Category: Laptops

• A DC district judge denied a Proud Boy member’s request to move his trial in connection with the Capitol riot.
• Gabriel Garcia motioned in April to move his trial from DC to Florida, citing “an extreme level of prejudice” against Jan. 6 defendants.
• In an opinion denying his motion, a federal judge cited a quote from the late iconic chef Anthony Bourdain.

A federal judge cited a quote by the late iconic chef Anthony Bourdain in a ruling rejecting an accused Capitol rioter’s request to move his trial out of Washington, DC.

Former US Army captain Gabriel Garcia, who is a member of the far-right extremist group the Proud Boys, was arrested on January 21, 2021, in connection with the attack on January 6, 2021, after the FBI said he uploaded live footage of himself saying he had just “stormed” the Capitol. He faces charges of violent entry and civil disorder.

Garcia was granted pretrial release last year on the conditions of being subject to curfew and fitted with an ankle monitor.

In an April filing, Garcia requested to change the venue of his trial to the Southern District of Florida, citing “an extreme level of prejudice exists in DC for January 6 Proud Boys defendants, like him.”

“Regrettably, in such a historic prosecution, any conviction of a Proud Boy or Oath Keeper by a D.C. jury will forever be tainted, questioned, and held to ridicule as vigilante-like justice, reeking of political comeuppance,” his motion said, per a report by CBS News.

The accused Florida Proud Boy, who pleaded not guilty to all six federal charges, included online surveys that he claimed upheld his motion. He also claimed jurors in DC are “friendly” to prosecutors.

On Friday, US District Judge Amy Berman Jackson denied his request, starting her 32-page written opinion with a quote made by Bourdain during an episode his show, “Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations,” filmed in the nation’s capital.

“DC is not just a city of dead presidents and cold marble monuments,” Bourdain said. “The people we see working here on our television screens, in the halls of power, and the plush seats of Sunday morning punditry, often have as little to do with the city itself, and the people who actually live here, as any creatures from another universe.”

The iconic TV personality added: “This is a city filled with actual living, breathing, eating Americans. Not vessels for one ideology or another, empty suits and empty ideas. Hard lives, hard struggles, and long roads to get here.”

Jackson also noted that Garcia’s motion to move his trial was “largely predicated on sweeping, unsupported assertions about a city he does not appear to know or understand.”

“None of the surveys support an assumption that any prejudice against this individual defendant is so great that he cannot receive a fair trial in this district; despite his grandiose claims, there is little evidence that D.C. residents know who he is at all,” the federal judge said.

This post contains links to products from our advertisers, and we may be compensated when you click on these links. Our recommendations and advice are ours alone, and have not been reviewed by any issuers listed. Terms apply to offers listed on this page. Read our editorial standards.

Cash back credit cards are some of the most flexible rewards cards you can get, returning anywhere from 1% to 6% cash back on all kinds of purchases — and often without an annual fee. For people who are just getting into credit card rewards, or who want to keep things simple, cash back credit cards can be a good choice.

See Insider’s picks for the top cash back credit cards for families, dining, intro APRs, and building credit below. 

Best card for flat-rate cash rewards earning

Best card for everyday spending

Best card for rotating categories and flexible redemptions

Best card for rotating cash-back categories

Best card for families

Best card for dining, groceries, and entertainment with no annual fee

Best card for automatically customizing rewards

Best card for choosing your own cash back categories

Best card for balance transfers

Best card for fair or average credit

Best card for lower credit scores

Best card for students

Best card for Bank of America Preferred Rewards members

 

 

Compare the best cash back credit cards

Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card is our top pick if you prefer a card that earns a flat rewards rate on everything. There are no bonus categories to keep track of, and you’ll earn 2% cash rewards on purchases.

It offers a substantial welcome bonus for a no-annual-fee card: $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. In addition, new cardholders get a 0% intro APR on purchases and qualifying balance transfers for 15 months from account opening (followed by a 16.49%, 21.49%, or 26.49% Variable APR), which is super useful if you have large expenses you want to pay off over time.

The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card comes with a good array of benefits, which include cell phone protection, roadside dispatch, travel emergency assistance, and access to the Visa Signature Concierge. However, it does charge foreign transaction fees, so if you’re traveling outside the US, you’ll want to pack a different card.

Read more about the Wells Fargo Active Cash:

Chase Freedom Unlimited® 

If you’re looking for a card that combines strong bonus categories with a decent flat-rate earn rate on non-bonus spending, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® could fit the bill. It offers 5% cash back (5x points) on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3% cash back (3x points) on dining and drugstore purchases, and 1.5% cash back (1.5x points) on everything else.

The Chase Freedom Unlimited® has no annual fee and offers a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months. After that, there’s a 16.49% – 25.24% Variable. If you have a major purchase ahead of you, that introductory offer can be useful.

If you also have an annual-fee Ultimate Rewards card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, Chase Sapphire Reserve®, or Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card, you can pool your points from the two cards. Then, you’ll be able to transfer the whole body of points to Chase’s airline and hotel partners or use them to book travel through Chase with a bonus.

Plus, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® has a substantial welcome offer: 1.5% cash back in addition to regular earning on everything you buy up to $20,000 spent in the first year (worth up to $300 cash back). 

Read more about the Chase Freedom Unlimited Card:

Chase Freedom Flex℠

The Chase Freedom Flex℠ replaced the Chase Freedom in Chase’s lineup of cash back cards, and the good news is that it’s even better than the original. Unlike the Chase Freedom Unlimited®, it earns 5% cash back on up to $1,500 spent in combined purchases (then 1%) within certain bonus categories each quarter of the year (activation is required).

Sometimes there’s just one major category per quarter, while other times there can be a few different ones. Past categories have included gas stations, local commuter transportation, department stores, grocery stores, drug stores, restaurants, movie theaters, and even Amazon. 

