• New data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that female sterilization is the most common form of birth control among women, with 18.6% U.S. women choosing it.
• Sterilization is a permanent procedure that involves blocking the fallopian tubes so sperm cannot reach and fertilize eggs, according to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS).
• Although sterilization is extremely effective at preventing pregnancy, people should consult their healthcare providers and consider the other options available before choosing a permanent contraceptive.

Whether it's a condom, the pill, or an intrauterine device (IUD), the majority of people have used some sort of birth control. In fact, between 2015 and 2017, 46.9 million people who identified as women used some sort of contraceptive, but most common form might surprise you.

According to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), sterilization is the top contraceptive method, with 18.6% of birth control users opting for it. The pill and IUD being the second and third most popular methods respectively.

According to the CDC, sterilization as a birth control method was most common among older women: 39.4% of women in the 40 to 49 age bracket chose sterilization. That said, it was still an option among younger groups, with 21.6% of women between the ages of 30 and 39 and 4.2% of women ages 20 to 29 choosing it as a contraceptive. 

The data also found that sterilization as a birth control method decreased the more educated a person was, while birth control pill usage increased when education level increased.

Sterilization is permanent, so you should be counseled before going through with the procedure

If a person is considering sterilization as their birth control method, it's important to note the method is permanent, since it involves a surgical procedure that blocks a person's fallopian tubes, according to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS).

Read more:5 red flags that could mean you're on the wrong birth control

Female sterilization can be performed two ways: through tubal ligation and tubal implant. Litigation involves what is commonly referred to as "tying a person's tubes" and involves cutting, sealing, and/or tying the fallopian tubes so sperm cannot reach and fertilize an egg.

For tubal implants, the result is the same, but the procedure involves inserting a spring-like coil into the fallopian tubes to create tissue scarring that blocks sperm. Although litigation is effective immediately, implants take longer to work because scarring must develop over time, according to the HHS.

Sterilization is also an extremely effective method of birth control, with less than one in 100 women who get the procedure becoming pregnant. This method is, however, permanent, so someone who is unsure about their future plans for a family may want to consider trying a different contraceptive.

There are other long-acting birth control methods that are not permanent

There are other birth control methods besides sterilization that are also highly effective, but not permanent. According to the CDC's report, long-acting reversible contraceptives, or LARCs, were the third most popular contraceptive method after sterilization and the birth control pill, with 35% of women between ages 15 and 49 choosing it.

LARCs include intrauterine devices (IUDs) like the copper ParaGuard IUD, hormonal Mirena IUD, and hormonal contraceptive implant, according to Planned Parenthood. These long-lasting methods can remain effective for upwards of 10 years and can potentially prevent pregnancy up to 20 times better than methods like the pill, birth control patches, or vaginal rings, Planned Parenthood noted.

While sterilization is an extremely effective method for preventing pregnancy, people should consult their healthcare providers and consider the other options available (there are currently 17 in the United States) before choosing a permanent contraceptive.

Visit INSIDER's homepage for more.

• Read more:
• 4 ways to get birth control that's affordable — or even free
• 10 things you should know before switching birth control
• There are 17 different types of birth control — here's how to pick the best one for you

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NOW WATCH: The true story behind the name 'Black Friday' is much darker than you may have thought

• Pinterest is in the process of talking to bankers as it seeks to choose underwriters for an early 2019 IPO, The Wall Street Journal reported.
• The report comes on the heels of Pinterest hiring former Google and Alibaba exec Jane Penner as its head of investor relations, Business Insider first reported last week.

Pinterest is gearing up for an initial public offering as early as April 2019 and is in the process of talking to bankers as it seeks to choose its underwriters, The Wall Street Journal reported.

The company could be valued at more than $12 billion, sources told the Journal. That's also the level at which Pinterest most recently raised funding.

The report comes on the heels of Pinterest tapping former Google and Alibaba exec Jane Penner to be its head of investor relations, as Business Insider first reported last week.

Read More: Pinterest has nabbed Google and Alibaba's former head of investor relations — the biggest sign yet that it's gearing up for a 2019 IPO

Pinterest has also contacted a number of banks for a credit line that could come in at around $500 million, according to the Journal.

Companies typically reach out to banks for lending in the run-up to an IPO to incentivize them to land a role on the offering. They also hire investor-relations executives a few months before going public.

Pinterest is poised to double its revenue this year to nearly $1 billion, according to a CNBC report from this summer, and has a valuation of $13 billion to $15 billion. In September, it announced it had 250 million monthly users, up from 200 million a year before.

2019 is expected to be a banner year for initial public offerings, with a roster of hopefuls including Uber, Lyft, Slack, and Airbnb.

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The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase.

Christmas is less than a week away. If you haven't finished all of your shopping by now, we won't sugarcoat it — you're running out of time. But you shouldn't panic just yet.

Walmart has a massive selection of giftable items that are guaranteed to arrive before the holiday. Orders placed by December 20 at 2 p.m. local time will arrive by Christmas Eve with free two-day shipping. Alternatively, some items are eligible for in-store pickup.

To save you some much needed time, we rounded up some of the best deals and gift ideas at Walmart.

Shop all two-day delivery deals at Walmart now.

Still shopping for more gifts? Check out all of Insider Picks' holiday gift guides for 2018 here.


