If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

Hurdle Word 1 hint

A kitchen tool.

Hurdle Word 1 answer

CORER

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Useful.

Hurdle Word 2 Answer

UTILE

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Dwelling.

Hurdle Word 3 answer

ABDOE

Hurdle Word 4 hint

A barrage.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

SALVO

Final Hurdle hint

The goat.

Hurdle Word 5 answer

BILLY

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Today's Connections: Sports Edition will be easier if you watch international soccer.

As we've shared in previous hints stories, this is a version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.

Like the original Connections, the game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight, and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier — so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for the latest Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

What is Connections: Sports Edition?

The NYT's latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication's sports coverage. The sports Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Each puzzle features 16 words, and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake — players get up to four mistakes before the game ends.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

Here's a hint for today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: Skill move

• Green: Trustworthy

• Blue: Famous Dodgers

• Purple: In the bullpen

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

• Yellow: Move to Evade a Defender

• Green: Dependable

• Blue: Dodgers in the Baseball Hall of Fame, Familiarly

• Purple: Pitching____

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections: Sports Edition #648 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Move to Evade a Defender: DEKE, JUKE, SIDESTEP, SPIN

• Dependable: CONSISTENT, RELIABLE, STEADY, UNFAILING

• Dodgers in the Baseball Hall of Fame, Familiarly: DUKE, JACKIE, PEE WEE, SANDY

• Pitching____: COACH, MACHINE, STAFF, WEDGE

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new sports Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Connections.

Welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalogue.

Released in August 2025, Pips puts a unique spin on dominoes, creating a fun single-player experience that could become your next daily gaming habit.

Currently, if you're stuck, the game only offers to reveal the entire puzzle, forcing you to move on to the next difficulty level and start over. However, we have you covered! Below are piecemeal answers that will serve as hints so that you can find your way through each difficulty level.

How to play Pips

If you've ever played dominoes, you'll have a passing familiarity with how Pips is played. As we've shared in our previous hints stories for Pips, the tiles, like dominoes, are placed vertically or horizontally and connect with each other. The main difference between a traditional game of dominoes and Pips is the color-coded conditions you have to address. The touching tiles don't necessarily have to match.

The conditions you have to meet are specific to the color-coded spaces. For example, if it provides a single number, every side of a tile in that space must add up to the number provided. It is possible — and common — for only half a tile to be within a color-coded space.

Here are common examples you'll run into across the difficulty levels:

• Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.

• Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.

• Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.

• Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.

• Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.

If an area does not have any color coding, it means there are no conditions on the portions of dominoes within those spaces.

Easy difficulty hints, answers for July 3 Pips

Less Than (2): Everything in this space must be less than 2. The answer is 6-1, placed horizontally.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 6-1, placed horizontally; 4-3, placed vertically.

Less Than (2): Everything in this space must be less than 2. The answer is 1-3, placed vertically.

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 4-3, placed vertically; 0-5, placed horizontally.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 0-5, placed horizontally; 5-6, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (5): Everything in this space must be greater than 5. The answer is 5-6, placed horizontally.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for July 3 Pips

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 4-5, placed horizontally.

Equal (4): Everything in this space must be equal to 4. The answer is 4-5, placed horizontally; 4-4, placed vertically.

Equal (6): Everything in this space must be equal to 6. The answer is 2-6, placed vertically; 6-6, placed horizontally.

Equal (1): Everything in this space must be equal to 1. The answer is 1-1, placed vertically.

Less Than (2): Everything in this space must be less than 2. The answer is 0-4, placed horizontally.

Equal (4): Everything in this space must be equal to 4. The answer is 0-4, placed horizontally; 4-2, placed vertically.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 4-3, placed vertically.

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 4-3, placed vertically; 3-6, placed horizontally.

Number (8): Everything in this space must add up to 8. The answer is 4-2, placed vertically; 3-6, placed horizontally.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for July 3 Pips

Equal (0): Everything in this space must be equal to 0. The answer is 4-0, placed vertically; 0-6, placed horizontally.

Number (12): Everything in this space must add up to 12. The answer is 0-6, placed horizontally; 6-5, placed horizontally.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 6-5, placed horizontally; 5-3, placed vertically.

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 5-3, placed vertically.

Number (7): Everything in this space must add up to 7. The answer is 4-5, placed vertically; 2-0, placed horizontally.

Equal (0): Everything in this space must be equal to 0. The answer is 2-0, placed horizontally; 0-2, placed vertically.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 0-1, placed vertically; 1-5, placed vertically.

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 1-5, placed vertically.

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 3-1, placed horizontally.

Number (1): Everything in this space must add up to 1. The answer is 3-1, placed horizontally.

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 3-4, placed vertically; 2-3, placed horizontally.

Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 3-2, placed horizontally; 3-6, placed vertically.

Number (12): Everything in this space must add up to 12. The answer is 3-6, placed vertically; 6-4, placed horizontally.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 5-5, placed vertically.

Equal (6): Everything in this space must be equal to 6. The answer is 3-4, placed vertically; 6-4, placed horizontally; 4-4, placed vertically.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you're an old soul.

Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for today's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

What is Connections?

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: Good vibes

• Green: Old sayings

• Blue: Bad vibes

• Purple: One letter

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

Here are today's Connections categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

• Yellow: Positive feelings

• Green: Retro expressions of approval

• Blue: Bad things to give someone

• Purple: What things pronounced "T" might refer to

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections #1118 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Positive feelings: BLISS, FELICITY, HAPPINESS, WARM FUZZIES

• Retro expressions of approval: COOL BEANS, FAR OUT, GROOVY, RIGHT ON

• Bad things to give someone: COLD SHOULDER, DIRTY LOOK, HARD TIME, RUNAROUND

• What things pronounced "T" might refer to: GOLF ACCESSORY, GOSSIP, HOT DRINK, SHIRT

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Connections.

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you're stuck in your ways.

Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game, requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.

By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.

If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.

NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: It's like talking to a brick wall

The words are related to strength.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe being unshakable.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Not Budging.

NYT Strands word list for July 3

• Obstinate

• Willful

• Headstrong

• Firm

• Not Budging

• Stubborn

Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and if you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now!

Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Strands.

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you're a runner.

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. 

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Track and field accessory.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...

Today's Wordle starts with the letter B.

The Wordle answer today is...

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

BATON

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints. Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Wordle.

Summer vacation season is upon us. As you're packing your swimsuit and sunscreen, don't forget to pack your e-reader with plenty of summer reads. Luckily, Amazon just dropped its July First Reads lineup.

Prime members who also happen to be bookworms can maximize their monthly reading with the Amazon First Reads program. Similar to Book of the Month, every month, Amazon First Reads drops a new collection of discounted titles. However, unlike Book of the Month, these books are totally free for Prime Members. Here's everything you need to know about Amazon First Reads.

Opens in a new window

Credit: Amazon

Amazon First Reads

 

Learn More

What is Amazon First Reads?

Amazon First Reads is a monthly program in which eight to 10 editor-selected books are offered free to Prime members. Members are allowed to choose one book per month, which is then added to their library. Non-Prime members can still join in on the fun, but they have to pay $1.99 for their book pick.

Featured Amazon First Reads books are totally free at checkout for Prime members. Credit: Screenshot: Amazon / Mashable composite

Some months, like Prime Day's July (or June) and Black Friday's November, offer two free books. And in others, you can select a free short story with your one free e-book.

To select your book, visit the Amazon First Reads home page to browse the options. As a Prime Member, you'll see the option to "read now for free " when you go to purchase the titles. Once you make your selection, it'll automatically be added to your Kindle library.