The Chase Freedom Flex℠ also earns 5% cash back on travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3% back on dining and drugstores, and 1% back on everything else. These other bonus categories are exactly what you’ll find on the Chase Freedom Unlimited®.

Right now, the Chase Freedom Flex℠ offers a welcome bonus of $0. There’s no annual fee.

Read more about the Chase Freedom Flex card:

Discover it® Cash Back

If you prefer a card that earns straight cash back, not points, and like the idea of rotating bonus categories, the Discover it® Cash Back could be a great fit. You can earn 5% cash back in popular rotating quarterly bonus categories when you activate, on up to $1,500 in combined spending (then 1%). You’ll also earn 1% back everywhere else (from July 1 to September 30, 2022, you can earn 5% cash back at restaurants and PayPal on up to $1,500 in purchases after enrollment, then 1%).

Instead of a regular welcome bonus, Discover rewards new cardholders in a different way. After the first 12 months, it will match all of the rewards you earn from the card through the Discover Cashback Match program. That means you can effectively earn up to 10% back in your first year — and if you’re a big spender, this can pay off handsomely.

Read more about the Discover it Cash Back Card:

Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

If you’re looking for an American Express cash back card, especially if you have a large family that spends a lot on groceries, streaming, and commuting, the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is an excellent option. The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express offers a 0% intro APR for 12 months on purchases from the date of account opening, before switching to a 15.49% – 25.49% Variable APR (See rates).

Currently, the card offers a welcome bonus of $350 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new card within the first 6 months from account opening. It also comes with a handful of travel and purchase protections, including car rental insurance, purchase protection, return protection, and extended warranty. 

Keep in mind there’s an annual fee of $95, so you’ll want to be sure you spend enough to justify paying it. If you prefer a no-annual-fee Amex cash-back card, check out the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express instead.

The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express offers the highest rewards rate available for grocery spending, although there is a $6,000 annual spending cap on that 6% rate. After that, you earn 1% (cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars). Otherwise, the card earns 6% back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions, 3% back at U.S. gas stations and on transit, and 1% back on all other purchases.

Read more about the Amex Blue Cash Preferred card:

Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card seems almost custom-made for folks who like to get out and experience life to the fullest. If you’re a foodie, love attending concerts and sporting events, or even enjoy entertaining at home, this no-annual-fee card can help you earn a lot of rewards for your spending.

Cardholders earn 3% cash back on dining, at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart and Target), entertainment, and popular streaming services, and 1% cash back on all other purchases. The Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card recently began offering 5% cash back on hotels and car rentals booked through Capital One Travel and 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases, and there’s a promotion to earn 8% cash back on Vivid Seats purchases through January 2023.

The welcome bonus is generous, too: Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus once you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening. And if you’ve got big purchases coming up, a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months (3% fee on the amounts transferred within the first 15 months) (followed by a 16.49% – 26.49% (Variable) APR) can make it easier to spread out your payments.

This card offers a handful of good benefits, including extended warranty, travel accident insurance***, and travel emergency assistance services. As with all other Capital One cards, you won’t pay foreign transaction fees on international purchases, so it’s great to use when you’re out globetrotting.

Read more about the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards card:

Citi Custom Cash℠ Card

For a more hands-off approach to maximizing your rewards, the Citi Custom Cash℠ Card offers 5% cash back on up to $500 in purchases in the eligible category you spend the most in each billing cycle (then 1%), and 1% on all other purchases. It also comes with a decent welcome offer for a no-annual-fee card: $200 in cash back, fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, after you spend $750 on purchases in the first 3 months of account opening.

If your spending habits tend to change from time to time, this card is worth a look — especially because the list of eligible categories includes lots of common expenses. 

While the Citi Custom Cash℠ Card is advertised as a cash-back credit card, it actually earns Citi ThankYou points. You can redeem your points for cash back, travel booked through Citi, gift cards, merchandise, and more at a rate of 1 cent per point.

However, you could potentially get more value from your rewards if you also have the Citi Premier® Card or Citi Prestige® Card
(no longer available to new applicants). That’s because you can pool your points in either of these card accounts and then transfer them to airline and hotel partners, including JetBlue, Singapore Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, and Wyndham Rewards.

Read more about the Citi Custom Cash:

U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card

One of the newer types of cards offers the ability to choose your own bonus categories, and they’re a great way to maximize your cash back by earning the highest rewards on the purchases you make the most. The U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card leads the way in this regard, because it offers 5% cash back on two eligible categories (from a list) of your choice, on up to $2,000 in combined purchases each quarter (then 1% back). 

Cardholders also get to choose a 2% cash back “everyday” category from gas and EV charging stations, restaurants, or grocery stores, and earn 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases.

New cardholders can earn a $200 bonus after spending $1,000 in eligible purchases within the first 120 days of account opening, which is a solid offer for a no-annual-fee card. After opening your account, you’ll also qualify for a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 billing cycles (then a 15.99% – 25.99% (Variable) APR). 

As a Visa Signature card, it comes with additional perks including Visa Signature concierge and Visa Signature Luxury Hotel Collection access, travel and emergency assistance, and roadside dispatch.

Read more about the US Bank Cash Plus card:

Citi® Double Cash Card

The Citi® Double Cash Card was once our overall favorite flat-rate cash back card, but it’s since been overshadowed by the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card, which offers a welcome bonus, more benefits, and the same effective cash rewards rate on purchases.

That said, the Citi® Double Cash Card has an advantage if you’re looking for a long intro 0% APR on balance transfers. New cardholders get a 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months (then a 15.49% – 25.49% Variable APR).

This no-annual-fee card earns 1 point per dollar as you spend, and 1 point per dollar when you pay your bill (worth a total of 2% cash back). 