A premium electric wet and dry shaver

Braun Series 7 Electric Shaver, $169.95 (Originally $229.94) [You save $59.99]

An iPad

Apple iPad (Latest Model) 32GB Wi-Fi, $229 (Originally $329.99) [You save $100.99]

An air fryer

Farberware 3.2-Quart Oil-Less Multi-Functional Fryer, $59.88 (Originally $99) [You save $39.12]

• Celebrities wore a lot of glamorous red-carpet looks in 2018.
• Pastel dresses and long trains seemed to be popular this year among stars like Sza, Cardi B, and Lady Gaga.
• Other celebrities, such as Janelle Monáe and Issa Rae, put glam twists on simple pantsuits.
• Classic tuxedos and velvet ensembles also became red-carpet staples.

Red-carpet fashion was all about glitz and grandeur in 2018.

Some of the most glamorous looks included a variety of show-stopping ball gowns, detailed suits, and sparkling dresses. Pastel ensembles were also extremely popular, and dresses with long trains sparked a trend that's still going strong in the fashion industry.

From the Golden Globes to the Met Gala, these were the most glamorous red-carpet looks worn by celebrities in 2018.

Starting off the year, Kendall Jenner wore a high-low ball gown to the January Golden Globes.

Jenner wore a voluminous, textured black dress with strappy black heels.

However, some people focused more on the model's acne after she walked the red carpet. Jenner replied to the comments on Twitter, saying that things like skin blemishes should never stop you.

Actress Octavia Spencer looked elegant in a sparkly, empire-waist dress.

Spencer chose to wear a black ensemble in support of the Times Up movement, as did most attendees of the 2018 Golden Globes.

Emma Roberts looked chic in white while attending the Critics' Choice Awards in January.

Roberts wore her glamorous Hollywood-style gown with a new hairstyle, though some people had mixed feelings about her short bangs.

This is a preview of a research report from Business Insider Intelligence, Business Insider's premium research service. To learn more about Business Insider Intelligence, click here.

Edge computing solutions are key tools that help companies grapple with rising data volumes across industries. These types of solutions are critical in allowing companies to gain more control over the data their IoT devices create and in reducing their reliance on (and the costs of) cloud computing.

These systems are becoming more sought-after — 40% of companies that provide IoT solutions reported that edge computing came up more in discussion with customers in 2017 than the year before, according to Business Insider Intelligence’s 2017 Global IoT Executive Survey. But companies need to know whether they should look into edge computing solutions, and what in particular they can hope to gain from shifting data processing and analysis from the cloud to the edge.

There are three particular types of problems that edge computing solutions are helping to combat across industries:

• Security issues. Edge computing can limit the exposure of critical data by minimizing how often it’s transmitted. Further, they pre-process data, so there’s less data to secure overall.
• Access issues. These systems help to provide live insights regardless of whether there’s a network connection available, greatly expanding where companies and organizations can use connected devices and the data they generate.
• Transmission efficiency. Edge computing solutions process data where it’s created so less needs to be sent to the cloud, leading to lower cloud storage requirements and reduced transmission cost.

In this report, Business Insider Intelligence examines how edge computing is reducing companies' reliance on cloud computing in three key industries: healthcare, telecommunications, and the automotive space. We explore how these systems mitigate issues in each sector by helping to efficiently process growing troves of data, expanding the potential realms of IoT solutions a company can offer, and bringing enhanced computing capability to remote and mobile platforms.

Here are some key takeaways from the report:

• In healthcare, companies and organizations are using edge computing to improve telemedicine and remote monitoring capabilities.
• For telecommunications companies, edge computing is helping to reduce network congestion and enabling a shift toward the IoT platform market.
• And in the automotive space, edge computing systems are enabling companies to increase the capabilities of connected cars and trucks and approach autonomy.

In full, the report:

• Explores the key advantages edge computing solutions can provide.
• Highlights the circumstances when companies should look into edge systems.
• Identifies key vendors and partners in specific industries while showcasing case studies of successful edge computing programs.

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• A whistleblower says engineers have secretly replaced bolts on New York's new Mario Cuomo bridge to hide the faults from inspectors, NBC4NY reported Wednesday. 
• The state's attorney general is investing the 60 failed bolts (out of more than a million on the entire bridge.)
• The Mario Cuomo Bridge, which cost $3.98 billion, has been mired in controversy ever since it opened last year. 

A small team of engineers worked under the cover of darkness to replace failing bolts on one of New York’s newest bridges, NBC4NY reported Wednesday.

Sixty bolts out of more than a million total are known to have failed on the newly opened Mario Cuomo Bridge, located on the Hudson River about 25 miles north of New York City.

An NBC4NY investigation revealed that more failed bolts may have been secretly repaired.

According to a safety inspector turned whistleblower, a handful of workers were covertly replacing broken bolts under the cover of darkness before safety inspections could take place, NBC4NY reported. 

The New York attorney general’s office has been investigating the faulty bolts. The construction company that built the bridge says it’s cooperating and that its work is completely safe. One engineering expert told NBC there’s likely no chance of collapse — just inflated maintenance costs throughout the bridge’s lifespan.

In a statement to the New York Times, Tappan Zee Constructors said: "all bolt testing performed by multiple parties indicates there is not an issue with the bolts."

"TZC has not been provided with, nor is it aware of, any information that is contrary to these bolt testing results," it continued. “TZC has demonstrated a constant willingness to address any additional issues and will continue to do so."

The issue could end up being similar to one which plagued the Bay Bridge across the San Francisco Bay, costing an additional $4.3 million to replace faulty anchors. The builder, in that case, avoided any legal punishment for the problems.