Which books are featured in Amazon First Reads?

Among the eight to ten books selected each month, the book editors at Amazon provide a variety of genres for every reader. The books are typically new or soon-to-be-released books — many of the books are published under one of Amazon's publishing imprints, so they're exclusive to Amazon's shelves.

In addition to the full-length books offered each month, there's typically a short story available, too, exclusive to read through the Kindle Store. You'll find familiar names in the First Reads collections. Past authors include Abby Jimenez, Rebecca Yarros, Lee Child, Fredrik Backman, Alice Hoffman, and Dean Koontz.

Kindle Unlimited members are able to read most of the previous First Reads picks for free, so if there are multiple each month that you want to add to your digital bookshelf, consider a Kindle Unlimited membership.

July 2026 Amazon First Reads books

July's First Reads includes a short story from Peter James and an array of thrillers, romance, and fiction. Credit: Screenshot / Amazon

July's First Reads lineup brings more fun stories for your summer reading list. The July deals feature nine novels and one short read.

This month's short read, John Grebble Is Gone, comes from Sunday Times bestselling author Peter James. It follows John Grebble, who wakes up to find he's been declared dead. He realizes this was no accident — someone intentionally tried to erase him, and he's on a quest to figure out who.

But there are plenty more books to choose from, including a cozy mystery, The Oxford Detective Society, which is the first book in the Lyssa Moore Mysteries series.

Here are all of the First Reads deals for July 2026:

• How to Ruin a Wedding by Elba Luz

• No Light but the Stars by Lindsay Jayne Ashford

• Ransom by Leslie Wolfe

• When She Was Ours by Anna Nordberg

• The Oxford Detective Society by Faith Martin

• Fields of Asphodel by Callie Rowland

• Dead Girls Tell No Tales by Carissa Ann Lynch

• A Heartbeat at My Feet by Kristin Judd

• Where Her Secrets Lie by Katie Tallo

Do you need a Kindle for Amazon First Reads?

All of the books selected are technically purchased through the Kindle Store. But does that mean you need a Kindle to read them?

Nope! No Kindle e-reader is necessary to read books collected through First Reads. All books purchased through the Kindle Store are available in the Kindle app, which can be read on a smartphone, tablet, or computer.

However, if you're asking if you should get a Kindle, that's a different question. While a Kindle is not required to enjoy the bounty of the Kindle store, it is our favorite e-reader brand if you're in the market.

Kindle Paperwhite

$159.99 at Amazon

 

Shop Now at Amazon Shop Now at Best Buy

A quick look at our favorite 4th of July sales

---

SharkNinja

save up to 30% on kitchen appliances, vacuums, and more

Shop Now

---

Bear Mattress

save 35% sitewide

Get Deal

---

Oru Kayak

save 20% sitewide

Get Deal

---

Home Depot

save up to 30% on appliances, furniture, grills, and more, plus get free tools

Shop Now

---

Funboy

save 25% sitewide

Shop Now

---

Best Buy

save up to 45% on TVs, up to $400 on select MacBooks and iPads, and more

Shop Now

It doesn't matter if Prime Day runs for a singular day or nearly 100 hours like the 2026 sale last week — it's easy to get overwhelmed and forget to buy something. Luckily, Prime Day 2026's unusual timing means we get to flow directly into 4th of July sales.

If there are any items still lingering on your summer shopping list, you have quite the host of July 4th sales to shop over the long weekend. As always, home gear like bedding and mattresses, countertop appliances, and tools are major 4th of July themes, as well as the outdoor items that come to mind when you think "fun in the sun": inflatables, kayaks, fire pits, and more are on sale.

Below, we're tracking the best 4th of July deals through the holiday weekend:

Home deals

• AirDoctor: Save up to $709 on air purifier bundles

• Caraway Home: Save up to 15% on cookware and bakeware

• Cozy Earth: Save 20% when you buy three or more items

• Crate & Barrel: Save up to 60% on dinnerware and drinkware, 35% on kitchen brands, and 30% on furniture

• Cuisinart:

• Ecobee: Save 25% on smart home thermostats

• Home Depot: Save up to 30% on home appliances, living room and patio furniture, up to $165 on power tools, and up to $250 on grills

• IKEA: Save up to 50% on furniture and storage, home textiles, pillows, and more

• Joybird: Save up to 45% off on bestselling furniture and 35% sitewide

• KitchenAid: Save up to 25% on select countertop appliances

• Levoit: Save up to 40% on air purifiers, tower fans, and cordless vacuums

• Lovesac: Save 40% sitewide

• Lowe's: Save up to 45% on select major appliances, up to 40% on lighting and ceiling fans, up to 30% on gardening products, and more

• Mellow Sleep: Save up to 50% sitewide

• Michael's: Save 50% on all red, white, and blue party decor, up to 60% on summer party and craft supplies, BOGO frames and shadow boxes, plus save 30% on all regular price purchases

• Nest New York: Save 25% sitewide on Limited Editions

• Nutribullet: Save up to 44% on blenders and ice cream makers

• PetSmart: Save 15% when you spend $50 on same-day delivery

• Pluto Pillow: Save $25 on a custom pillow + pillow case set

• Pottery Barn: Save up to 70% on select outdoor furniture, bathroom accessories, quilts, and more, plus an extra 20% on select styles

• Revival Rugs: Save 20% sitewide

• Rugs Direct: Save up to 80% sitewide on brands like Safavieh, Chris Loves Julia, Loloi, Rifle Paper Co., and Rugs USA

• SharkNinja: Save up to 30% on Ninja kitchen appliances and Shark vacuums, hair tools, and fans

• Target: Save up to 25% on sunscreen, up to 20% on inflatable pools and water toys, and more

• Wayfair: Save up to 70% on indoor and outdoor rugs, umbrellas, gazebos, mattresses, pillows, and more

Mattress deals

• Avocado: Save up to 15% on organic mattresses

• Bear: Save 35% sitewide

• Brooklyn Bedding: Save 30% sitewide

• DreamCloud: Save up to 60% on mattresses and 66% on bundles

• Eight Sleep: Save up to $500 on Pods and accessories

• Helix: Save 20% sitewide with code JULY20, 25% on Luxe mattresses with code LUXE25, and 30% on Elite mattresses with code ELITE30

• Nectar: Save up to 50% on mattresses + 66% on bundles

• Purple: Save up to $800 on a mattress and base

• Saatva: Save up to $650 on mattresses or up to $750 on bundles

• Tuft & Needle: Save 25% on all bundles

• Zinus: Save up to 60% off, plus get an additional 20% off

Bedding deals

• Baloo: Save $30 on weighted throw blanket + cotton duvet cover bundle

• Breescape: Save 30% sitewide

• Brooklinen: Save 25% sitewide

• Buffy: Save 20% sitewide

• Coyuchi: Save up to 40% sitewide

• Cozy Earth: Save 20% on bedding bundles and save 15% sitewide with code MASHABLE

• Ettitude: Save up to 25% sitewide and up to 70% on final sale

• Naturepedic: Save 20% on organic bedding + get a free muslin blanket

• Rest: Save up to 40% on cooling comforters and sheets

• Silk & Snow: Save 20% on all sheets

Beauty deals

• Dyson: Save up to $130 on the Dyson Airwrap i.d., Airstrait, and Supersonic Nural

• FabFitFun: Get a free Bonus Box worth $250 when you sign up for a membership

• L'ange: Save up to 50% sitewide

• Shark: Save up to $120 on the Shark FlexStyle, Glam, and SpeedStyle

Outdoor deals

• Bote: Save up to 20% on Hangout inflatables, kayaks and paddle boards, and more

• Diadem Sports: Save up to 50% sitewide on pickleball paddles, grips, and more

• Dick's Sporting Goods: Save up to 50% on bikes, running shoes, kayaks, swimsuits and swim trunks, and more

• Funboy: Save 25% sitewide

• HOVERAir: Save up to 50% sitewide

• JisuLife: Save up to 45% on handheld portable fans

• Oru Kayak: Save 20% sitewide

• REI: Save up to 50% on REI Co-op, Vuori, Hoka, The North Face, and more

• Solo Stove: Save 20% on select fire pits and pizza ovens

• TGW: Save up to 50% on select golf cart bags, golf stands, clothing and shoes, and drivers

TV deals

For even more 4th of July TV deals, check out our story of the best Prime Day TV deals — almost every model is still at its Prime Day price as of July 2.