The Citi® Double Cash Card doesn’t offer a whole lot of other benefits, so it makes the most sense if you’re specifically after a generous balance transfer offer (or want a card that earns Citi ThankYou points to boost your stash — yes, you can combine the points from this card with other ThankYou points-earning cards like the Citi Premier® Card).

Read more about the Citi Double Cash card:

Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card

If you’re new to credit or working on building (or rebuilding) your credit score, it’s quite possible you’ll fall into the “fair” credit range. Fair or average credit is defined as any FICO score between 580 to 669 on a 300 to 850 scale, and unfortunately, there aren’t as many good options for earning credit card rewards if that’s where your score lands.

That said, a handful of credit cards for fair or average credit do come with decent earning rates, albeit without a welcome bonus. The Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card is among the best of the bunch, offering 1.5% cash back on all eligible purchases (with the exception of hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, which earn 5% cash back), with no caps.

As with many cards geared to those with lower credit scores, the Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card charges an annual fee ($39). But, like other Capital One cards, it doesn’t add any foreign transaction fees to international purchases, so it’s a safe bet to use abroad.

Discover it® Secured Credit Card

If you have a bad credit score or a limited credit history, you may not be approved for some of the other cash back credit card options outlined in this article. In that case, the Discover it® Secured Credit Card could make the most sense. 

Since it’s a secured credit card (meaning you put down money as a refundable deposit to “secure” your account), it’s easier to get approved for this card. With the Discover it® Secured Credit Card, automatic reviews start at eight months to see if Discover can transition you to an unsecured line of credit and return your deposit.

Read more about the Discover it Secured Card:

Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card

Applying for a credit card when you’re still in college can be a little tricky because most students don’t have a long credit history or high credit score. Student credit cards are more accessible because they typically only require fair or average credit to get approved.

The Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card is a great choice if your spending habits are typical of many college students. It earns 3% cash back on dining (including restaurants, bars, cafes, and lounges), at grocery stores (except superstores like Walmart and Target), entertainment (such as movies, professional sporting events, and amusement parks), and popular streaming services (like Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+).

It also earns 5% cash back on car rentals and hotels booked through Capital One Travel, 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases, and 8% cash back on Vivid Seats purchases (through January 2023). All other purchases earn 1% back.

This card comes with built-in travel and purchase coverage you don’t often find on student credit cards, including price protection***, extended warranty***, car rental insurance***, roadside dispatch***, and travel accident insurance***. There are no foreign transaction fees to worry about, so if you’re heading out on a study-abroad program or plan to travel during your summer breaks, using your card won’t result in extra charges.

Read more about the Capital One SavorOne Student card:

Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card

On the surface, the Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card
doesn’t particularly stand out. It earns 1.5% cash back on all purchases and comes with a welcome bonus of $200 online cash rewards bonus after making at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days from account opening — a decent return, to be sure, but not more compelling than similar cards.

But the card has one feature that can make it a lot more appealing if you’re already a Bank of America customer. Bank of America Preferred Rewards members can earn 25% to 75% more cash back with this card, depending on their rewards tier. Effectively, Preferred Rewards members at the highest level can earn 2.625% cash back on all purchases, which is hard to beat for a no-annual-fee card.

The Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card can also be a good choice if you’re looking for an intro APR offer. New cardholders receive a 0% intro APR for your first 15 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made within the first 60 days of opening your account, followed by a 13.99% – 23.99% Variable APR.

Read more about the Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards card:

Popular cash back credit cards that did not make our list

We evaluated dozens of cash back credit cards and chose 13 of the very best in the most broadly useful categories for our list. Several other cards were on our short list, and they’re all very good in their own right, but for various reasons they didn’t quite cut it. 

Here are some of the cards that didn’t make it, and why:

• Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card
  — While it offers a bigger welcome bonus and slightly stronger rewards rate than its sibling, the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card, it also charges a $95 annual fee. You’d have put a lot of spending on the card to justify the extra cost, so for most folks the no-annual-fee version is a better deal. Here’s our Capital One Savor card review.
• Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card — This card is good for choosing your own bonus categories, but you’ll only earn 3% cash back in the category of your choice, versus two 5% cash-back categories of your choice on the U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card. That said, if you’re a Bank of America Preferred Rewards member, this card could be a lot more lucrative. Read our Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards review to find out more.
• Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card— This card is a decent choice if you’re looking for a card that earns 1.5% cash back on most purchases, but other cards, like the Chase Freedom Unlimited® and Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card, offer opportunities to earn more rewards and benefits. You can find side-by-side comparisons in our Capital One Quicksilver review.
• Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express — This is decent option if you want a card with no annual fee that earns bonus rewards on groceries, gas station purchases, and online retail purchases, but the 3% cash back it earns at US supermarkets only applies to the first $6,000 spent each calendar year (then 1% back). To compare, the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card earns an unlimited 3% on groceries worldwide, plus on dining, entertainment, and eligible streaming. Here’s our Amex Blue Cash Everyday card review if you want to learn more.
• Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card — If you’re an Amazon Prime member, earning 5% cash back at Amazon and Whole Foods with this card is hard to beat (and 2% back at restaurants, gas stations, and drugstores is nothing to sniff at, either). But if you’re not a Prime member or don’t spend a lot at Amazon, other cards are probably a better pick. Check out our Amazon Prime Rewards card review for a closer look.

About cash back credit cards

Cash back credit cards can be an easy way to break into the world of credit card rewards. They come in a few different types:

• Flat rate — These cards earn the same rate of cash back on all purchases. For example, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® earns 1.5% back on most spending (the Freedom Unlimited also offers bonus cash back on eligible travel and drugstore purchases).
• Select bonus categories — Many other cash back cards offer bonus cash back (more than 1%) on select spending categories. For example, with the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card, you’ll earn 4% back on dining, streaming services, and entertainment, and 3% back at grocery stores.
• Rotating categories — A few cards, including the Chase Freedom Flex℠, offer bonus cash back on a selection of spending categories that changes every quarter of the year. These cards have a cap on how much bonus cash back you can earn each quarter — with the Chase Freedom Flex℠, you’ll earn 5% back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases each quarter (then 1%).
• Some cards are starting to offer yet a fourth format for delivering cash back rewards: pick your own bonus categories from a list of options. These cards include the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card and the U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card.