The Mario Cuomo Bridge, which replaced the 50-year-old Tappan Zee Bridge, has been mired in controversy ever since the idea was conceived. Critics were quick to attack Governor Andrew Cuomo for re-naming the new crossing after his father and former governor. Others said the opening of the $3.98 billion bridge was intentionally sped up to happen before the primary race in which Cuomo defeated challenger Cynthia Nixon.

Read more: Virgin Hyperloop One's new CEO has run subway systems and bike-sharing companies around the world — now he’s focused on making Elon Musk's dream a reality.

In 2016, a crane collapsed while contracting the new spans, injuring three motorists and adding headaches to 

"Ninety-percent of the time these things are tracked down and found not to be the big problem someone thought in the beginning," the MIT engineer told NBC4NY. "Ten percent of the time it might end up being a big problem and then it really gets into who is the one who didn’t pay attention to what was going on."

A thruway spokesperson told the New York Times that "the bridge is completely safe for the traveling public."

SEE ALSO: At least three people are injured after a crane collapsed on New York's Tappan Zee bridge

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NOW WATCH: This spray paint lights up at the flip of a switch, but it's not glow-in-the-dark

• The next step for The Boring Company is to show that it can send a large number of vehicles through a tunnel at high speeds, founder Elon Musk said on Wednesday via Twitter.
• "Next step for @BoringCompany Loop is demonstrating high throughput at high speed. Target is 4000 vehicles/hour at 155mph (250km/h)," he said.
• Musk also said the company will offer vehicles in a range of sizes for passengers in its proposed underground tunnel system.

Elon Musk revealed what's next for The Boring Company in a series of tweets on Wednesday, a day after he demonstrated how the underground tunnels the startup is developing would operate in Los Angeles.

"Next step for @BoringCompany Loop is demonstrating high throughput at high speed. Target is 4000 vehicles/hour at 155mph (250km/h)," he said.

Musk said the company will offer vehicles in a range of sizes for passengers in its proposed underground tunnel system.

"A variety of vehicles, like normal roads, from a small car to a densely seated bus. Must be seated & belted for high speed safety," he said.

Read more: A rail-guided Tesla and flamethrowers: Inside Elon Musk's exclusive Boring Company tunnel launch party

Musk then said the company's vehicles could carry over 100,000 people per hour through one of its tunnels if the vehicles resembled "densely seated" buses, but said the company would instead focus on providing a range of vehicle options for customers.

"If all vehicles were densely seated buses, throughput in excess of 100,000 people per hour per lane is possible, but better to offer a range of vehicles & let people decide what makes them happy," he said.

The Boring Company, which was founded to dig tunnels for the proposed Loop and Hyperloop transit systems, unveiled its first test tunnel in Hawthorne, California, on Tuesday. The company has so far won a bid to build a tunnel for the Loop transit system in Chicago and has proposed building tunnels in Los Angeles, New York, Baltimore, and Washington, DC. (Musk has suggested the company could also build a tunnel in San Francisco.)

The Boring Company has received approval to dig a 10.3-mile tunnel beneath Baltimore and begin preliminary work in Washington, DC.

Hyperloop, first proposed by Musk in a 2013 white paper, would carry passengers in pods at speeds of over 600 mph. Loop resembles Hyperloop but would be used for shorter distances that require slower speeds. Musk has said Loop pods would hold 16 people and travel at 150 mph. He has also said a Loop system could be accessed by dozens of small stations that would transport passengers underground and take up as much space as a parking spot.

• Read more about The Boring Company:
• Watch a Tesla rocket through Elon Musk's new neon-lit Boring Company tunnel
• Some SpaceX investors are reportedly concerned Elon Musk is using their money for his Boring Company venture
• Elon Musk lays out his plan for '100 layers' of Boring Company tunnels beneath the streets of Los Angeles
• Elon Musk's high-speed Chicago tunnel proposal makes no sense

SEE ALSO: Virgin Hyperloop One's new CEO has run subway systems and bike-sharing companies around the world — now he’s focused on making Elon Musk's dream a reality

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• After a shaky start, wearables like smartwatches and fitness trackers have gained traction in healthcare, with US consumer use jumping from 9% in 2014 to 33% in 2018.
• More than 80% of consumers are willing to wear tech that measures health data — and penetration should continue to climb.
• The maturation of the wearable market will put more wearables in the hands of consumers and US businesses.

The US healthcare industry as it exists today is not sustainable. An aging patient population and rising burden of chronic disease have caused healthcare costs to skyrocket and left providers struggling to keep up with demand for care. 

Meanwhile, digital technologies in nearly every consumer experience outside of healthcare have raised patients’ expectations for good service to be higher than ever.

One of the key mechanisms through which healthcare providers can finally evolve their outdated practices and exceed these expectations is wearable technology.

Presently, 33% of US consumers have adopted wearables, such as smartwatches and fitness trackers, to play a more active role in managing their health. In turn, insurers, providers, and employers are poised to become just as active leveraging these devices – and the data they capture – to abandon the traditional reimbursement model and improve patient outcomes with personalized, value-based care.

Adoption is going to keep climbing, as more than 80% of consumers are willing to wear tech that measures health data, according to Accenture — though they have reservations about who exactly should access it.

A new report from Business Insider Intelligence, Business Insider’s premium research service, follows the growing adoption of wearables and breadth of functions they offer to outline how healthcare organizations and stakeholders can overcome this challenge and add greater value with wearable technology.

