Severance is filmed in a real office building—one that reimagined corporate life
In the hit Apple TV series Severance, the microchip-bearing employees of Lumon Industries traverse the eerie halls of a massive office building that serves as a kind of corporate hell. The hallways are sterile and seemingly infinite—and the departments spread so far apart that employees need maps to find each other.
But that imposing building isn't a Hollywood soundstage: It's filmed at the real-life Bell Laboratories complex in Holmdel, New Jersey, one of the last works by famed architect Eero Saarinen.
Reimagining the workplace
Bell Labs is iconic as both an homage to the mid-century modernist aesthetic and as home to innovations that helped reshape the American workplace.
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Atlantic
18 minutes ago
- Atlantic
When Pete Hegseth's Pentagon Tenure Started Going Sideways
Things were going fine for Pete Hegseth, right up until a chance encounter with the world's richest man. His pursuit of Donald Trump's agenda at the Pentagon had made him a star among the president's advisers. The former Fox News host had moved swiftly to roll back diversity initiatives in the military and to expand U.S. troops' role in halting immigration at the southern border. His willingness to challenge Republican orthodoxy on foreign policy and punch back at critics was seen as an asset as Trump began his second term. But then, in mid-March, Hegseth bumped into Elon Musk in a White House hallway, and extended an ill-fated invitation to the tech titan for an exclusive military briefing. 'Up until then, DOD had been the golden child,' one person familiar with Hegseth's office told us. When Trump learned about the proposed briefing the night before it was scheduled to take place, he was displeased. Although Hegseth denied a New York Time s report that the March 21 meeting would focus on plans for potential war with Beijing, Trump told others that any presentation on China would be inappropriate for Musk, who has extensive business interests there, according to people familiar with the president's reaction. The very idea that top officers would brief the businessman in the Tank—the secure Pentagon conference room where the military brass assembles for visits by the commander in chief—added to an unwelcome perception that Musk wielded outsize government power. In a call hours after the Times story appeared, Trump made clear to Hegseth that the briefing was 'a bad look' for the administration, according to individuals with knowledge of the call. When Hegseth visited the White House the next day to debut the Air Force's newest fighter jet, Trump again conveyed his displeasure. 'This is crazy and stupid,' Trump said of the briefing, one of these people told us. 'Why would we even do this?' Jonathan Lemire: Why Trump is standing by Hegseth, for now Trump reserved most of his ire for Musk and did not express anger toward Hegseth personally, White House officials told us. Yet the Musk episode, and Trump's response to Hegseth, details of which have not been previously reported, represented a turning point for the new Pentagon chief, according to people familiar with his tenure who spoke with us on the condition of anonymity. Since then, a series of embarrassing revelations, including Hegseth's disclosure of military attack plans on the messaging app Signal, have fueled turmoil and suspicion at the Pentagon's highest levels. They have also intensified public scrutiny of Hegseth's judgment and deepened questions about his ability to deliver on the president's military priorities, including pushing back against China and demonstrating American strength, which the president believes was eroded by his predecessor. 'Things were heading in the right direction,' the person familiar with Hegseth's office added. 'But then the leaks and Signalgate just really fucked up Pete.' Hegseth oversees a workforce of more than 3 million, and a budget of close to $1 trillion, without a chief of staff. His shrunken circle of close aides lacks extensive Pentagon experience. Key military commanders are preparing to retire without replacements in sight. Sidelined aides have aired details of unseemly feuds at the department's senior levels, and a series of unflattering media reports have fueled what numerous officials describe as Hegseth's fixation on stopping leaks. White House officials say that Trump continues to support Hegseth—the defense chief's job is '100 percent safe,' one told us. This official also noted that in addition to having Trump's affection, Hegseth is personally liked by both Vice President J. D. Vance and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles. White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly told us that the entire administration remains 'fully behind Secretary Hegseth's mission to prioritize our warfighters, eliminate terrorists, and restore common sense at the DOD.' But scores of congressional Democrats have called on Hegseth to resign. One Republican, Representative Don Bacon of Nebraska, has suggested that he be fired. Musk's Pentagon visit originated from a conversation in Musk's sparsely furnished office that followed their impromptu meeting in a White House hallway, when Hegseth suggested that Musk come over to the Pentagon to talk with senior military leaders. The defense chief later authorized the meeting to be held in the Tank. Several people told us that Hegseth's invitation came at a moment when the Defense Department, like other agencies across the government, was facing the prospect of cuts by Musk's Department of Government Efficiency. While Hegseth has touted DOGE's steps to reduce the number of federal contractors and other personnel, DOD was not driving the process. The invitation represented a chance for Pentagon leaders to help steer DOGE's direction in cutting one of the world's largest bureaucracies. (A representative for Musk did not respond to multiple requests for comment.) Tom Nichols: Pete Hegseth's patriotic duty is to resign Just three days after Musk's Pentagon visit, Hegseth's judgment again came into question when Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor in chief of The Atlantic, revealed that he had been added to a high-level Signal chat about plans to bomb