If you’re willing to juggle multiple credit card accounts, there’s value in having both cash back and points-earning cards. If you prefer a single-card strategy, evaluate your goals and consider how much you’re willing to pay in annual fees to make the best decision for your situation.

If you’re trying to put money back in your wallet, our top recommendations are to transfer your cash back to a bank account or use it to reduce the amount owed on your credit card statement.

On the other hand, if you’re hoping to earn rewards that you can redeem for travel, a card that earns points is more up your alley. Our picks for best points-earning rewards cards earn either Amex Membership Rewards points, Chase Ultimate Rewards points, Citi ThankYou Rewards points, or Capital One miles. You can transfer all of these currencies to travel partners and redeem them for things like free flights. (Note that while Capital One calls its rewards currency “miles,” they aren’t miles with a given airline program.)

The best cash back card is different for everyone. To find the best one for you, you’ll want to look for a few things:

• The cash back rate for your common spending categories. Extra cash back for gas isn’t much use if you don’t drive. Consider how you intend to use this card, and look at the rate for those spending categories.
• How you redeem your cash back. Make sure you’re clear on what you’re earning. Is it statement credit? Cash? Points? If points, can they be combined with or transferred to other cards you have, or brands you like?
• The annual fee. An annual fee may make or break your choice. Are you willing to pay one? And more importantly, can you afford it comfortably — or will it be effectively wiped out by the cash back you’ll earn in a year?

We don’t mention the APR because the rate only applies if you’re carrying a balance on your credit card. We recommend applying for a cash back credit card intending to pay off the balance in full each month. For other categories of credit cards, like balance transfer cards, the APR might be a more important consideration.

If this all sounds too complicated, you can’t go wrong by using the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card, which has no annual fee and a flat earning rate 2% cash rewards on purchases.

Cash back credit cards are often best used in combination with cards that earn points to create a complete credit card portfolio that takes advantage of multiple types of rewards. If you’re trying to decide whether to open a cash back credit card, whether as your first card or one of many, bear these pros and cons in mind:

Pros of cash back credit cards:

• They rarely carry annual fees
• There are no restrictions on how you can redeem and spend the cash
• You can earn airline and hotel status by booking with cash (but not points)

Cons of cash back credit cards:

If you have a cash back credit card or are considering opening one, you’ll want to make the most of it. Keep the following steps in mind to get the most value from your card:

Always pay the balance in full. Credit card cash back or points aren’t useful if you’re carrying a balance and paying interest charges each month. To make the most of rewards, use your card responsibly: Spend only money you have and pay your bill in full each month.

Read up on rewards rates for different spending areas. Some cash back cards offer elevated rewards rates on specific spending areas, like restaurants, gas stations, or supermarkets. Some of these cards even change those areas from quarter to quarter, meaning you’ll want to stay on top of where your card earns the most and when. If you’re using this card for every purchase, you don’t need to be as diligent, but if you’re using your card as one of many you’ll want to be sure you know how to maximize rewards.

Make sure to redeem your cash back. It might be tempting to let your cash back pile up just to watch the total tick up, but it’s more useful if you redeem it. You can generally apply the cash to your card balance or get it deposited in your checking account, and either one is a fine option. 

Consider opening a “sister” card. As mentioned above, in some cases, you can transfer cash back to a points-earning card on which your rewards are worth more. Chase cards are an example of this: If you hold a cash back card like the Chase Freedom Flex℠ and a points-earning card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, you can transfer cash back earned on the Freedom Flex (which is technically earned in Ultimate Rewards Points) to the Sapphire Preferred, and unlock more redemption options. This strategy isn’t required to make the most of your cash back card, but it can help take rewards to the next level.

Insider’s methodology for picking the best cash back credit cards

In terms of flexibility, cash back is the king of credit card rewards. Many cash back credit cards give you the option to redeem your accrual as either cash, a statement credit, or a transfer to your bank account.

Remember that a credit card — cash back or otherwise — won’t be worth it if you’re paying interest or late fees. When using a credit card, it’s important to pay your balance in full each month, make payments on time, and only spend what you can afford to pay.

Cash back cards vary greatly in their return rates — you can earn anywhere from 1% to 6% back. Even better, many cash back cards have no annual fee, so you don’t have to pay for the privilege of earning rewards.

If you’re new to rewards credit cards and aren’t interested in earning travel points or miles, a cash back card is the best option for you. With cash back cards, 1% back will always be 1 cent back, no matter what, and you can use your cash back to lower your monthly bill or transfer it to your checking account, among other options.

The best cash back credit card for you depends on your spending habits and if you prefer a flat rate of cash back on all spending or earning bonus cash back on specific types of purchases. Flat-rate cash back cards are best for those who don’t want to keep track of multiple bonus categories and just want a simple earning structure.

But if you really want to maximize your rewards earning, choosing a card that earns bonus cash back in categories where you spend a lot — like groceries, dining, or gas — can make a huge difference in your rate of return.

We narrowed down the dozens of cash back credit cards currently available to new applicants by looking at a few factors:

• Ease of use — Are there any hoops to jump through, like needing to be a member of a specific bank?
• Cash-back earning potential — How much cash back can you earn with this card, and how broad are the bonus categories?
• Annual fee — Many cash back cards waive an annual fee, but for the few that do charge a fee, is it justified based on the card’s rewards?
• Options for various types of consumers — We wanted our top cash back card picks to reflect different types of users, from families looking to maximize grocery spending to those looking to rebuild their credit score.

Cash back credit cards frequently asked questions (FAQ)

How does earning cash back work?