For insurers, providers, and employers, wearables present three distinct opportunities:

• Insurers can use wearable data to enhance risk assessments and drive customer lifetime value. One study shows that wearables can incentivize healthier behavior associated with a 30% reduction in risk of cardiovascular events and death.
• Providers can use the remote patient monitoring capabilities of wearable technology to improve chronic disease management, lessen the burden of staff shortages, and navigate a changing reimbursement model. And since 90% of patients no longer feel obligated to stay with providers that don't deliver a satisfactory digital experience, wearables could help to attract and retain them.
• Employers can combine wearables with cash incentives to lower insurance costs and improve employee productivity. For example, The Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority yielded $5 million in healthcare cost savings through a wearable-based employee wellness program.

Want to Learn More?

The Wearables in US Healthcare Report details the current and future market landscape of wearables in the US healthcare sector. It explores the key drivers behind wearable usage by insurers, healthcare providers, and employers, and the opportunities wearables afford to each of these stakeholders. 

By outlining a successful case study from each stakeholder, the report highlights best practices in implementing wearables to reduce healthcare claims, improve patient outcomes, and drive insurance cost savings, as well as how the evolution of the market will create new, untapped opportunities for businesses.

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• Staff members at the Denver International Airport are caring for a college student's pet fish after Southwest Airlines would not let her fly with the animal prior to boarding a flight last week, USA Today has reported.
• "The fish was found at the airport last week by an airport employee and turned in to an information booth (as is common with lost and found items)," The Denver International Airport told USA Today in a statement.
• "We’ve been in touch with Lanice and she is making arrangements to get him back," the statement adds.
• Southwest's pet policy website states that only "small vaccinated domestic cats and dogs" are allowed to be taken on board flights, and they must be placed under the seat in front of their owner.

Staff members at the Denver International Airport are caring for a college student's pet fish after Southwest Airlines would not let the animal board one of its flights last week, USA Today reported.

As Business Insider reported last week, according to ABC 10 News San Diego, University of Colorado student Lanice Powless was traveling from Denver to San Diego on December 12 when she said that a Southwest staff member did not allow her to board the flight with her pink male beta fish, Cassie.

But the airport's staff was there to help.

"The fish was found at the airport last week by an airport employee and turned in to an information booth (as is common with lost and found items)," The Denver International Airport told USA Today in a statement.

"Since then, our great customer service team has been taking care of Cassie until we (can) reunite him with Lanice. We’ve been in touch with Lanice and she is making arrangements to get him back."

Read more:Southwest Airlines apologizes after an agent mocked a 5-year-old girl with epilepsy whose name is Abcde

According to the Transportation Security Administration, live fish in water are allowed as carry-on items as long as they are in "a clear transparent container" that can be inspected by a TSA officer. Live fish are not allowed in checked baggage.

But Southwest's pet policy website states that only "small vaccinated domestic cats and dogs" are allowed to be taken on board flights, and they must be placed under the seat in front of their owner.

Powless was initially dismayed at the thought of losing her pet fish prior to the flight.

"Everyone's laughing at me. Yes, it's a fish. I know. But dang, it was my pet. And just because it wasn't a cat or dog, it wasn't as important?" Powless said to ABC 10 San Diego.

In a letter to mom, Cassie reports that he is safe and sound at the airport.

Here's the letter in its entirety:

"Dear Mom,

I've been having fun here at Denver International Airport. This place is great! There are lots of fun people. The food is delicious and there are tons of animals to play with — especially dogs! I've gotten my Christmas shopping done! Everyone has been really nice to me and has been taking good care of me. But I'm ready to come home.

Can you please call 303-342-2250 and make arrangements to pick me up?

Love,

Cassie."

SEE ALSO: A Southwest Airlines passenger said she had to leave her pet fish behind at the airport after staff reportedly wouldn't allow her to board with it

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This is a preview of a research report from Business Insider Intelligence, Business Insider's premium research service. To learn more about Business Insider Intelligence, click here.

The healthcare industry is undergoing a profound transformation. Costs are skyrocketing, consumer demand for more accessible care is growing rapidly, and healthcare companies are unable to keep up. 

Health organizations are increasingly turning to tech companies to facilitate this transformation in care delivery and lower health expenditures. The potential for tech-led digital health initiatives to help healthcare providers and insurers deliver safer, more efficient, and cost-effective care is significant. For healthcare organizations of all types, the collection, analyses, and application of patient data can minimize avoidable service use, improve health outcomes, and promote patient independence, which can assuage swelling costs.

For their part, the "Big Four" tech companies — Google-parent Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, and Microsoft — see an opportunity to tap into the lucrative health market. These same players are accelerating their efforts to reshape healthcare by developing and collaborating on new tools for consumers, medical professionals, and insurers.

In this report, Business Insider Intelligence explores the key strengths and offerings the Big Four will bring to the healthcare industry, as well as their approaches into the market. We'll then explore how these services and solutions are creating opportunities for health systems and insurers. Finally, the report will outline the barriers that are inhibiting the adoption and usage of the Big Four tech companies’ offerings and how these barriers can be circumvented.

Here are some of the key takeaways from the report:

• Tech companies’ expertise in data management and analysis, along with their significant compute power, can help support healthcare payers, health systems, and consumers by providing a broader overview of how health is accessed and delivered.