• Hisense 50-inch E7 Cinema Mini LED QLED 4K Fire TV — $398.99 $699 (save $300.01)

• Hisense 50-inch S7N Canvas QLED 4K Art TV — $649.99 $1,299.99 (save $650)

• Insignia 55-inch F50 Series 4K TV — $179.99 $349.99 (save $170)

• LG 55-inch 75B QNED 4K TV — $379.99 $599.99 (save $220)

• Hisense 55-inch U6 Pro Mini LED QLED 4K Fire TV — $529.99 $849.99 (save $320)

• Samsung 55-inch S90F OLED 4K TV — $997.99 $1,397.99 (save $400)

• Hisense 65-inch U6 Pro Mini LED QLED 4K Fire TV — $698.99 $1,099.99 (save $401)

• Hisense 65-inch S7N Canvas QLED 4K Art TV — $799.99 $1,299.99 (save $500)

• TCL 65-inch QM8K Mini LED QLED 4K TV — $997.99 $1,499.99 (save $502)

• Samsung 65-inch S90F OLED 4K TV — $1,199.99 $2,499.99 (save $1,300)

• Hisense 65-inch UR8 RGB Mini LED 4K TV — $1,299.99 $1,999.99 (save $700)

• LG 75-inch 75B QNED 4K TV — $699.99 $999.99 (save $300)

• Hisense 75-inch U6 Pro Mini LED QLED 4K TV — $848.99 $1,399.99 (save $249.01)

• TCL 75-inch QM8K Mini LED QLED 4K TV — $1,397.99 $1,999.99 (save $602)

• Hisense 75-inch S7N Canvas QLED 4K Art TV — $1,398.99 $2,499.99 (save $1,101)

• Hisense 75-inch UR8 RGB Mini LED 4K TV — $1,699.99 $2,499.99 (save $800)

• LG 77-inch C5 OLED 4K TV — $1,999.99 $3,699.99 (save $1,700)

• Insignia 85-inch QF QLED 4K TV — $659.99 $1,099.99 (save $440)

• Hisense 85-inch QD6 Mini LED QLED 4K TV — $749.99 $1,099.99 (save $350)

Tech deals

• Garmin: Save $50 on the Venu 4, $100 on the Forerunner 70, $40 on the Vívofit Jr. 3, $100 on the Tread 2 Overland Edition, and more

• Best Buy: Save up to 45% on select TVs, up to $400 on select MacBooks and iPads, up to $600 on select Windows devices, and more

• HP: Save up to 72% on OmniBook laptops, Omen gaming PCs, All-in-One desktops, and more

• LG: Save up $1,300 on wall ovens, washers and dryers, and more

• Tile: Save up to 30% on trackers

TL;DR: GitMind turns PDFs, YouTube links, audio, and webpages into AI-generated mind maps, and a Basic Plan lifetime subscription is on sale for $34.99 through July 5.

Opens in a new window

Credit: GitMind

GitMind Basic Plan: Lifetime Subscription

$34.99
$169 Save $134.01

 

Get Deal

Mind mapping apps usually assume you’ve already done the hard work of figuring out what the map should show. GitMind is a new AI workspace that ingests a PDF, YouTube link, audio file, or webpage and builds a finished visual map in seconds, and a Basic Plan lifetime subscription is on sale for $34.99 (reg. $169) for a few days longer.

Paste a YouTube URL into the app, and GitMind pulls the transcript, runs the words through its multimodal model, then arranges the key claims into a branching map you can drag and edit. Think of it like turning a college lecture into the professor’s handwritten chalkboard outline, without having to sit through the lecture twice. The same trick works for a 60-page PDF, where the thesis, methodology, and findings each get their own branch instead of leaving you to skim. Audio recordings get transcribed and visualized in the same pass. Screenshots and webpages feed into the same engine.

Researchers can feed in a stack of papers and pull a comparison map across them without manually outlining each one. Project managers can drop meeting notes and watch decisions, action items, and open questions sort themselves into separate branches. Content planners can paste a long-form interview transcript and get a story map back, ready to script from.

Past the mind maps, GitMind includes a chat feature for asking questions of any uploaded file, OCR for scanned documents, and diagram generation for workflows. Real-time collaboration handles multi-person editing on the same canvas. Privacy posture sets the app apart from most AI tools on the market right now, with user content kept out of model training.

Until July 5 at 11:59 p.m. PT, it’s only $34.99 to get a GitMind Basic Lifetime Plan.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Taylor Swift once joked that "anyone I’ve ever talked to" would be invited to her wedding.

Apparently, she was not kidding.

Swift and Travis Kelce’s reported Madison Square Garden wedding this weekend is expected to include around 1,000 guests, which means the guest list is less “intimate gathering” and more “award show with vows.” The couple has not publicly confirmed the full guest list, but reports, sightings, interviews, and a few very suspicious tuxedo fittings have started to sketch out who may be inside the Garden.

So who is reportedly going? Let’s check the seating chart.

Gigi Hadid

Credit: XNY/Getty Images

Gigi Hadid is not just expected to be a guest. She is reportedly part of the bridal party. Hadid and Swift’s friendship dates back to 2014, and Hadid has publicly supported Swift’s relationship with Kelce, writing in 2023 that they were "over the moon" for her. Swift was seen arriving at Hadid’s New York City apartment on July 1, just days before the reported wedding. Nothing to get you wedding ready like girl-time with your best friend!

Selena Gomez

Credit: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

Selena Gomez is another obvious Swift guest, and another reported bridesmaid. The two have been best friends for over 17 year — Swift even has a song about Gomez called "dorthea." Gomez has been filming Only Murders in the Building in London but is expected to fly back to New York for the festivities.

Abigail Anderson Berard

Credit: Lester Cohen/WireImage

Abigail Anderson Berard is not just another famous friend. She is Swift’s childhood best friend and the “Abigail” fans know from the song “Fifteen.” Elle reported that Anderson Berard was seen at Swift’s Watch Hill, Rhode Island, beach house during the weekend Swift was rumored to be having her bachelorette, and that she has long been expected to attend the wedding. Anderson Berard is expected to serve as Swift’s maid of honor.

Andy Reid

View this post on Instagram

Chiefs coach Andy Reid is also a shoe-in for an invitation. Reid joked on a radio show that he "probably" had an invite and would go if he did not outgrow his tuxedo. He also was spotted picking up his tuxedo on June 25. That is a lot of tuxedo activity for a man not going to a wedding.

Zoë Kravitz

Zoë Kravitz has been friends with Swift for years, she even co-wrote the song "Lavender Haze" on Midnights. People reported that a source close to Swift said Kravitz received an invitation, but her fiancé — Taylor Swift's ex boyfriend and 1989-muse — Harry Styles, has a concert scheduled in London that night. Hopefully he can make a late-night flight across the pond and get to MSG in time.

