Mystery life of an FBI big shot

The 12-minute doc has elicited really strong reactions. “I have nothing but the utmost respect for these people,” one person wrote on YouTube. “These guys are made of iron, my hats off to anyone who provides for their family in such harsh circumstances.” Watch it here.

I want to hear from you: What are some other dangerous jobs out there that the rest of us might be taking for granted? Share your thoughts: insidertoday@insider.com.

— Nicholas Carlson

In today’s edition: The FBI is rushing to figure out how deep an ex-agent’s alleged deceit might go, the flight-etiquette debate reignites, and look inside Wall Street’s gloom-and-doom racket. If this was forwarded to you, sign up here.

SOTU, Microsoft, & inflation

• State of the Union takeaways: Joe Biden came out swinging in a raucous, combative speech despite pleas for bipartisanship. Read the full story.
• Americans should expect “a significant decline in inflation” this year, Fed Chair Jerome Powell says. More on that here.
• Microsoft details its “new” search engine, calling it “more powerful than ChatGPT.” The tech giant says “new Bing” will be unlike any other search engine. Here’s what’s under the hood.

Exclusive: The FBI’s McGonigal labyrinth

As Insider exclusively reported, Charlie McGonigal — the FBI’s former head of counterintelligence in New York, who was involved in the Trump-Russia investigation — has come under scrutiny for his own ties to Russia.

McGonigal is now facing two federal indictments. He is charged not with espionage but with lying to the FBI on his official paperwork and illicitly taking money to work for a sanctioned Russian oligarch. The indictments lay out breathtaking allegations of subterfuge and corruption.

But the question of what McGonigal was accepting in a manila envelope, from a former Soviet diplomat, is one of the strangest twists yet in the unfolding scandal. Insider’s senior correspondent Mattathias Schwartz takes us inside the mystery.

TOP READS

Airplane etiquette, Wall Street warning, & more

• Inside Wall Street’s gloom-and-doom racket. A new ecosystem of alarmist analysts is using low-quality data to push dubious investment advice. The economist Neil Dutta shares a warning: If an “expert” says the market is about to crash, check their math. What to know.
• A passenger’s story reignites TikTok’s flight-etiquette debate. Surya Garg was asked to move seats so a mom could sit with her teenage son, but she refused. Here’s how it all played out.
• “I built a ‘tiny house’ hotel that made $860,000 in bookings in its first year.” Isaac French shares how he grew direct bookings and the property’s social media to find early success. His tips for starting a successful short-term-rental business.
• A Philadelphia Eagles player eats 5,500 calories a day to stay at 330 pounds. Right tackle Lane Johnson says he initially had trouble putting on weight but landed on a diet inspired by sumo wrestlers to bulk up. Check out his staple “monster mash” meal.
• Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai is asking all Google employees to help test its ChatGPT rival. Google’s Bard is expected to be similar to ChatGPT, with users able to ask it questions and get a conversational answer in response. Inside Google’s rollout plans.
• Disney is bracing for news about cost cuts and layoffs. One person close to Disney told Insider “they’re going to cut thousands of people,” with senior executives “nervous and anxious.” Inside Disney’s reorganization plans.
• Trump shares photos of DeSantis alleging he partied and drank with high-school girls. Donald Trump reshared the 20-year-old photo of DeSantis as the former president ramps up his attacks against the Florida governor. Read more.
• 12 kitchen trends you’ll regret in a few years. From all-white kitchens to double islands, interior-design experts share the styles you may want to rethink. Find them all here.

TAKE A LOOK

Pulling the Chinese balloon from the ocean

Why bespoke dress shoes are so expensive

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This edition was curated by Nicholas Carlson and edited by Hallam Bullock, Lisa Ryan, Dave Smith, Nathan Rennolds, and Kevin Kaplan. Get in touch: insidertoday@insider.com.