Cash-back credit cards earn you a percentage of cash back — usually at least 1%— on every dollar you spend (or more with cards that have bonus cash back categories). You can transfer the cash back you earn from these cards to a bank account, use them to wipe charges from your credit card statement, or redeem them for gifts and merchandise.

Do cash back cards actually give you cash?

Cash-back credit cards do give cash, but that’s not to say you’ll necessarily see the physical cash. You’re typically awarded cash back as a credit that you can use to cancel out purchases from your credit card statement, or to redeem for gift cards or merchandise online.

What are the different types of cash back cards?

The different types of cash back cards are those with a flat rate, those with select bonus categories, those with rotating bonus categories, and those with pick-your-own bonus categories — a relatively new and somewhat limited option.

What credit card offers the most cash back?

The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express earns 6% back on the first $6,000 you spend each calendar year at US supermarkets (then 1% back), and 6% back on select US streaming services, for example, and the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card is the most rewarding pick for dining out with 4% back. Different cards earn the most cash back in different categories, so you’ll want to factor in your spending habits and preferences when deciding which cash-back card makes the most sense for you. 

Is a cash back card better than a travel or rewards card?

A cash back card could be better than a travel or rewards card, depending on what you want to do with your rewards. If you primarily want to put money back in your bank account rather than earn rewards you can redeem for travel, a cash back credit card could be better — and you usually won’t have to pay a very high annual fee, if you have to pay one at all. 

How to find the best cash back credit card

A good cash back card is one with generous bonus categories, since the goal is to earn as much cash back as possible on your spending. The more bonus categories, the better, and the higher the cash back rate, the better. The best card for you depends on the cash back rate for your common spending categories, how you want to redeem your cash back, and what you’re willing to pay in annual fee.

What are the pros and cons of a cash back credit card?

The pros of a cash back card include that they rarely carry annual fees, there are no restrictions on how you redeem and spend the cash, and you can earn airline and hotel status by booking with cash (but not points). The cons of a cash back card include that they rarely offer large sign-up or welcome bonuses, and that cash back is generally less valuable, dollar for dollar, than points.

How can you make the most of a cash back credit card?

To make the most of a cash back credit card, always pay the balance in full each month. Also, read up on rewards rates for different spending areas (some cards offer elevated rates in areas like restaurants, gas stations, or supermarkets). Make sure to actually redeem your cash back instead of letting it pile up, and consider opening a “sister” card from the same issuer to transfer points and miles to where they’re worth the most.

Jasmin Baron, CEPF

Editor

• A funeral procession was held for Ivana Trump on Monday.
• Her family members and extended family attended the glamorous ordeal.
• Here are photos of those in attendance during the celebration of life. 

Ivana Trump’s family partook in a funeral on Wednesday at a Roman Catholic Church in New York City’s Upper East Side, in a celebration that was decorated with thousands of her favorite roses and reflected her “glamorous” life, a friend told Insider.

“Ivana would want a big, glamorous celebration of her life,” publicist R. Couri Hay said. “Today she’s right where she belongs. In the spotlight and in heaven.”

Ivana Trump, 73, died Thursday at her townhome, which was a block from the church. Her death has been ruled accidental by the New York City medical examiner’s office, which said the cause was blunt impact injuries to the torso sustained from the fall.

Her family, including her three children and ex-husband Donald Trump, attended the procession at St. Vincent Ferrer Roman Catholic Church.

Here are photos of the attendees at the funeral.

 

 

 

Maryland is holding closely watched gubernatorial primaries on Tuesday. Polls in the state closed at 8 p.m. ET.

The races and the stakes: 

 

Governor

Republican Gov. Larry Hogan — who in recent years has emerged as a vocal critic of former President Donald Trump and has hinted at a possible 2024 presidential campaign — is nearing the end of his second term in office. He is term-limited and ineligible to run for a third consecutive term.

Hogan has thrown his support behind Kelly Schulz, a former GOP state delegate who led Maryland’s labor department and commerce department under him.

However, Trump has endorsed state Del. Daniel Cox, who has tacked to the right and is more aligned with the former president’s MAGA movement.

Attorney Joe Werner and perennial candidate Robin Ficker are also running in the GOP primary.

This contest could serve as an early barometer of the future of the Republican Party, as Hogan wants the party to move beyond Trump while the former president continues to flex his muscles in electoral races across the country. 

Hogan was able to win statewide in deeply blue Maryland as a moderate Republican, but despite the political headwinds facing Democrats this year, the open-seat contest represents one of their party’s best opportunities nationwide to flip a governor’s office.

The crowded Democratic primary includes state Comptroller Peter Franchot; former Democratic National Committee chairman Tom Perez; author and former nonprofit executive Wes Moore; former US Education secretary John King; former state attorney general Doug Gansler; philosopher Jerome Segal; and retired teacher Ralph Jaffe. Rushern L. Baker III, the former Prince George’s County executive, suspended his campaign last month but will still appear on the ballot.

A Goucher College Poll released in late June showed Cox leading Schulz 25% to 22% in the GOP primary; Franchot led the pack among Democrats with 16% of the vote, while Perez and Moore were both tied at 14% support. The survey also revealed significant amounts of undecided voters: 44% of Republicans were unsure of their choice, while 35% of Democrats were on the fence about their preferred candidate.

Attorney General

The incumbent, Democrat Brian Frosh, is retiring after two terms in office.

The Democratic primary features two familiar faces: US Rep. Anthony Brown, who served under Martin O’Malley as lieutenant governor from 2007 to 2015 and was the party’s 2014 gubernatorial nominee, and Katie Curran O’Malley, a former Baltimore prosecutor and ex-district court judge who is married to former Gov. Martin O’Malley. (The former judge is also the daughter of longtime Maryland attorney general J. Joseph Curran Jr., who served from 1987 to 2007.)