Ed Sheeran

Credit: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images

Ed Sheeran is also one of Swift's oldest friends and collaborators — and he's already been spotted in New York about 60 miles from Aaron Dessner’s Hudson Valley recording studio. Swift herself teased his likely involvement during an October interview on the U.K.’s Hits Radio Breakfast Show, when she was asked whether Sheeran would sing at her wedding and replied that it would be hard to keep him from it. How I wish I could experience that private concert.

Sabrina Carpenter

Credit: Johnny Nunez/Getty Images

Sabrina Carpenter has not publicly confirmed she is attending, but the clues are definitely there. Carpenter opened for Swift on several international Eras Tour dates, later became part of Swift’s current music universe with their Life of a Showgirl collaboration, and was spotted in New York on June 30 having dinner with friends in the West Village just days before the Big Day.

Suki Waterhouse

Suki Waterhouse can be presumed to be in attendance because she literally said she is going. In a Variety interview published in May, Waterhouse said, “I’m gonna go to Taylor’s wedding,” and joked that she might get inspiration for her own wedding to actor Robert Pattinson.

She and Swift have been friendly for years: they were spotted out together in New York with Cara Delevingne and Dakota Johnson back in 2016, dancing together at the 2024 MTV Music Awards, and Waterhouse opened for Swift at Wembley Stadium during the Eras Tour.

Mariska Hargitay

Credit: Dustin Satloff/Getty Images

Mariska Hargitay and Swift have been connected for years, especially through one very furry friend: Swift's cat, named Olivia after Hargitay's Law & Order SVU character. Fans have already started to watch Hargitay’s Broadway schedule because her show Every Brilliant Thing had a break on July 3, the reported wedding date. Hopefully she can make it, considering they looked like they had a pretty fun time together at the Knicks game.

Stevie Nicks and Tim McGraw

Stevie Nicks and Tim McGraw are reportedly expected to both attend and perform. Swift has written songs about both of the musical legends: "Clara Bow" and, fittingly, "Tim McGraw." I hope those songs made it to the top of the request list.

Jack Antonoff

Credit: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

Jack Antonoff is one of the easiest names to imagine on Swift’s guest list. The producer and Bleachers frontman has worked with Swift for more than a decade, from early collaborations like “Sweeter Than Fiction” through major albums including 1989, Reputation, Lover, Midnights, Folklore, and beyond. He is also a close real-life friend: Swift attended Antonoff and Margaret Qualley’s wedding in New Jersey in Aug. 2023. So if Swift and Kelce are gathering their inner circle at MSG, Antonoff and Qualley would make sense as both friends and returned-wedding-energy guests.

Cara Delevingne

Cara Delevingne is another longtime Swift friend. Delevingne once even lived with Swift during a difficult breakup. In a 2024 conversation, Delevingne said Swift “looked after” her well but that she also took Swift on “a bit of a wild ride.” Isn't that what best friends are for?

The Haim sisters

Credit: Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Este, Danielle, and Alana Haim have been part of Swift’s inner circle for years, and are expected to be wedding guests. Their current Swiftworld relevance is also very MSG-specific: Este, Alana, and Swift made headlines at Game 4 of the NBA Finals for their punny “Knicks” graphic-t-shirts.

Graham Norton

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Graham Norton has the clearest paper trail of almost any non-family invitee. In Oct. 2025, Swift appeared on The Graham Norton Show to promote The Life of a Showgirl and told Norton she planned to invite him. That invite was, seemingly, not empty. Norton was pictured arriving at JFK airport July 2, ahead of the reported wedding weekend. Norton also joked on his Wanging On podcast in January that he had signed "so many NDAs," though he later clarified that was a "joke." Sure, Graham. Sure.

Patrick and Brittany Mahomes

Patrick and Brittany Mahomes are widely expected on Kelce’s side of the list. Patrick is Kelce’s quarterback, teammate, close friend, and one of the central figures in the Chiefs’ dynasty. Kelce served as a groomsman at Mahomes’ 2022 wedding, so it only makes sense for Mahomes to return the favor.

George and Claire Kittle

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

George Kittle, the San Francisco 49ers tight end and Kelce’s Tight End University co-founder, has also basically confirmed his own attendance. People reported that Kittle told ExtraTV at the Tight Ends & Friends concert that the couple had a strict no-gift rule, then joked that he might get Kelce an old coin anyway.

How about the New York Knicks’ starting lineup?

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

July 2 saw reports that the Knicks' starting lineup was going to return to the Garden halls — but this time as wedding guests. However, star player Josh Hart debunked the rumor. Maybe after another championship win?

Again, Swift and Kelce have not publicly confirmed the final guest list, so all of this still lives in the world of reports, sightings, public comments, and heavily analyzed celebrity logistics. But if even half these names make it inside the Garden, "anyone I’ve ever talked to" may not have been much of an exaggeration.

Team USA won its game on Wednesday night, defeating Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0 at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California. It marks only the second time that the team has won in a knockout stage match in the team's history at the World Cup.

While many U.S. soccer fans celebrated the win, referee Raphael Claus put a major damper on the celebrations due to a red card issued to Team USA striker Folarin Balogun. Fans took to the internet to voice their displeasure with the ref's decision, which required a VAR review.

The red card was issued in the 64th minute of the game, making the win even more challenging for Team USA. The team ultimately pulled off the win, but there are further consequences from receiving the red card that may affect Team USA's chances in the round of 16 game against Belgium on Monday.

So, what does this all mean for Team USA? Here's a rundown along with some of the internet's best reactions to Balogun being issued a red card.

What is a red card?

Yellow cards and red cards are doled out by referees in order to uphold the rules of the match.

Yellow cards serve as a warning, whereas red cards are issued for more serious, egregious violations.

What happens when a player receives a red card?

When a player receives a red card, they are immediately forced out of the game and their team is forced to play with a man down. In Team USA's case, Balogun had to leave the game and USA needed to play the rest of the match with 10 players versus Bosnia and Herzegovina's 11 players.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

In addition, the player that's issued the red card is suspended for their team's next match. Team USA will be able to play with 11 on the pitch against Belgium, but Balogun will not be able to play.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Why are U.S. fans upset?

For one, the red card was seen as fairly controversial.

During the 64th minute of the game, Balogun and Bosnia and Herzegovina defender Tarik Muharemovic both appeared to go for the ball. Balogun and Muharemovic collided, with Balogun's cleat stepping on Muharemovic's ankle as both players fell to the ground.

Analysts and former FIFA refs have shared their opinions on whether Balogun deserved the red card, and there doesn't seem to be much of a consensus. Some agree it was a red card offense, others disagree.

Furthermore, the contact appeared accidental as both Balogun and the player for Bosnia and Herzegovina went for the ball. In addition, the red didn't even issue a yellow card at first and required a VAR check before issuing any card. After review, the ref deemed the incident as a "serious foul" and issued the red card.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Balogun has been Team USA's top goal scorer with three goals across three games that he played in. Not having him on the field against Belgium certainly puts Team USA at a disadvantage.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Some fans have been upset about what they view as uneven refereeing across the tournament. A common example being used by fans is when Messi appeared to commit a similar foul in the group stage games. Messi was not called on the foul and didn't receive a red or yellow card.

Can the ref's red card decision be appealed?

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

A red card and a subsequent match suspension cannot be appealed, according to FIFA.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

To make matters even worse, FIFA can review the foul and decide to suspend Balogun for additional games. This already happened in one World Cup game this year when FIFA extended a red card suspension against a Qatari player to five games after a foul resulted in a Canadian player breaking their leg.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

For now, though, Team USA is focused on their round of 16 game against Belgium on Monday.