Houthi militants in Yemen. Although then–National Security Adviser Michael Waltz had inadvertently invited Goldberg to the thread, it was Hegseth who escalated the exchange by posting details of an imminent attack on Houthi targets, including the precise times when U.S. jets would be flying over their targets in Yemen. Current and former officials have said that such advance attack information would typically be highly classified because of the danger its disclosure could pose to pilots. A cascade of other revelations followed, including stories detailing the unusual role that Hegseth's wife, Jennifer, has played in his work at the Pentagon, where she has attended meetings with foreign officials and issued orders related to her husband's media appearances. News reports also revealed that Hegseth gave his younger brother a senior Pentagon role and authorized the installation of a makeup studio at a cost of thousands of dollars. Current and former officials told us that Hegseth has since threatened to polygraph numerous senior officials, including the acting chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He has also overturned decades of tradition in the military's relationship with the press, ousting media outlets from their long-standing Pentagon workspaces in favor of Trump-friendly voices and ending reporters' access to most of the building. When The Atlantic interviewed Trump in the Oval Office in late April, the president said he'd had 'a talk' with Hegseth about the various embarrassing reports, predicting, 'I think he's gonna get it together.' Yet the Musk and Signal episodes reveal what some individuals familiar with Hegseth's tenure described to us as his tendency to use his position heading the world's most advanced military as a 'flex.' He attempts to impress others with his access to sensitive information and his power to direct American forces, even if it means a little indiscretion along the way, they said. 'He's got this $180,000 Ferrari. That's the Pentagon for him,' another person familiar with Hegseth's office told us. 'And he likes to show it off.' Hegseth created further controversy after he elevated Ricky Buria, a Marine who'd been serving as a military aide when Hegseth took office, to a senior role and sought to name him as chief of staff. Buria often made demands of more senior officers, and his sudden promotion to a senior political position rubbed many in the rank-conscious military the wrong way. Trump personally blocked Buria from the chief-of-staff job because of his ties to Lloyd Austin, Joe Biden's Pentagon chief, White House officials told us. People familiar with Pentagon staffing told us that the White House had explored hiring at least four replacements for Joe Kasper, who had abruptly left the chief-of-staff job in April to take a new role in the department, but that none had worked out. The chief Pentagon spokesperson, Sean Parnell, said in a statement that personnel changes are a 'natural and necessary feature of any highly effective organization.' 'Americans outside the beltway don't care about 'palace intrigue' or sensationalized mainstream media gossip,' Parnell said. 'They care about action.' In response to suggestions from the White House, the Pentagon has in recent weeks begun to slowly expand its media engagement beyond MAGA-friendly outlets, taking reporters from several mainstream print-news organizations on Hegseth's travels to Latin America and Asia. Kingsley Wilson, Hegseth's Pentagon press secretary, told us that Hegseth's travels have involved bringing along journalists from 'a wide range of outlets.' Hegseth, however, has stuck to a rote playbook in responding to unfavorable news: attempt to discredit the media, then pivot to his efforts to rebuild the military and restore the 'warrior ethos' he says was lost under Democratic leaders. 'This is what the media does,' he told reporters during a family Easter event at the White House, children in party attire looking on from behind. He gestured at the journalists assembled before him, calling them 'hoaxsters.' 'They try to slash and burn people and ruin their reputations. It's not going to work with me.' Jason Dempsey: Hegseth has all the wrong enemies Trump has stood by his Pentagon chief, suggesting that he admires the combative approach Hegseth takes in attacking administration detractors. He is a 'tough cookie' who 'went through a lot,' the president said late last month. Trump also spent significant political capital pushing through Hegseth's nomination—Vance had to cast the tiebreaking vote after the Senate deadlocked on confirmation at 50–50—and is reluctant to abandon him now, especially because it might look like giving the media a scalp. That support will be tested next week, when Hegseth begins a series of hearings on Capitol Hill convened to address the administration's budget requests. Hegseth is sure to face difficult questions from Democrats, including on his handling of sensitive information, the upheaval in the Pentagon's upper ranks, and his firing of senior military officials. Those officers include the second-ever Black chairman of the Joint Chiefs and the first female Navy chief, both of whom Hegseth previously suggested were promoted because of their race and gender, respectively. Top Republicans, meanwhile, are unhappy with an administration spending proposal that they say doesn't include enough money for defense. Many at the Pentagon question how long the president's backing for their boss will last. During his first term, Trump cycled through four defense secretaries and four national security advisers. He also voiced support for Waltz until the former national security adviser was pushed aside last month and asked to take a less powerful role, at the United Nations. Although the president appears to appreciate Hegseth's pugnacious public style, he may require more from his defense secretary over time, as the administration faces pressure to deliver on a set of complex and interlocking goals, including fixing a byzantine military-procurement system, reviving a diminished defense industry, and strengthening America's response to China's military rise. Fighters endear themselves to Trump, one person told us, 'but you can't have a one-dimensional game. At a certain point, it's going to get old.'