• Each of the Big Four tech companies — vying for a piece of the lucrative healthcare market — is leaning on their specific field of expertise to develop tools and solutions for consumers, providers, and payers.
• Alphabet is focused on leveraging its dominance in data storage and analytics to become the leader in population health.
• Amazon is leaning on its experience as a distribution platform for medical supplies, and developing its AI-assistant Alexa as an in-home health concierge.
• Apple is actively turning its consumer products into patient health hubs.
• Microsoft is focusing on cloud storage and analytics to tap into precision medicine.

• Health organizations can further tap into the opportunity presented by tech’s entry into healthcare by collaborating with tech giants to realize cost savings and bolster their top lines. But understanding how each tech giant is approaching healthcare is crucial.

 In full, the report:

• Pinpoints the key themes and industry-wide shifts that are driving the transformation of healthcare in the US.
• Defines the main healthcare businesses and strategies of the Big Four tech companies.
• Highlights the biggest potential impacts of each of the Big Four’s healthcare strategies for health systems and insurers.
• Discusses the potential barriers that will challenge the adoption of the Big Four tech companies’ initiatives and how these hurdles can be overcome.

SEE ALSO: 

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• Special counsel Robert Mueller's office has reached out to the House Intelligence Committee, seeking an official transcript of Roger Stone's testimony to the panel, according to The Washington Post.
• Such a move could signal that federal prosecutors are wrapping up their investigation of the longtime confidant to Donald Trump.
• Stone, who provided informal help to Trump's 2016 presidential campaign, has come under scrutiny from the special counsel's office, as it investigates Russian interference in the 2016 election, including possible collusion with the Trump campaign.

Special counsel Robert Mueller's office has reached out to the House Intelligence Committee, seeking an official transcript of Roger Stone's testimony to the panel, according to The Washington Post. Such a move could signal that federal prosecutors are wrapping up their investigation of the longtime confidant to Donald Trump.

Stone, who provided informal help to Trump's 2016 presidential campaign, has come under scrutiny from the special counsel's office, as it investigates Russian interference in the 2016 election, including possible collusion with the Trump campaign — including whether the Trump campaign knew about the WikiLeaks release of emails from Democratic operatives, which were allegedly stolen by Russian hackers. During the campaign Stone tweeted about WikiLeaks.

Read more:Judge orders Michael Flynn to surrender his passport while he waits to be sentenced

This step could signal that Mueller's office is closer to indicting Stone on charges that he lied to lawmakers, experts told The Post. INSIDER contacted special counsel's office special for comment.

"That suggests prosecutors are getting ready to bring a charge," Glenn Kirschner, a former federal prosecutor, told The Post. "Prosecutors can’t bring a charge without an original certified copy of the transcript that shows the witness lied."

Mueller has the unofficial transcript of Stone's 2017 closed-door testimony to the House Intelligence Committee. The committee has submitted the official transcript to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, but not to Mueller's office, according to The Post. The committee members are reportedly going to discuss releasing the transcript during a closed-door meeting on Thursday, The Post said.

Join the conversation about this story »

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• The Democratic Party revealed Thursday its plans for the 2020 campaign.
• Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez said the party will hold a total of 12 primary debates to accommodate what is shaping up to be a large cohort of candidates.
• The first two debates are scheduled for June and July of 2019.

Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez outlined the party's plan for the 2020 election on Thursday, telling reporters that the plan comes after “100 hours of conversations” with former candidates and campaigns.

The party, Perez said, will hold 12 primary debates to accommodate what will likely be a large pool of candidates. The first two debates, scheduled for June and July of 2019, will be split into two consecutive nights. The participating candidates will be selected by random public draw. Voters can expect a debate per month for the rest of 2019 after a brief break in August. 

The last debate will be held in April of 2020. All early-state debates will be held in 2020. The plan discourages candidates from participating in non-DNC sanctioned debates. 

Read more: Meet the 2020 presidential contenders who are poised to start campaigning right away in 2019

In a call with reporters, Perez said he and his aides came up with the 2020 plan after “100 hours of conversations” with former candidates and campaigns. 

"To win back the presidency in 2020, Democrats must lead with our values. That began with the historic reforms to expand and increase trust in our party, and it will continue by conducting party business fairly, transparently, and inclusively throughout the 2020 primary process," Perez said. "To that end, we have listened and learned about debate experiences from a wide array of stakeholders."

Perez, who began serving as DNC chair two years ago, said the party expects and welcomes a large field of candidates. He emphasized the importance of grassroots fundraising in the 2020 election.

“My goal in this framework is to give the grassroots a bigger voice than ever before; to showcase our candidates on an array of media platforms; to present opportunity for vigorous discussion about issues, ideas and solutions; and to reach as many potential voters as possible," he said. 

SEE ALSO: An early look at the 2020 presidential contenders

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NOW WATCH: Anthony Scaramucci claims Trump isn't a nationalist: 'He likes saying that because it irks these intellectual elitists'

• Deutsche Bank has hired a new managing director in its credit-trading business, one of the bank's top performers.
• Drew Meany, formerly an MD at Cantor Fitzgerald, is joining Deutsche Bank as an MD in high-yield credit trading, according to people familiar with the matter.
• While overall fixed-income trading revenues have declined at Deutsche Bank this year, credit trading is a bright spot where the bank is tied for first on the industry league tables.

Deutsche Bank is adding talent in its credit-trading business, one of its top performers, poaching a senior trader from Cantor Fitzgerald.