Taylor Swift's wedding hasn't even happened yet, and it's already become the internet's biggest event of the summer.

Between TikTok breakdowns, Reddit megathreads, and minute-by-minute updates from press and photographers stationed outside of Madison Square Garden in New York City — Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's reported wedding venue — fans have been dissecting everything from security plans to celebrity arrivals. There are enough rumors and speculation to make even seasoned Swifties dizzy.

That got us wondering: If the world's biggest pop star is about to walk down the aisle, what Taylor Swift songs deserve a spot on the wedding playlist?

In honor of Swift's favorite number, here's our dream 13-song Taylor Swift wedding playlist.

"Lover"

If one Taylor Swift song was destined for weddings, it's this one. A timeless waltz wrapped in intimate lyrics, "Lover" has become a first-dance staple for countless couples. Released during Swift's pink-hued, heart-on-her-sleeve Lover era, it's romantic without veering into cheese, capturing not just the magic of a wedding day but the quiet promise of the life two people are about to build together.

"Love Story"

No Taylor Swift wedding playlist would be complete without the Fearless song that made generations of fans believe in fairy tales. More than 15 years after its release, "Love Story" still feels tailor-made for a wedding reception singalong.

"Paper Rings"

"I like shiny things, but I'd marry you with paper rings." Need we say more? It's joyful, chaotic, and impossible not to dance to in a pop-punk kind of way — a reminder that the relationship matters far more than the diamonds. (Though, have you seen the massive old mine cut diamond engagement ring?)

"So High School"

If one song belongs to Taylor and Travis, it's this one. Fans have long connected "So High School" to Kelce thanks to its football imagery, playful flirtation, and unmistakable sense of giddy new love. ("You know how to ball, I know Aristotle" is unfortunately one of Swift's funniest lyrics.)

Whether or not it actually makes the wedding playlist, it's become the unofficial soundtrack to their relationship. Its nostalgic, '90s-pop sound and playful, butterflies-in-your-stomach energy make it a natural fit for any reception.

"Mary's Song (Oh My My My)"

An early-career deep cut became one of Swifties' favorite Tayvis songs after Taylor mashed it up with "So High School" and "Everything Has Changed" on the Eras Tour, weaving in the lyric, "I'll be 87, you'll be 89" — playful a wink to Kelce's jersey number and Swift's birth year.

If there was ever an Easter egg disguised as a love song, this is it.

"Invisible String"

Some love stories feel destined. That's the idea behind the red string theory, the East Asian folk belief that two people who are meant to be together are connected by an invisible red thread, no matter how far apart life takes them.

Folklore's "Invisible String" imagines that same kind of fate, tracing two lives that were quietly intertwined long before they ever crossed paths. Whether you believe in soulmates or simply good timing, it's one of Swift's most tender meditations on finding the right person. (Joe Alwyn, you will always be remembered for your contributions to the Taylor Swift discography.)

"You Are in Love"

Truly one of the best love songs in Swift's entire catalog, "You Are in Love" doesn't rely on grand gestures. Instead, the 1989 deluxe cut celebrates the tiny moments that define a relationship — the shared glances, the routines, the comfort of simply knowing someone.

"Daylight"

By the time Lover closes with "Daylight," Swift has left behind the dramatic, all-consuming romances that defined so much of her earlier work. Instead, love becomes something calmer. Healthier. Brighter. Warmer. It's less about the wedding day than the marriage that comes after it. After years of searching in the dark, she's finally found someone who feels like daylight.

"Everything Has Changed"

Swift and Ed Sheeran's Red-era duet captures the butterflies of realizing your life might be about to change forever after meeting someone for the first time. In many ways, it feels like the grown-up, grounded counterpart to "Enchanted" — less about wondering if someone feels the same way and more about recognizing, almost instantly, that your life has changed. It's sweet, understated, and ideal for cocktail hour or dinner.

And if Sheeran happens to be in attendance, no one would complain if the longtime collaborators dusted it off for one more duet.

"King of My Heart"

When it's finally time to fill the dance floor, let Reputation have its moment. "King of My Heart" delivers all the romance without sacrificing energy, making it one of Swift's strongest reception songs. Consider it the perfect soundtrack for introducing Mr. Taylor Swift himself, the king of her heart. If only those castle rumors were true...

"Call It What You Want"

Despite its marketing, Reputation is actually one of Swift's most romantic albums. Half of the album is about falling in love. And one of its most intimate tracks, "Call It What You Want," is about finding peace in a relationship while the rest of the world keeps talking.

For one of the most famous couples on the planet, that message feels especially fitting.

"New Year's Day"

Picture this: the flowers have been packed away, the guests have gone home, the party is over. "New Year's Day" reminds us that a wedding lasts one day, but marriage is about who's still there helping clean up afterward. Few songs capture that sentiment more beautifully.

"Long Live"

No gathering is complete without at least one singalong of "Long Live." Every great wedding deserves one last anthem. Whether it's the final song of the night or simply one that brings everyone onto the dance floor with their arms around each other, "Long Live" is less about romance than gratitude — for the people who helped you get to this moment and the memories you'll carry long after the last dance.

TL;DR: Headway condenses the books you don’t have time to read, and through July 5, a lifetime subscription is only $49.

Opens in a new window

Credit: Headway

Headway Premium: Lifetime Subscription

$48.99
$299.95 Save $250.96

 

Get Deal

Buying a book is easy. Actually reading it takes a lot of time, and that investment doesn’t even guarantee it’ll be worth it. Headway is a mobile app that condenses more than 2,000 nonfiction and fiction bestsellers into 15-minute summaries you can read or listen to, and a lifetime subscription is on sale for $48.99 (reg. $299.95) through July 5.

Headway pulls insights from books across business, psychology, productivity, health and wellness, and fiction. Each summary is available in text and audio, with audio versions narrated by professional voice actors rather than a synthetic read. Audiocasts let you queue summaries like podcast episodes for a long drive or a workout block. New titles get added monthly, so the catalog keeps moving forward.

Past the summaries themselves, Headway runs on a layer of features that help new ideas stick. Self-growth plans group related titles around a single learning goal, so each session builds toward something instead of feeling random. Highlights save as interactive flashcards that resurface at spaced intervals to lock the lessons in. Quizzes test recall after a reading, and trivia questions surface curious facts in between. Brainy, the app’s in-house mascot, even shows up to keep the streak going when motivation dips. The touch sounds silly until it works.

Daily microlearning sessions push a single insight to the home screen, Video Role-Plays drop you into real scenarios to apply what a summary teaches, and a Screen Locker shuts down distracting apps during a session. Downloads work offline for flights or commutes without service. A Sleep Timer turns a summary into a bedtime story for adults, replacing the usual phone scroll right before lights out. Curated collections also surface based on goals you set during onboarding, so the library narrows itself around the topics you set as priorities.

Until 11:59 p.m. PT on July 5, you can get a Headway Lifetime Subscription for only $48.99.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Live stream Portugal vs. Croatia in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN, an Official Supporter of the FIFA World Cup 2026.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup continues with another batch of exciting fixtures. Today's lineup includes Portugal vs. Croatia, an interesting clash between two strong sides.

Both have star players in the latter years of their career — Cristiano Ronaldo for Portugal and Luka Modric for Croatia — and both teams have been forced to answer questions about whether they're past their best. Portugal arguably have the edge here, though Croatia won more games in the group stage. However it plays out, it's another must-watch World Cup fixture.

If you want to watch Portugal vs. Croatia in the 2026 FIFA World Cup from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Portugal vs. Croatia?