Yahoo
26 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Damola Adamolekun Breathes Life Into Red Lobster And Its Throwback Menu
Thanks to its new CEO, Damola Adamolekun, Red Lobster is revamping its menu with a nod to the past. The restaurant chain will bring back some of its most popular items from years gone by. Adamolekun, announced the changes in an Instagram video. 'We're bringing back some fan favorites,' he said. 'Yup, they're back, and there's plenty under $20 on the menu.' Adamolekun didn't specify how many dishes would make a comeback, but he did assure customers that the beloved Cheddar Bay biscuits will remain a staple. 'We got that right the first time,' the Nigerian-American said about the crowd-pleasing appetizer. Before taking on the role of CEO, the Harvard graduate said he visited several of the restaurants' locations to assess customers' needs. Adamolekun told the Wall Street Journal that customers 'want quality food in a comfortable setting and to connect with the history of the brand.' The 36-year-old CEO may fulfill customers' desires by reintroducing nostalgic menu items like hushpuppies, which the company announced in November of last year would return to the menu. In August 2024, Adamolekun became the youngest CEO in the company's 56-year history. He guided the seafood chain restaurant out of bankruptcy and into a modernized era, adopting a public-facing approach and frequently appearing in the chain's social media campaigns. This approach seemed to resonate with many social media users. 'Great ad! CEO is super impressive and compelling, charismatic on camera! Good move!' a social media user commented on Red Lobster's Instagram post. 'Dude just got me to follow Red Lobster on IG' another commenter wrote. Before joining Red Lobster, Adamolekun was the first Black CEO of P.F. Chang's, where he revitalized the brand. He generated over $1 billion in annual revenue while leading the Asian-inspired food chain, according to the National Restaurant Association. Adamolekun is applying his proven business acumen at Red Lobster, working to improve service, upgrade the menu, and modernize the uniforms and restaurant interiors. 'I've been a Red Lobster fan since my first dining experience as a 9-year-old at our Springfield, Illinois, restaurant,' Adamolekun said on The Breakfast Club. The former Goldman Sachs intern received a business degree from Brown University and an MBA from Harvard Business School. RELATED CONTENT: These Black-Owned Restaurant Concepts Are Thriving Right Now Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
28 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Wall Street Exodus? Why Big Money Is Quietly Fleeing the US Market
Institutional investors are starting to step back from the United States. Between Washington's mounting debt pile, shifting trade policies, and general unpredictability, the case for having a concentrated US portfolio is no longer a given. AllianceBernstein CEO Seth Bernstein put it bluntly: the pace of US borrowing is untenable. The dollar has already dropped nearly 9% this year, and a recent Bank of America fund manager survey showed the largest underweight in the greenback in almost 20 years. For some investors, it's no longer just about tariffsit's about whether the decades-long dominance of US markets is beginning to wobble. Warning! GuruFocus has detected 2 Warning Sign with AMZN. Meanwhile, Europe's looking more like a viable alternative. The Stoxx Europe 600 is up 9% this year, well ahead of the S&P 500's (SPY) modest gains. Neuberger Berman has already shifted 65% of its private equity co-investments to Europemore than double its previous range. Blackstone vice chair Tom Nides said the math is getting clearer: Shifting money to Europe is certainly not a bad bet. Germany's 1 trillion infrastructure and defense plan could add some fuel, especially as European governments project a steadier macro backdrop than Washington can currently offer. The continent still has its challenges, but for now, it's offering something the US isn'tpredictability. Even long-time US investors are quietly pulling back. Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec, which had 40% of its portfolio in US assets, is moving more capital to the UK, France, and Germany. Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) and other American heavyweights may still anchor global portfoliosbut the question being asked across boardrooms is different now: are we overexposed? For the first time in years, investors are running that calculation with fresh eyes. And while no one's calling time on the US just yet, the idea of global rebalancing? It's not just talk anymore. This article first appeared on GuruFocus.
