be hard to complain about her doing a few extra nights in one place and passing over another.

Plus, she’s charged less — an average of about $219 per ticket, per Pollstar — than she could have. The average resale price for the North American leg of her tour was $3,801, Pitchfork reported.

And she’s not the only one profiting.

The Common Sense Institute said that « the totality of Taylor Swift’s US tour could generate $4.6 billion in total consumer spending, larger than the GDP of 35 countries. » In Europe, the total figure will surely be impressive as well.

Turns out that she’s an industry disruptor — if not the smooth-talking huckster — after all.

• I was invited to be a guest on « Top Chef » earlier this year in Wisconsin.
• My invitation didn’t provide many details, and I signed a non-disclosure agreement when I arrived.
• The chefs all served their dishes at different times to keep them hot, and the judging felt fair.

As a journalist who’s covered food, travel, and entertainment for nearly two decades, I was invited to participate in the production of « Top Chef: Wisconsin » earlier this year.

I wasn’t given many details, but I was able to choose from a list of dates that corresponded with different episodes. I selected a Friday in September and made plans to fly into Milwaukee, where it was being filmed, the day before.

Here are a few things that surprised me about being a guest on « Top Chef. »

With vague descriptions and NDAs, a lot of effort was made to prevent spoilers

Jennifer Chang (NBCUniversal )

I received an email three days before filming letting me know I’d be participating in the 10th episode of the season, which would be a Door County fish boil.

It said the filming location was a 20-minute drive from the Pfister Hotel in downtown Milwaukee, where guest judges were staying.

Production said I’d need to be on set from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and this would be an outdoor event requiring me to stand and walk during service.

Lastly, I was advised that this would be a seafood-focused challenge, and chefs would not be able to accommodate any allergies or dietary restrictions.

The night before the big day, I received a call sheet with more specific directions to the filming location.

When I arrived, my credentials were checked before I was let onto the set. The production team had me sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA), then briefed me on more details of the challenge.

Once I was on set, though, filming felt somewhat laid-back

As contestants cooked, we could get drinks from the on-set bar. We were also able to get name-brand snacks and beverages from production’s craft services but were told to keep those off of the set.

Related stories

The production crew also reminded us to mingle and keep our phones away to help create a buzzy atmosphere.

Contestants staggered the start times of their cooks so food was served hot

Jennifer Chang (NBCUniversal )

Although it often looks like contestants are all done at the same time on television, this wasn’t the case while I was on set.

The chefs started and stopped at staggered times so the final dishes would be spaced out and served hot. We walked in behind the judges every 20 minutes or so as a new contestant’s time ran out and they served their dish.

Not all diners got to try food from each chef

When we arrived on set, each guest was assigned two stations to try food from but told we could sit wherever we liked.

I was surprised each of us wasn’t guaranteed to try every dish. Fortunately, my table had diners trying each of the chefs’ food, so we all shared bites.

I agreed with the judges’ decisions, which seemed very fair

Jennifer Chang (NBCUniversal )

It was also cool to see firsthand how judges dissect and discuss the dishes. To me, judging felt very fair — and really seemed all about what’s on the plate.

When watching the episode back, I very much agreed with the judges’ decisions.

• I took a $6.50 ferry to Vashon Island, a scenic spot near Seattle.
• The ferry ride was only 20 minutes long and had beautiful views of the Puget Sound.
• I had a great time on the island and even attended a llama happy hour on one of its farms.

I love exploring the many beautiful islands in Washington state.

Recently, I planned a trip to Vashon Island, one of the largest islands in the Puget Sound, just south of Seattle.

To get there, I booked a 20-minute ferry ride from Seattle on the Washington State Ferry. My ticket was only $6.50 each way.

Here’s what it was like taking the ferry and exploring the island.

• After being diagnosed with bipolar disorder in my 20s, I went through a series of manic episodes.
• During one manic episode, I partied hard, bought a nightclub, and committed a white-collar crime.
• The charges for my crimes hung over my head for years and still affect my life.