Portugal vs. Croatia in the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off at 7 p.m. ET on July 2. This fixture takes place at the Toronto Stadium.

How to watch Portugal vs. Croatia for free

Portugal vs. Croatia in the 2026 FIFA World Cup is available to live stream for free on BBC iPlayer.

BBC iPlayer is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock BBC iPlayer to live stream the 2026 World Cup for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Portugal vs. Croatia for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK

4. Visit BBC iPlayer

5. Watch Portugal vs. Croatia for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window

Credit: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

$12.99 only at ExpressVPN

Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the 2026 World Cup without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Portugal vs. Croatia (plus more World Cup fixtures) before recovering your investment.

ExpressVPN's regular 30-day money-back guarantee is not available for any subscriptions purchased during the FIFA World Cup between June 10 and July 11. ExpressVPN remains our top pick for sport, but you will need to pay the monthly rate. Alternatively, Proton VPN still offers that all-important money-back guarantee.

What is the best VPN for BBC iPlayer?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on BBC iPlayer, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99. That covers you for the duration of the World Cup.

Live stream Portugal vs. Croatia in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free.

For a wedding with a reported 1,000-person guest list, Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s alleged Madison Square Garden celebration still appears to have a velvet rope.

The reported wedding has become a full-blown spectacle in the middle of sweltering-hot Manhattan, with fans, photographers, and celebrity-watchers all trying to figure out who will actually make it inside the Garden. But the more revealing question might be who will not.

While plenty of A-listers are reportedly gearing up for the alleged big night, there is also a pretty long list of people who appear set to watch the wedding content on Instagram like the rest of us.

Keep reading for the reported, rumored, and heavily speculated names we do not expect to see inside the Garden tomorrow night.

Prince William and Kate Middleton

Despite weeks of speculation, Prince William and Kate Middleton will not be attending Swift and Kelce’s wedding. A People report ended chatter that the Prince and Princess of Wales would be in attendance after William jokingly said he was "hoping" there might be an invitation during a May appearance on the British radio show Heart Breakfast.

William has known Swift for years, famously joined her and Jon Bon Jovi onstage in 2013, and later took Prince George and Princess Charlotte to the Eras Tour in London, where the royal family posed backstage with Swift and Kelce.

Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds

Blake Lively has been one of the most-discussed possible absences from the wedding because, for years, she was one of Swift’s most visible close friends. Lively directed Swift’s "I Bet You Think About Me" music video, Swift used the names of Lively and Ryan Reynolds' children in "Betty" and other songs, and the couple was regularly part of Swift's public friend circle, from New York outings to the 2024 Super Bowl suite where Swift cheered on Kelce.

The reported strain stems from Lively's legal battle with Justin Baldoni over It Ends With Us, which pulled Swift into the surrounding drama even though she was not part of the film.

As the dispute unfolded, reports said Swift had been referenced in court filings and text messages, and Baldoni’s side accused Lively of using her friendship with Swift as leverage during conversations about the movie. Swift’s rep denied that she had any involvement with It Ends With Us beyond licensing “My Tears Ricochet” for the soundtrack, but the damage appeared to be done.

Miles Teller and Keleigh Sperry

Miles Teller and his wife, Keleigh Sperry, are also reportedly not on the guest list. Sources close to the couple claim they were not invited, despite their once-close ties to Swift and Kelce, which allegedly ended due to the drama between Swift and Lively, and that Sperry did not want to be involved.

Sperry and Teller were seen with Swift during the early days of her relationship with Kelce, including at the 2024 Super Bowl. Teller also later appeared on Travis and Jason Kelce's New Heights podcast, where he referred to Travis as his "brother." Doesn't seem like it anymore.

Karlie Kloss

Karlie Kloss is another name with a long history in Swiftie lore. She and Swift were once inseparable during the 1989 era, appearing together at events, on social media, and even on a joint Vogue cover. Then, over time, public sightings slowed, and fan theories took over.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

The widely discussed fracture has often been linked to Scooter Braun, who acquired Swift's Big Machine master recordings in 2019, sparking one of the most public disputes of Swift's career. Kloss' 2018 wedding to Joshua Kushner became part of the speculation because Braun was reportedly a guest, and Swift did not attend.

Kloss' wedding status, however, is messy. Some outlets have reported she is not invited, while TMZ suggested the opposite. Given that she sat GA at the Eras Tour, I'm going to go with the former.

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West

This choice isn't a surprise. Kardashian and Swift's history goes back to the 2016 fallout over Kanye West's song "Famous," after West claimed Swift had approved lyrics about her, and Kardashian released edited clips of a phone call between West and Swift. A fuller version of the call later leaked in 2020, which supported Swift's claim that she had not been told about the most offensive lyric.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

That feud became one of the defining celebrity conflicts of Swift's Reputation era, complete with snake emojis, public backlash, and years of fan analysis. Taylor even has a song called "thanK you IMee" with the letters "KIM" capitalized. Real subtle.

Scooter Braun

Scooter Braun is also widely presumed to be nowhere near the guest list. The reason is obvious: Swift's long-running masters dispute began after Braun's Ithaca Holdings acquired Big Machine Label Group in 2019, giving him control of the master recordings for Swift's first six albums. Swift publicly criticized the deal, and the dispute eventually became a major artist-rights story as Swift began rerecording her old albums.

So yes, Braun's absence would be expected.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Calvin Harris

Calvin Harris, Swift's ex-boyfriend, has also been named in some rumored "not invited" lists. The history there is less dramatic than Kardashian-West, but it did get messy in 2016 after Swift's team confirmed she had co-written Harris and Rihanna’s hit "This Is What You Came For" under the pseudonym Nils Sjöberg. Harris responded in a series of tweets, including one accusing Swift's team of trying to make him look bad after their breakup. At least we got a really good song out of it.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

John Mayer

John Mayer is another ex who is most likely far, far away from the Garden on July 3. Mayer dated Swift when he was 32, and she was 19. Following their breakup, Swift released "Dear John," which fans have long believed is about Mayer. Mayer even told Rolling Stone that the song made him feel "really humiliated" and called it "cheap songwriting."

That "cheap songwriting" was inducted into the Songwriter Hall of Fame, but I digress.

Charli XCX

Speaking of artists believed to have been called out on The Life of a Showgirl, Charli XCX is also rumored not to be in attendance. Rumors of a feud between the two began after Charli released "Sympathy Is a Knife" on Brat, which some listeners interpreted as a dig at Swift. Swift then appeared to respond with "Actually Romantic," a song fans believe is about Charli and includes the pointed line: "I heard you call me boring Barbie when the coke's got you brave."

Charli is also engaged to George Daniel, the drummer for The 1975 — the same band fronted by Matty Healy, whom Swift briefly dated in 2023 and wrote an entire album about in 2024.

Kayla Nicole

Kayla Nicole, Kelce's ex-girlfriend, is another snub that is not especially surprising. Nicole dated Kelce on and off for about five years before they split in 2022. In Oct. 2023, shortly after Kelce and Swift's relationship became public, Nicole told People that she had unfollowed Brittany and Patrick Mahomes on Instagram because she needed to "protect" herself, while emphasizing that she still had love for her Kansas City circle.

After Kelce and Swift announced their engagement in Aug. 2025, Nicole posted about choosing "joy" on Instagram Stories. More recently, in Feb. 2026, she reflected on her last serious relationship during a TikTok Live and described the breakup as potentially a "right person, wrong time" situation.

Most weddings do not include the bride or groom’s exes unless everyone involved has reached an unusually high level of emotional maturity, so Nicole's absence would not be particularly shocking. Well, besides Harry Styles, of course, who will likely be there with his fiancée, Zoë Kravitz. Now that's called growth.