While Katie Curran O’Malley has emphasized her prosecutorial record in making the case for her election, Brown has pointed to his record of working on class action lawsuits and complex litigation, as well as his deep connections in Annapolis and Washington, DC.

The GOP primary features Jim Shalleck, a former prosecutor, and Michael Anthony Peroutka, a former Anne Arundel County council member.

Comptroller

With Franchot in the governor’s race, there will be an open-seat contest on the Democratic side for the first time since 2006.

In the Democratic primary, state Del. Brooke Lierman of Baltimore City will face Bowie Mayor Tim Adams.

Barry Glassman, the Harford County executive, is running unopposed in the GOP primary.

 

US Senate

Democratic Sen. Chris Van Hollen is running for reelection to a second term. He faces one primary opponent, policy analyst Michelle Smith.

The 10 Republican candidates on the ballot are Chris Chaffee, George Davis, Nnabu Eze, Lorie Friend, Reba Hawkins, Jon McGreevey, Joseph Perez, Todd Puglisi, James Tarantin, and John Thormann.

 

US House Races

Democrats currently have a 7-1 edge in the House delegation, with Republicans hoping to make inroads after the original redistricting maps were thrown out by a judge in March. The Democratic-led legislature redrew the congressional lines, which Hogan signed into law in April.

1st District

Republican Rep. Andy Harris, who was first elected in 2010, is running unopposed in the most conservative-leaning district in the state.

In the Democratic primary, Heather Mizeur, a former state delegate and 2014 gubernatorial candidate, is running against longtime diplomat Dave Harden.

2nd District

Dutch Ruppersberger, who has served in Congress since 2003, is running for reelection in a Baltimore County-anchored district. He faces George Croom, Marques Dent, and Liri Fusha in the Democratic primary.

The six Republicans on the ballot include Nicolee Ambrose, Bernard Flowers, Michael Geppi, Lance Griffin, Ellen McNulty, and Dave Wallace.

3rd District

Rep. Jon Sarbanes faces two candidates in the Democratic primary: Ben Beardsley and Jake Pretot.

The five GOP candidates competing in the primary are Thomas Harris, Joe Kelley, Yuripzy Morgan, Antonio Pitocco, and Amal Torres.

4th District

Brown is in the attorney general’s contest and his departure opened up a House seat anchored in the suburbs north and east of Washington, DC, featuring two big-name Democratic candidates: former US Rep. Donna Edwards and former Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Glenn Ivey.

Other Democrats seeking the nomination include Tammy Allison, Angela Angel, James Curtis, Matthew Fogg, Greg Holmes, Robert McGhee, and Kim Shelton.

Eric Loeb, George McDermott, and Jeff Warner and squaring off in the GOP primary.

5th District

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer — who has served in Congress since 1981 and has become an institution in the nation’s capital — is running for reelection in a district encompassing much of southern Maryland. He faces Keith Washington and Mckayla Wilkes in the Democratic primary.

The candidates in the GOP primary include Bryan Duval Cubero, Vanessa Marie Hoffman, Toni Jarboe-Duley, Michael Lemon, Chris Palombi, Patrick Stevens, and Tannis Villanova.

6th District

Democratic Rep. David Trone is running for a third term in a district that was made slightly more competitive in redistricting and stretches from the suburbs west of Washington, DC, to western Maryland.

Trone will face challengers George Gluck, Ben Smilowitz, and Heba Zayas in the Democratic primary.

Republicans in the race include Colt Black, Matthew Foldi, Jonathan Jenkins, Neil Parrott, Robert Poissonnier, and Mariela Roca.

Parrott lost to Trone by a wide margin in 2020 and is seeking a rematch in the newly-drawn district, which would have been carried by President Joe Biden by nearly 10%.

7th District

Rep. Kweisi Mfume, the former president and chief executive of the NAACP, is running for reelection in an overwhelmingly Democratic district anchored in Baltimore.

Tashi Davis, Elihu Eli El, and Wayne McNeal are challenging Mfume in the Democratic primary.

Four GOP candidates also are on the ballot — Ray Bly, Scott Collier, Michael Pearson, and Lorrie Sigley.

8th District

Rep. Jamie Raskin, a prominent member of the House January 6 committee, is running for a fourth term and faces Andalib Odulate in the Democratic primary.

Gregory Coll and Michael Yadeta will face each other in the Republican primary.

State legislative primaries

 

• To migrate all your emails from Outlook to Gmail, you’ll need to link your Gmail and Outlook accounts.
• Once you link your accounts, all your email will migrate and you can manage your Outlook account through Gmail.
• If you aren’t going to use Outlook anymore, you can perform a one-time migration instead.

Gmail is the most popular email service in the world, but Microsoft Outlook has its fair share of dedicated users too. And if you use both apps, you don’t have to live two separate lives — you can connect your accounts and migrate all your Outlook emails to Gmail.

Here’s how to migrate all your emails from Outlook to Gmail, whether you’re still using that Outlook account or want to abandon it.

How to migrate emails from an active Outlook account to Gmail

This is for anyone who wants to keep using their Outlook account alongside the Gmail account. To do it, you’ll need to link your Gmail and Outlook accounts.

Linking the accounts lets you see your Outlook emails in the same inbox as your Gmail account, and they’ll be available on every device. When you delete an Outlook email in Gmail, it’ll delete from your Outlook account too. The accounts will sync every 10 to 20 minutes to fetch new emails.

You’ll also be able to send emails from Gmail using the Outlook account. When you’re composing an email, just click your name in the From field to pick the sending account.

You can link your accounts using the Gmail website or mobile apps.

