The casual dining chain's comparable sales rose a delicious 31% in its most recent quarter, parent company Brinker International reported yesterday.
CNN called it "America's hottest restaurant."
Zoom in: Chili's has avoided the fate of fellow casual dining chains Red Lobster and TGI Fridays with good old-fashioned execution and a little bit of social media buzz.
"Once falling behind flashier restaurants, Chili's is pulling off its comeback thanks to upgraded French fry and chicken tender recipes, fast food-like deals and viral TikTok videos of customers pulling apart its gooey mozzarella sticks," CNN reported.
The deadly American Airlines crashat DCA Wednesday evening is reupping long-held concerns about overcrowding at the airport and understaffing among air traffic controllers.
The big picture: Just last year, Congress added more long-haul flights to DCA despite fears they would jeopardize safety. The airport saw at least two near-misses in 2024.
President Trump on Thursday reiterated that tariffs are coming against Canada and Mexico on Saturday, though he said the scope of those levies is still up in the air.
Why it matters: Canada and Mexico are the top U.S. trading partners, and his ongoing tariff threats have sparked fears of an economically damaging trade war.
President Trump ordered a review of all federal aviation hiring and safety decisions in response to Wednesday night's deadly air collision near Washington.
Why it matters: The order shows Trump is doubling down on his claim, without evidence, that DEI policies were a factor in the crash. His memo explicitly mentions "diversity equity and inclusion," and reflects how anti-DEI efforts are a centerpiece of his second administration's policy.
The deadly midair collision near Reagan National Airport outside D.C. Wednesday marks the deadliest air carrier crash in the U.S. since November 2001, when a passenger jet crashed in Queens, New York killing 265. Another 265 were killed in airplane crashes during the 9/11 terror attacks.
The big picture: Fatal crashes of commercial aircraft in the U.S. have become uncommon in the 21st century, as regulations have increased, technology has advanced and safety measures and controls have improved.
President Trump and his allies are blaming diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives for contributing to the tragic plane crash outside of D.C. Wednesday night, without providing any evidence of a link between the two.
Why it matters: Trump repeatedly cited DEI policies, a favorite boogeyman, at the Federal Aviation Administration as having some role in the plane collision during White House remarks. He also blamed Democrats who advanced inclusive workplace policies.
President Trump on Thursday named Chris Rocheleau as acting administrator for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) after a fatal plane crash near Washington, D.C.
The big picture: Rocheleau worked at the FAA for more than two decades and most recently served as an executive at a professional aviation association. He'll be tasked with handling the immediate response to the collision.
President Trump after briefly offering condolences and sharing plans to investigate a deadly plane collision outside D.C., took partisan hits against former presidents Obama and Biden.
The big picture: Trump said the White House had "strong opinions" on the collision, railed against his political opponents and blasted the FAA's diversity, equity and inclusion programs.
Thursday's GDP report,at first glance, points to a year-end slowdown in growth. But that's a mirage. Under the hood, there isn't much cooling underway at all.
Why it matters: America's economy continued to chug along in the final months of 2024, with few signs of wavering demand.
General Catalyst has reached out to several large organizations about buying a stake in its holding company, as it continues to expand beyond its venture capital roots, Axios has learned.
Why it matters: GC is one of the startup world's most active investors, with $32 billion in assets under management. Portfolio companies have included Airbnb, Anduril, and Stripe.
The European Central Bank slashed interest rates by a quarter point on Thursday, a widely expected move that marks the fifth time in the last year officials have lowered borrowing costs.
Why it matters: The euro area is struggling with political dysfunction in Germany and France that is holding back activity, while the effect of still-high interest rates weighs on the broader economy.
The U.S. economy grew at a 2.3% annualized rate in the final three months of 2024, the Commerce Department said on Thursday — closing out a year of strong growth.
Why it matters: Despite some lost momentum at the end of the year, President Trump still inherits an economy expanding at a healthy clip, even as interest rates and inflation remain elevated.
An American Airlines regional passenger jet carrying 64 people collidedwith a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter in midair near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Virginia, on Wednesday night, officials said, citing preliminary reports.
The latest: Emergency respondents were now "switching from a rescue operation to a recovery operation," D.C. Fire and EMS Department chief John Donnelly said at a press briefing Thursday morning.
The financial services industry is very excited about the prospect that the Trump administration will go on a massive deregulation spree.
Why it matters: Financial services is one of the most heavily regulated industries in the world, where compliance costs can soar into the billions of dollars and where getting innovations approved can take years.
With a typical buyout, a company offers workers money and maybe some benefits, and in exchange they quit. It's a gentler way to reduce headcount, and things typically go fairly smoothly.
Why it matters: Smooth is not the word for what's happened to the federal workforce over the past day and a half, not that things were going great before that either.
A Will Ferrell comedy, a star-studded White House conspiracy thriller and a comic book-style series about a beloved wall-crawler are among the top new titles this week on Prime Video, Hulu, Netflix and Disney+.
The intrigue: Will Ferrell and Reese Witherspoon star in this comedy about bridal parties who clash when two weddings are accidentally booked at the same venue on the same day.
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