People on social media are already honking about the new gay dating app Goose, due to a Wired investigation that claims it might be using AI-generated men to advertise the app.

Goose, founded by actor and model Derek Chadwick, markets itself as an "anti-algorithm" app. It's membership only, and there are no matches, but users can "wave" to each other.

Before Goose launched, gay men already had plenty of apps to choose from. There's Grindr, which is ubiquitous and easily the most well-known, but over the past few years, users have complained about paywalled features and a buggy user interface. Additionally, there are the apps Sniffies — which dating app conglomerate Match Group just invested $100 million in — SCRUFF, Jack'd, and the new-for-mobile Squirt (to name a few).

And one is no longer: During Pride Month, Match sunset its "intentional" gay dating app Archer.

In this crowded market, people on social media are describing random men DMing them and adding them to their Close Friends stories, only to promote Goose — and these men might be AI-generated.

Wired found more than two dozen Instagram accounts created in May or June 2026 that posted only a few times, suggesting they might be inauthentic. Wired also ran images from the accounts through AI detectors, and there was a high likelihood that AI was used to create these profiles. As Mashable previously reported, these AI checkers aren't foolproof, but combined with other factors, Wired — and gay men the accounts are DMing — have reported that these men may be fake, created solely for the purpose of promoting Goose.

Reached for comment, Goose provided this statement: Goose is disrupting the gay app space by creating a place where real people can make real friends, dates, and community – our team hand-picked every person who received an invite to our app, and we are proud of the community we are building. We work 24/7 to keep our app safe and free of the fake profiles that have soured other platforms. Clearly, our competitors are taking notice.

The Federal Trade Commission prohibits false advertising, Wired noted, and requires disclosure on social media ads.

UPDATE: Jul. 2, 2026, 5:56 p.m. EDT This article was updated to include a statement from Goose.

Some television viewers may respond to the return of The Bear, which recently released its final season, with a dismissive groan. Not me. Despite my past misgivings about the FX restaurant drama/comedy, I excitedly binged its last eight episodes within a few days. 

By no means is it perfect storytelling. The series still sometimes flails, as my colleague Belen Edwards astutely pointed out, and I'll return to those challenges later. 

What I watched, however, was a rare feat of television: a years-long exploration of human redemption that ends, improbably, with optimism for the future. In an entertainment landscape dominated by apocalyptic fare, serial killer mysteries, whodunit tick-tocks, and paint-by-number procedurals, The Bear offered viewers something radically different. 

Take characters with undeniable flaws, rough edges, and mental health struggles, give them a dream to believe in, and watch as they messily chart a path to their own greatness, through passion, work, and belonging. 

This is the stuff that redemption is made of, and Season 5 finally delivered on its promise of fulfillment, particularly for Carmen 'Carmy' Berzatto (Jeremy Allen White) and Richard 'Richie' Jerimovich (Ebon Moss-Bachrach). These two grown men were so haunted by heartbreak and stunted self-actualization that they cruelly tortured everyone around them. 

What happens to Carmy and Richie in Season 5 of The Bear?

As a brilliant but borderline abusive chef, Carmy berated the staff of his deceased brother's restaurant as he tried to transform it from a sandwich shop into a restaurant worthy of a Michelin star or two. 

By Season 4's end, Carmy understands his time as a chef is over if he wants a different life for himself. In Season 5, he observes, "To break patterns you need to break patterns."

He spends much of the final season clumsily trying to be of service to others, offering to do whatever his former deputy Sydney (Ayo Edebiri) needs, like chopping onions and taking out the trash. 

When his own mistake leads to a broken dish and ruined meal, thus threatening the evening's do-or-die success, Carmy freezes in fear rather than lashing out. To me, this was remarkable progress, and I loved every second of it, including Carmy's eyes as they welled with tears. 

If every second counts, as the kitchen's mantra declares, the same applies to the passing moments of human weakness, when hard-fought gains against bad habits might be lost in a panic. The scene only deepens when Syd recognizes what's at stake for Carmy and offers reassurance that everyone in the kitchen has his back. 

Together, the staff salvage the night, against all odds — a scenario that The Bear has been building up to since its first season. Together, they redeem themselves as a group of people with competing priorities and conflicting personalities who still, somehow, feel like family to each other. 

Sure, there's something satisfying about what my colleague describes as The Bear's competence porn. But at a time of deep division and loneliness, I also relished Season 5's insistence on being part of something greater than yourself. Even if that something is a dysfunctional restaurant that manages to both feed people and give them joy. 

Richie finally grows up

Carmy's cousin Richie appeared to understand the reward of this bargain from the beginning, but ego, immaturity, and violent tendencies got in the way. 

In the first season, Richie settles a conflict outside the sandwich shop, then known as The Original Beef of Chicagoland, by firing a gun. Despite his innate desire to make customers of that shop feel welcome, Richie also found ways to sabotage a jovial atmosphere with screams, curses, and tantrums. He hated ceding power to Carmy, whose absence and reappearance Richie resented, and to Syd, whose elevated role in a kitchen he once dominated makes him feel small. 

Richie was initially a repellent character. By the final season, though, the small and large lessons in self-control Richie learns along the way have transformed him (see, especially, the episode "Forks"). He's composed yet vulnerable, mature yet playful. 

Richie's temper and self-doubt still flare, but he's found strategies for slowing down, like naming the objects in his immediate presence. As someone who's spent more than 15 years reporting on mental health, I found the inclusion of this and similar grounding tactics such a gift to the audience. When do viewers get to see a man, once easily possessed by rage, use such a simple emotion-regulation technique, without the involvement of a therapist? Only on The Bear.  

One of the best scenes in Season 5 happens when Carmy enters the walk-in fridge to find Richie managing a panic attack. Carmy, despite a fumbling first attempt at being supportive, finds a way to talk plainly about dealing with his own anxiety in a way that calms Richie. 

A callback joke to Carmy's walk-in fridge meltdown from Season 2 makes both men laugh, and they cheerfully push each other around. In seasons past, they would've lobbed insults and escalated conflict. Sometimes atonement for previous transgressions is about changing behavior and acknowledging, in some way, the harm. 

Redemption through family 

The Bear delivers this message over and over again with its emphasis on family ties, whether they're forged through blood or choice. 

I appreciate that The Bear vividly depicts family trauma and dysfunction without championing estrangement. People get enough of that on social media when influencers promote severing foundational relationships, sometimes for clicks and views. 

What happens to Donna?

The show is unequivocal about the damage the Berzatto family matriarch, played by Jamie Lee Curtis, has wrought. Donna's longtime alcohol abuse, in combination with a probable mood disorder, has made her unpredictable, manipulative, and grievously harmful.

At The Bear's beginning, Donna's surviving children, now scarred by the suicide death of their brother Mikey, are grappling with whether to tolerate her in their lives. The phenomenal episode "Fishes" makes clear why this is no easy calculus. Carmy and his sister Natalie, known as Sugar (Abby Elliott), wouldn't be who they are without their familial closeness, on display in their expansive yet explosive gatherings. 

As they grow increasingly weary of Donna's volatility, she finds the courage to try to be the mother they need. Ultimately, Carmy and Sugar let her, at considerable risk to themselves. 

It's no small moment when Donna finally enters The Bear for the first time toward the end of Season 5. The scene is relatively subtle, but suggests the healing that might be possible given Donna's effort to be a reliable grandmother to Sugar's newborn and a present mother to both Sugar and Carmy. 