Using the Gmail website

1. Open the Gmail website and click the gear icon in the top-right, and then click See all settings.

2. Open the Accounts and Import tab. Next to Check mail from other accounts, click Add a mail account.

Google; William Antonelli/Insider

3. Enter in the Outlook address you want to link and click Next.

4. When you’re asked if you want to link accounts using Gmailify or import mail using POP3, select the Gmailify option.

5. A pop-up will appear asking if you want to give Gmail permission to access your Outlook account. If your browser’s pop-up blocker stops it, disable the blocker and try again.

Once you give permission, Gmailify will link the accounts, and you’ll have access to all your Outlook email in Gmail. 

Using the Gmail app

1. Download the Gmail app onto your Android, iPhone, or iPad if you don’t already have it.

2. Open the app and set up your Gmail account.

3. Once you’ve got a Gmail account set up, tap your user icon in the top-right corner and select Add another account from the menu that appears.

Google; William Antonelli/Insider

4. Select the Outlook, Hotmail, and Live option.

5. You can choose whether you want to link the accounts using Gmailify or not. Using Gmailify will configure your Outlook account’s folders and spam filters to act like Gmail’s.

6. Type in your Outlook address and log into it using the Microsoft page that opens.

Let the accounts link. Once they’re done, you’ll be able to check your Outlook emails in the same inbox as your Gmail messages.

How to migrate emails from an old Outlook account to Gmail

If you want to stop using Outlook and start using Gmail exclusively, you can perform a one-time import of all your Outlook emails. This will migrate over all your existing Outlook contacts and messages, and will also keep an eye on your Outlook account for the next 30 days in case any late messages come in.

1. First, head to the Microsoft website and log into the Outlook account that you want to migrate emails from.

2. Open the Gmail website and click the gear icon in the top-right corner, then select See all settings.

3. In the menu that appears, click the Accounts and Import tab near the top.

4. Next to Import mail and contacts, click Import from another address.

Google; William Antonelli/Insider

5. Type in the Outlook address that you want to migrate your mail from, then click Continue.

6. On the next page, click Continue again and give Gmail permission to access your Outlook account. If you have a pop-up blocker enabled, you might need to disable it and then start the process over.

7. Once they’re linked, select what you want to migrate over from Outlook: Contacts, mail, and/or new mail for the next 30 days. We recommend selecting all three.

Google; William Antonelli/Insider

Depending on how much mail you had in the Outlook account, this could take a while. Once it’s done, a message will appear at the top of Gmail telling you that the import is complete.

All your Outlook mail will be kept in a separate folder, but you can freely move those messages however you want.

This is a one-time migration, so once it’s complete — or if you picked the new mail option, once the 30 days have passed — Gmail disconnects from Outlook. If you missed anything, you’ll need to run the import again.

William Antonelli

Tech Reporter for Insider Reviews

William Antonelli (he/she/they) is a writer, editor, and organizer based in New York City. As a founding member of the Reference team, he helped grow Tech Reference (now part of Insider Reviews) from humble beginnings into a juggernaut that attracts over 20 million visits a month.
Outside of Insider, his writing has appeared in publications like Polygon, The Outline, Kotaku, and more. He’s also a go-to source for tech analysis on channels like Newsy, Cheddar, and NewsNation.
You can find him on Twitter @DubsRewatcher, or reach him by email at wantonelli@insider.com.

Read more
Read less

• In his nightly address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced new treason investigations. 
• He fired his top security chief and prosecutor as over 60 employees of their offices are suspected of working against the state. 
• “It can truly be called self-purification,” Zelenskyy said. 

In his nightly national address on Sunday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced hundreds of criminal proceedings resulting from treason investigations in the nation’s security services and among prosecutors in the country.

“As of today, 651 criminal proceedings have been registered regarding treason and collaboration activities of employees of prosecutors’ offices, pretrial investigation bodies, and other law enforcement agencies,” Zelenskyy said. “In particular, more than 60 employees of the prosecutor’s office and the security service of Ukraine remained in the occupied territory and are working against our state.”

Zelenskyy added that on Sunday he dismissed the Prosecutor General, Iryna Venediktova, from her position and fired Ivan Bakanov, the head of the Security Service of Ukraine, citing the growing concerns about treason in their offices. 

“Such an array of crimes against the foundations of the national security of the state and the connections detected between the employees of the security forces of Ukraine and the special services of Russia pose very serious questions to the relevant leadership. Each of these questions will receive a proper answer.”

It has been 144 days since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. In that time, Russia has fired more than 3,000 cruise missiles at populated areas of Ukraine and killed more than 10,000 civilians, according to the United Nations.

Zelenskyy said as violence spread through the region, members of the Ukrainian security services and law enforcement offices shared secret information with invading forces and cooperated with Russian officials. 

“I want to thank everyone who participated in this operation,” Zelenskyy said. “It can truly be called self-purification.”

• Madolline Gourley was traveling from Australia to Canada when she was detained in Los Angeles.
• Gourley planned to house-sit in exchange for accommodations but border officials didn’t believe her.
• Most of the comments she’s received about how she was treated have been positive and empathetic.

After being detained and asked whether she had an abortion by a US border official, Madolline Gourley told Insider she’s shocked by the response she’s received to her story going viral.

The 32-year-old was traveling from Brisbane, Australia, to Canada where she planned to house- and cat-sit in exchange for accommodations. After landing in Los Angeles, Gourley was detained by American border officials who didn’t believe her story and questioned her for three hours.

During that time, a US border officer asked her repeatedly whether she was pregnant, and if she recently had an abortion. Gourley said no, but told Insider she thought about what the response would have been if she had said yes, and whether that would have gotten her deported quicker. 

“I think a lot of people who’ve read this story are most horrified at that and I can see why, because of everything going on over there,” she said.

Last month, the US Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, a landmark decision that recognized a person’s right to an abortion.

Gourley was eventually deported for breaching the conditions of a visa-waiver program. She said other house-sitters have reached out to her with similar stories of having issues while traveling on this visa. Gourley said The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Australia told her that US Customs and Border Protection should have provided her with documentation that outlined why she was detained, but Gourley never received any paperwork.