I was first diagnosed with bipolar disorder at 27 after I almost took my life during a major depressive episode. Instead, I ended up in a mental hospital for several days.

Seven years earlier, I’d had my first bipolar episode while studying theology. I went from being top of my class to almost failing because of the effects of depression on my mental capacity. A few months after getting out of the mental hospital, I was hit with a major manic episode.

I describe my mania as the rational part of my brain getting turned off and replaced with recklessness, impulsivity, and bad decision-making. This included partying every night at bars and clubs, womanizing, and developing a drug addiction.

In another manic episode, I committed a white-collar crime that changed my life.

I started making money illegally

In Jacksonville, Florida, I met some new party friends who were making way more money than I was.

They explained their healthcare fraud scheme to me, which involved paying illegal kickbacks to patients and doctors for prescriptions for compounded creams used to treat scars, pain, and migraines. We targeted an insurance company that would reimburse anywhere from $10,000 to $30,000. But the compounded creams were specially made by pharmacists and cost a fraction of that to produce.

In 2014, blinded by my mania, I joined the fraud. It was the easiest money I ever made. I partied much harder than I worked, setting up shop in strip clubs at lunchtime and ordering bottle service. I went on lavish party trips to Miami and Las Vegas.

In May 2015, the FBI raided our office and seized computers, paperwork, records, and prescriptions. I got a lawyer and found out I was potentially facing seven years in prison for conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud.

Related stories

I didn’t slow down and continued making poor decisions

I should have listened to my lawyer and slowed down, but after a brief depressive episode, another manic episode ensued. I did the exact opposite of what I was advised. I moved to Austin and bought into an after-hours nightclub.

I was partying harder than ever. I even moved my drug dealer into my spare bedroom to get a discount.

Courtesy of David Funes

Things quickly fell apart, and I blew through hundreds of thousands of dollars — though I didn’t fully comprehend how dire my financial situation was becoming.

Everything crashed around me like a house of cards: I ran my club into the ground, blew through all my money, and was evicted from my condo. I basically became homeless, living out of dirt-cheap hotels.

I found a new psychiatrist who helped me get back on track

I’d seen several psychiatrists over the years who prescribed medications, but I had trouble with the side effects. Thankfully, I was able to see a new psychiatrist who still treats me. He was finally able to put me on the right medications for my situation after years of trial and error.

My condition stabilized, and I was able to get a job in finance. I hadn’t been charged in the fraud case, so it didn’t come up on my background check. I was hoping the government had forgotten about it, but I was finally charged and pleaded guilty in 2019. I was on probation until I received my sentence.

I worked hard for years to get back everything I’d lost while having a potential prison sentence hanging over my head. After I was charged and pleaded guilty, I should have informed my employer. I regret it, but I was scared of being back on the street.

The consequences of my crime still follow me

In January 2023, my employer found out about my conviction and let me go. Having a felony on my record was extremely difficult, and I was turned down for dozens of jobs. I finally got a job as a delivery driver, making one-sixth of what I was making in finance. I had to start my life over a second time, and I moved back in with my family.

After 9 ½ years, I was finally sentenced last week. The judge was merciful and took my mental illness into account — after five years of probation, I was sentenced to time served. It’s still surreal to have my life back after a lost decade.

I’ve done my best to right my many wrongs. I’m living a different lifestyle and haven’t touched drugs in years. I’ve decided my new purpose in life is to let my mess become my message and share my story in hopes of encouraging others who are struggling with mental illness. This year, I started a coaching practice where I’m doing just that, and have begun talking candidly about my struggles with bipolar disorder on social media.

And, for the first time since I lost it nearly 20 years ago, I’ve finally found my inner peace.

You can follow David Funes’ story on social media @bipolarguylovinglife and mybipolarcomeback.com