Drew Meany, formerly a managing director at Cantor, is joining Deutsche Bank as an MD in high-yield credit trading, according to people familiar with the matter.

Meany, who worked at Imperial Capital prior to Cantor, will start early next year and report to Jeff Chang, who was hired away from UBS in 2017 and runs high-yield credit in the US for Deutsche.

Deutsche Bank, Cantor Fitzgerald, and Meany each declined to comment. 

The German bank has had a challenging year, including cuts to its sales and trading operation in the US amid declining revenues and the ouster of John Cryan as CEO, who was replaced in April by retail-banking expert Christian Sewing.

But the bank's credit-trading business remains a top performer. While overall revenues in its global fixed-income, currencies, and commodities division have taken are down 17%, according Bloomberg data, it was tied for first-place in credit trading through the first half of the year, according to data from industry consultant Coalition.  

The bank is especially strong in distressed and high-yield trading, according to people familiar with the matter.

• Read more:
• Deutsche Bank has hired another senior software banker as it tries to cash in on the tech-dealmaking bonanza
• MUFG has hired a hedge-fund executive to run credit sales as the Japanese bank shakes up its US business
• Citigroup has inked a deal with an AI-powered fintech to help flag suspicious payments and safeguard a $4 trillion daily operation

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: The legendary economist who predicted the housing crisis says the US will win the trade war

• The father of Jakelin Caal Maquin, a seven-year-old migrant girl who died in Border Patrol custody, has again contradicted US officials' story about her death.
• Nery Gilberto Caal Cuz told his lawyers that Border Patrol agents didn't give him or his daughter water for eight hours — though they did provide cookies.
• A government timeline says migrants "had access to food, water and restrooms" during that time.
• Jakelin's official cause of death hasn't yet been determined, but Border Patrol has faced accusations that the agency didn't do enough to get her immediate medical care.

The father of Jakelin Caal Maquin, a seven-year-old Guatemalan girl who died in Border Patrol custody earlier this month, has again contradicted US officials' account of her last hours, saying she was given no water while they were detained.

Jakelin and her father were among a group of 163 migrants arrested by Border Patrol agents on December 6 in a remote stretch of the New Mexico desert. A little more than 24 hours later, the girl was dead.

According to his lawyers, Nery Gilberto Caal Cuz said agents didn't give him or his daughter water between roughly 9:16 p.m. on December 6, when the group was taken to the Antelope Wells Port of Entry, and 5 a.m. the next morning, when they were placed on a bus to the Loudsburg Border Patrol station more than 90 miles away.

Read more: The family of a 7-year-old migrant girl who died in Border Patrol custody is disputing US officials’ account of her death

The information contradicts a government timeline that said the migrants "had access to food, water and restrooms" while they were held at Antelope Wells. It also contradicts a statement from the Guatemalan consulate head Tekandi Paniagua, who said Jakelin and Nery had both been given water.

"What we do know and what our client is unequivocal about is that no water was provided to either him or his daughter," Chris Benoit, a lawyer representing Jakelin's father, told reporters at a news conference on Wednesday.

"They were provided cookies," he added.

The family's story contradicts Border Patrol's

Though the cause of Jakelin's death hasn't yet been determined, Border Patrol has faced accusations that the agency didn't do enough to get her immediate medical care.

According to the timeline, Jakelin couldn't access emergency medical care until roughly 90 minutes after she began vomiting on the bus to Lordsburg. Customs and Border Protection said the delay was due to the remoteness of their location.

"Meeting emergency medical personnel in Lordsburg was the best means to provide the child with emergency care," CBP said in the timeline.

Jakelin's father has also contradicted US officials' previous claim that the girl had not been given food or water for days before the group's arrest. In a statement released by lawyers last Saturday, Jakelin's parents said she had been given food and water and appeared to be in good health during the migrants' journey to the US.

They also took issue with a form Jakelin's father signed saying she was in good health. The form is written in English, which he doesn't speak.

"It is unacceptable for any government agency to have persons in custody sign documents in a language that they clearly do not understand," the statement said.

• Read more of INSIDER's immigration coverage:
• ICE wrongly flagged an American citizen to be deported, so a Florida sheriff's department detained him for weeks. Now he's suing.
• Trump's travel ban barred a Yemeni mother from seeing her dying son, and the US State Department just granted her a waiver to enter the US
• The 7-year-old migrant girl who died in Border Patrol custody received medical care 90 minutes after first showing symptoms
• The Trump administration edited a bizarre press release about Trump's border wall after people roasted it

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Anthony Scaramucci claims Trump isn't a nationalist: 'He likes saying that because it irks these intellectual elitists'

• Justin McConney served as the social media director for the Trump Organization from 2011 to 2017. 
• He used to draft and send out tweets for Trump before teaching the now-president how to do it himself. 
• McConney suggested that Trump should lighten up on the platform and have "more of a sense of humor about himself."

President Donald Trump's former social media director said his first reaction to learning Trump could tweet on his own was "Oh no," comparing it to velociraptors learning to doors in "Jurassic Park."

Justin McConney opened up about teaching Trump to tweet in an interview with Politico published on Thursday.

He served as the social media director for the Trump Organization from 2011 to 2017, and originally drafted and sent all of Trump's tweets until he learned the president could do it himself.

"The moment I found out Trump could tweet himself was comparable to the moment in 'Jurassic Park' when Dr. Grant realized that velociraptors could open doors," McConney told Politico in an interview. "I was like, 'Oh no.' "

Trump's first tweet was simple, with him thanking actress Sherri Shepherd for her comments about him on "The View" in 2013.