While she said some people think she’s lying about being asked about having an abortion, most of the comments she’s received have been positive and empathetic.

“People just really feel sorry for the questioning and treatment I got while being held in detention,” she told Insider. “I feel it was out of line for the officer to ask the pregnancy question again, and the abortion question.”

Gourley said her treatment from the US border official won’t deter her from traveling to the US, but said if she had never visited the country before and this was her first experience, she’d be mortified.

“For people that are coming to the United States for a holiday or a vacation, and that’s the first person they’re  interacting with on US soil … it doesn’t make you wanna go to the United States,” she said.

Gourley has tried contacting US Customs and Border Protection about the incident but said she hasn’t heard back. 

US Customs and Border Protection did not immediately respond to Insider’s request for comment.

Gourley has previously freelanced for Business Insider. 

• Rep. Adam Schiff was among the many critics of President Joe Biden’s meeting with Mohammed bin Salman.
• Biden met the Saudi Crown Prince on Friday after promising not to meet with the Saudi leader.
• Schiff said the meeting showed the “continuing grip oil-rich autocrats have on US foreign policy.”

Rep. Adam Schiff has added his voice to the growing chorus of criticism over US President Joe Biden’s one-on-one meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohamed Bin Salman.

“If we ever needed a visual reminder of the continuing grip oil-rich autocrats have on US foreign policy in the Middle East, we got it today,” Schiff tweeted. “One fist bump is worth a thousand words.”

—Adam Schiff (@RepAdamSchiff) July 15, 2022

 

On Friday, Biden met with the Saudi leader known as MBS — who is linked to the murder of Saudi Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi — less than a month after promising he wouldn’t meet with him.

“I’m not going to meet with MBS,” Biden told reporters last month. “I’m going to an international meeting, and he’s going to be part of it.”

During his campaign, Biden also promised to make the kingdom a “pariah” state for its role in Khashoggi’s murder.

Friday’s meeting was part of Biden’s first trip to the Middle East and focused on trying to increase Saudi oil production to the US in light of record-high gas prices. The bilateral meeting was kicked off by a fist bump between the two leaders at Al Salam Royal Palace, which triggered backlash given the friendly nature of the gesture.

The meeting also followed the release of a US intelligence report in 2021 that directly ties MBS to the murder of Khashoggi, who was brutally murdered by Saudi henchmen at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in October 2018.

That report enabled the Biden administration to place sanctions on a number of Saudi individuals named in the report, though MBS did not face any economic penalties.

When an NBC reporter asked MBS during the meeting if he’d apologize to Khashoggi’s family, he smirked. 

Khashoggi’s fiancee also criticized the meeting between Biden and MBS, sharing a tweet captioned, “What Jamal Khashoggi would tweet today.”

“Hey @POTUS, Is this the accountability you promised for my murder? The blood of MBS’ next victim is on your hands,” the fake tweet read. 

—Hatice Cengiz / خديجة (@mercan_resifi) July 15, 2022

 

• A police officer has backed up testimony that Donald Trump fought with his Secret Service detail.
• According to CNN, the officer told the January 6 committee he witnessed a heated exchange.
• The testimony supports former the account shared by former White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson.

A police officer has backed up the bombshell testimony that former President Donald Trump quarreled with his security team after they refused to drive him to the US Capitol on the day of the January 6 insurrection, CNN reported Thursday.

Citing a “source familiar with the matter,” CNN reported that the officer, a member of the Metropolitan Police Department, was part of the presidential motorcade and witnessed a “heated exchange” between Trump and Secret Service agents. He shared his account with the congressional committee investigating January 6, according to the outlet.

A spokesperson for the committee did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

In June, former White House staffer Cassidy Hutchinson told the January 6 committee that she had heard about an altercation between Trump and his security entourage after the former president finished speaking at the Ellipse and insisted on following his supporters to the US Capitol.

According to Hutchinson, Tony Ornato, then the White House deputy chief of staff, told her the president had a “very strong, very angry response” to being told that he could not go to the Capitol due to security reasons.

Two Secret Service agents earlier this month told CNN that word of the altercation had circulated widely within the agency.

On Thursday, The Intercept reported that the Secret Service deleted text messages from January 5 and January 6 that could have shed light on the alleged incident.

The messages were erased after the Department of Homeland Security’s inspector general had requested electronic communications as part of an oversight investigation. The Secret Service said the messages were lost in a “device-replacement program,” according to a letter about the incident obtained by The Intercept. 

• Tesla’s top AI and autopilot executive, Andrej Karpathy, announced on Twitter that he is leaving his role. 
• Karpathy says Tesla’s autopilot technology “graduated from lane keeping to city streets.” 
• Karpathy’s exit comes at a critical time for Tesla, amid layoffs and a federal probe into the safety of its autopilot technology. 

Tesla is losing its top autopilot executive. 

Andrej Karpathy, the director of AI and Tesla’s Autopilot Vision team, announced on Twitter late this afternoon that he is leaving his role. 

In a tweet, Karpathy said, “It’s been a great pleasure to help Tesla towards its goals over the last 5 years and a difficult decision to part ways. In that time, Autopilot graduated from lane keeping to city streets and I look forward to seeing the exceptionally strong Autopilot team continue that momentum.” 

In response, Tesla CEO Elon Musk tweeted that it has been an “honor working with you.” 

Karpathy’s exit comes at a critical juncture for Tesla’s autopilot unit. The National Highway and Safety Administration is investigating the technology, alleging that Tesla’s autopilot software was involved in more than 200 crashes since July of last year. The federal agency’s probe may result in a recall of Tesla vehicles that come with the autopilot function.  

Just two weeks ago, Bloomberg reported that Tesla laid off about 200 workers in its autopilot division and closed an entire office in San Mateo, California.