McConney, who was 24 when he first got Trump to start using Twitter, told Politco that he wanted to develop the now-president's brand on Twitter and other social media platforms.

"I wanted the Donald Trump who is on Howard Stern, commenting on anything and everything," he said.

Read more:40 photos that tell the story of Trump and his administration in 2018

He said initially, Trump had him print out Twitter mentions, and he would write his responses in Sharpie before handing the messages to McConney to type up and send out.

When he was on "The Apprentice," Trump would phone his tweets to McConney, even dictating the punctuation.

Despite not knowing much about the new technology, Trump "knew PR and he new news cycles very well," McConney said.

Once he could tweet on his own, Trump started to weigh in on a number of topics and even feuded with Rosie O’Donnell and former Yankee Alex Rodriguez.

Now Trump uses the app to tweet an astounding number of times a day. Subjects of his tweets include his border wall, rants about the "Fake News" media, special counsel Robert Mueller's "Witch Hunt," and comments on other political leaders. The tweets often begin early in the morning, and, pundits have noticed, are often tied to whatever's being covered on Fox News.

McConney suggested that Trump should lighten up on the platform.

"[He] should go back to having more of a sense of humor about himself," McConney said.

• Read more the Trump administration:
• Trump is abruptly threatening to veto the spending bill and force a government shutdown over the border wall
• Trump's Syria pullout saved the US from 'forever war' — but people are obsessed with a Russia conspiracy
• Trump's attorney general pick once sent an unsolicited memo to the Justice Department calling Mueller's obstruction probe 'legally insupportable'
• Republicans are furious over Trump's decision to withdraw troops from Syria

SEE ALSO: The newest Obamacare enrollment numbers prove the health law is 'far from dead' despite repeated attacks from Trump and the GOP

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Anthony Scaramucci claims Trump isn't a nationalist: 'He likes saying that because it irks these intellectual elitists'

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A stock picker in Wall Street's top 1% this year unveils the 4 investment themes he thinks will crush the market in 2019

When it comes to picking stocks to put in his portfolio, Kyle Weaver isn't particularly interested in companies that can be easily influenced by external factors like trade or oil prices.

Weaver, who oversees $5 billion as lead manager of the Fidelity Advisor Growth Opportunities Fund, instead prefers to identify and buy shares in companies that can stand on their own two feet, regardless of macro conditions.

He believes this simplifies the investment process by eliminating the types of exogenous drivers that can hurt share prices regardless of a company's underlying quality. This helps him avoid pouring money into companies that appear strong but are actually vulnerable to uncontrollable forces.

But that's just half the battle. Weaver is also on the hunt for high-growth stocks he can buy at bargain prices.

Amazon accidentally sent 1,700 Alexa recordings to the wrong person, including audio from in the shower

Amazon accidentally sent 1,700 recordings of someone speaking to Alexa to the wrong person, according to a German magazine.

The magazine said that the recordings had lots of personal information and that it was easily able to find the person whose data was leaked.

The episode underscores that Amazon stores audio files when you speak to Alexa.

Uber's entire business model is in jeopardy after losing its latest legal battle over the rights of UK drivers

Uber has lost its latest court bid to stop its British drivers being classified as workers, entitling them to rights such as the minimum wage, in a decision which jeopardizes the taxi app's business model.

Two drivers successfully argued at a tribunal in 2016 that the Silicon Valley firm exerted significant control over them to provide an on-demand service, and that they should cease to be considered as self-employed, which gives few protections in law.

An employment appeal tribunal upheld that decision last year, prompting Uber to go to the Court of Appeal. On Wednesday, a majority of judges there said they agreed with the previous verdicts and rejected Uber's arguments.

In markets news

• The Fed 'sent a foggy message': Here's what Wall Street is saying about the rate hike

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NOW WATCH: Bernie Madoff was arrested 10 years ago today — here's what his life is like in prison

• Life insurance is fundamentally hard to sell; it’s morbid to think about, promises no immediate rewards, and often requires a lengthy paper application with minimal guidance.
• Despite the popularity of personalized products in other areas of finance and fintech, life insurance largely remains unchanged.
• A small, but growing pocket of insurtech startups are shaking up the status quo by finding ways to digitize life insurance and increase its appeal.

Life insurance is a fundamentally difficult product to sell; it requires people to think about their deaths without promising any immediate returns.

And, despite tech innovations and the development of personalized services in other areas of finance, life insurance remains largely unchanged.

Luckily, there is a small but growing pocket of insurtech startups looking to modernize it. These companies are finding ways to digitize life insurance to  appeal to consumers — and they’re giving incumbents the opportunity to revamp traditional offerings, either by partnering with them or using their technology.

Business Insider Intelligence, Business Insider's premium research service, has forecasted the shifting landscape of life insurance in the The Future of Life Insurance report. Here are the key problems insurtechs are tackling:

• Lack of education: Forty percent of US consumers told the Life Insurance and Market Research Association (LIMRA) that they feel intimidated by the life insurance application process, often drastically overestimating its cost and facing uncertainty about how much or which type of coverage to buy.
• Inconvenient application process: It can take weeks or months for coverage to take effect because of the sheer number of meetings and parties combing through paperwork in each round of the application process. The risk for the insurer often warrants reviews from the carrier, a team of underwriters, a broker, and even a medical examiner.
• Low customer loyalty: Life insurance tends to be a “set it and forget it” type of purchase, with very few people revisiting it after buying. Insurers and consumers therefore have limited contact for most of the relationship — with the exception of an annual bill, of course.
• Inefficient data management and processing: The aggregate data life insurers rely on is typically fed into algorithms that make broad assumptions about particular populations, and often incorporate outdated medical documentation — all of which can delay applications and result in unnecessary rejections.

Want to learn more?

The need for modernization in life insurance is clear: Overall sales are slowing and policy ownership is hitting record lows. And because it’s such a tightly-regulated space, innovation from incumbents has stagnated — but they’re not helpless. Consumer-focused and insurer-focused startups have emerged to offer new technologies and process improvements.

The Future of Life Insurance report from Business Insider Intelligence looks at the two main strategies life insurtechs are adopting to drive change in this market, for the benefit of both buyers and sellers. In full, the report discusses best practices incumbents and startups should adopt to steer clear of the risks attached to applying emerging technologies to such a tightly regulated product.

Insurtech startups will soon set new industry standards and consumer expectations around this complex product. That, in turn will serve as a catalyst for innovation among legacy players.

Companies included in this report: Ladder, Haven Life, Getsurance, Tomorrow, Fabric, Atidot, AllLife, Royal London, Polly, Life.io, Legal & General, Vitality, Discovery, John Hancock, Dai-ichi Life.

Join the conversation about this story »

• Older Americans tend to have a higher income than younger Americans, and this holds in most US states and Washington, DC.
• Business Insider found the median income for full-time, year-round workers in each state among three generational age groups: millennials, Gen Xers, and baby boomers.
• The gap in median income between millennials and baby boomers ranged from the older generation making about 25% more than millennials in Iowa to 65% more than millennials in Alaska. 

Across the US, older workers tend to have a higher income than younger workers.

Business Insider analyzed individual-level data from the US Census Bureau's 2017 "American Community Survey" available from the Minnesota Population Center's Integrated Public Use Microdata Series and found the median total income among full-time, year-round employed workers in each state for three generational age groups: millennials (age 21 to 36 in 2017), Gen Xers (age 37 to 52), and baby boomers (age 53 to 71). Median means half the group makes below that amount and half makes above that amount.

In all 50 states and Washington, DC, the median millennial made less money than the median Gen Xer or baby boomer, and in most states boomers earned more than their Gen X counterparts.

The gap in median salary between millennials and baby boomers ranged from the median boomer making about 25% more than the median millennial in Iowa to a 65% gap between the median millennial and median boomer in Alaska.

Here's what the typical worker in each of those three generations makes in every state.

SEE ALSO: Here's what the typical American worker earns at every age

Alabama

Millennial: $32,000

Gen Xer: $46,500

Baby boomer: $50,000

Alaska

Millennial: $43,000

Gen Xer: $65,000

Baby boomer: $71,000

Arizona

Millennial: $35,000

Gen Xer: $50,000

Baby boomer: $55,000

• Pier 1 Imports is struggling to keep up with competitors like Amazon, Walmart, and TJ Maxx. 
• On Wednesday's earnings call, the brand reported comparable sales had fallen 10.5% in the most recent quarter.
• Part of why the retailer has struggled is that its products don't provide "the style, the value, the selection" that customers want, interim CEO Cheryl Bachelder said during the call. 
• Former CEO Alasdair James, who stepped down on Wednesday, explained the brand's plans to fix these issues during an earnings call in June, but said in October that the plans are taking "longer than expected." 

As companies like Amazon, Walmart, TJ Maxx, and Wayfair continue to expand into home goods, it's getting harder for Pier 1 Imports to compete.

In its most recent quarterly earnings release on Wednesday, the brand reported that comparable sales had fallen 10.5%.

"For non-shoppers, shoppers that are very engaged in this category, but don't currently shop with Pier 1, and for some of our less core customers, they describe our stores as being overwhelming," former CEO Alasdair James, who stepped down on Wedendsay, said in an April analyst meeting.

Interim CEO Cheryl A. Bachelder, a member of the company's board of directors, said on Wednesday's earnings call: "It's become clear that we are not giving our Pier 1 customer the style, the value, the selection that she wants to find in our stores and online. The sector is performing well. So, we know the opportunity is there for Pier 1."

Analysts have criticized the retailer for not stocking enough unique inventory.  

GlobalData Retail's Neil Saunders wrote in an email to Retail Dive in April: "While the market is growing, so too is competition. As much as it is true that Pier 1's aesthetic used to make it distinct, others are now replicating this — at least in parts of their offers." 

In the company's earnings call in June, James explained how the brand plans to combat these issues by rebranding Pier 1 and offering more trendy pieces that would appeal to millennials. He also discussed the importance of improving the shopping experience in-store. The retailer is currently testing new store formats that have wider aisles and less clutter in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. 

But on in October, James said: "Our second quarter financial results reflect execution challenges around our August brand re-launch and our 'New Day' strategic plan initiatives [are] taking longer than expected to gain traction."

We recently visited a Pier 1 Imports store in New York City and found many of the critiques of the brand to be true. Here's what we saw: 

SEE ALSO: Amazon just opened a new store that sells only its best products. Here's what it's like to shop there.

We went to the Pier 1 Imports store on the Upper East Side.

At the front of the store were Halloween products, all of which were 25% off.

Most of the first floor was seasonal decor. The furniture and decor in stock definitely seemed more traditional than trendy.