In real life, some relationships are so toxic that they must be ended. But The Bear asks its audience to imagine the value of holding tight to bonds when the person on the other side keeps showing up as a better version of themselves, even if that change is incremental. 

Belonging for The Bear staff

It's true that several of The Bear's characters don't need the redemption that's in store for Carmy, Richie, and Donna. What they need instead is belief in themselves and to be believed in by others. The Bear sends Syd and the other chefs and staff, including Marcus (Lionel Boyce) and Tina (Liza Colón-Zayas), on that trajectory in varying ways. 

The point, which is reiterated by probably a few too many characters in Season 5, is that belonging to a group of people that feels like family can make that growth possible. As one minor character says upon his departure, that's essentially The Bear's advantage over countless other restaurants. 

Forgiving The Bear's flaws

It's possible that I'm giving The Bear's final season a lot of grace because I think what it's tried to accomplish over the past few years is remarkable. Maybe I'm falling for the message and too readily dismissing the flaws in the medium. 

Like my colleague, I found the storm that plagues Season 5 on-the-nose. Staging the season over the course of a single day during which torrential rain is a constant visual and audible reminder of the characters' emotional tumult does feel cliché at times. Cityscape views of Chicago were so intensely lit that they evoked the Upside Down vibe of Stranger Things, a melodramatic flourish the show doesn't need. 

The first handful of episodes can feel tedious, too. The characters lament the uncertainty of their fate. Will they surrender or see another day in their beloved kitchen? As they contemplate this question, sometimes repetitively, in-show ads for watches, soda, and McDonald's pop up. The marketing hollowed out those scenes for me, but the product placements taper off toward the end, with one notable exception for Coke. 

I'm not sure I could blame viewers if they give up before service begins. Still, the payoff was ultimately worth it for me. 

At a time when character-building friction is replaced by click-of-a-button contentment, The Bear depicted the gratification of mastering a craft. While algorithms push facile therapy-speak encouraging people to turn inward, The Bear (eventually) pulled its characters out of their heads so they could pursue meaning and purpose. It also gave them basic mindfulness tools to combat their worst impulses. When many storytellers use suicide only as a dramatic plot twist, The Bear sought meaningful healing for its characters, and remembered the lost brother, son, and friend for much more than the manner of his death. 

Maybe I'm too forgiving of The Bear for these and other reasons. But I guess I'd rather spend my time with the show's characters and their aspirations, however imperfectly executed on screen, than on a show that doesn't dream as big. 

TL;DR: Microsoft Office Home & Business 2021 is on sale for $69.97 (reg. $219), a lifetime license that includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, and OneNote.

Opens in a new window

Credit: Microsoft

Microsoft Office Home & Business for Mac 2021: Lifetime License

$39.97
$219 Save $179.03

 

Get Deal

Plenty of software has quietly shifted from something you buy once to something you pay for every month, and Microsoft Office is one of the most obvious examples. Microsoft Office Home & Business 2021 is on sale for $69.97 right now (regularly $219), and it’s a true lifetime license for Mac or Windows, not another charge added to the pile.

There’s not much need to sell anyone on why Office still matters. Most people used Microsoft’s apps long before browser-based alternatives existed, and plenty of workplaces still run on them today. Whether we like it or not, most of us still have to use them. This license lets you install the full Office suite on one device and keep using it indefinitely, a one-time expense with long-term payoff instead of a recurring one.

Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, and OneNote are the full desktop versions rather than scaled-down web apps. That distinction matters once you’re deep into a long document, a dense spreadsheet, or a presentation with a lot riding on it.

Buying gets you a license key and download link immediately, so there’s no gap between checkout and actually opening the apps. Paying once for software you’ll rely on for years beats resetting a subscription clock every month.

Grab Microsoft Office Home & Business 2021 for Mac or Windows for $69.97 while the lifetime license deal is live.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

At a time when AI is facing a growing backlash, when even his own administration is tiptoeing towards real regulatory oversight of the industry, President Donald Trump is doubling down on his own usage of what can only be described as AI slop — this time containing dubious deepfakes.

On July 1, Trump posted an AI-generated video casting himself as "Doctor Trump," a white-coat-wearing physician offering a "treatment plan" for “Trump Derangement Syndrome," a phrase he and his supporters have long used to attack his critics.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

The clip opens like a pharmaceutical ad, with an AI-generated Trump wearing a stethoscope and telling viewers he has a plan to treat TDS. It then cuts to fake versions of celebrity critics, including Whoopi Goldberg, Robert De Niro, Julia Roberts, Rosie O’Donnell, Edward Norton, and John Leguizamo, who appear as "patients" describing their supposed symptoms and recovery.

The fake De Niro says he could not eat or sleep, and was "constantly angry." The fake O’Donnell says she had been "suffering for over a decade." The fake Goldberg describes herself as a lost cause. The clip ends with Trump’s AI persona prescribing a mix of media criticism, prayer, and Diet Coke.

Social media, outside Trump's MAGA followers, was not amused.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

This is not Trump's only bizarre interaction with AI this week. On Wednesday, the president visited the newly built Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in Medora, North Dakota, where he interacted with an AI version of Roosevelt.

The library, which opens to the public on July 4, lets visitors explore Roosevelt’s letters, speeches, photographs, and other archival material, including via a lifelike AI version of the former president, all created with help from Microsoft.

During the visit, Trump asked the AI Roosevelt whether the Panama Canal was his greatest achievement. The digital Roosevelt said the canal was one of his proudest achievements, but also pointed to parks, medicine, and the Square Deal.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Trump later told the audience he had "a conversation with Theodore Roosevelt," a comment which circulated online before clips made clear he was referring to the library’s AI exhibit. Not everyone was convinced, however.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

This is all part of a broader pattern on Trump’s social feeds, where AI-generated images and videos have frequently found a home.

Earlier this week, Trump shared what appeared to be an AI image of a giant golden eagle attached to the White House’s Truman Balcony, calling it “A Golden Gift to the White House for its 250th Birthday Year." The "gift" was also shared by official White House social media accounts.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

The image’s metadata suggested it was indeed created with Google Gemini. Photos taken later that evening showed no giant gold bird attached to the White House, which is generally the kind of thing people would notice.

Social media users wondered why the shield on the eagle appeared to include 11 stars instead of 13. Others mocked the design as “tacky” and questioned the caption — since 2026 marks 250 years since American independence, not 250 years since the White House was built (it was completed in 1800).

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

In April, Trump posted and then removed an AI-generated image that showed him as a Jesus-like figure healing a sick man. After backlash from conservative and religious figures including Riley Gaines, Megan Basham, and Bishop Robert Barron, Trump said he thought the image depicted him as a medical worker "making people better." He has also previously posted an AI image of himself as the Pope.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Trump has also shared AI-generated videos and images that place him in more stylized or exaggerated roles. In May, Trump went on a spree, posting more than 20 mostly AI-generated images or clips in about 90 minutes, including images targeting Barack Obama, Gavin Newsom, Hakeem Jeffries, JB Pritzker, and others.

Another AI-generated video, shared in June and created by Trump-backed congressional candidate Anthony Constantino, depicted Trump as a globe-trotting hero, including scenes of him riding a lion, appearing on Mount Rushmore, riding a camel, and appearing as beloved Japanese character Naruto.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

The Naruto-style imagery added to an existing backlash from anime and manga fans in Japan, where about 20,000 people have signed a petition titled “Protect Japanese Manga” back in March protesting the White House’s use of imagery from Dragon Ball, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Naruto, and other franchises in political posts.

According to the petition, Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs had already contacted the U.S. Embassy in Japan over unauthorized use of Yu-Gi-Oh! and Nintendo imagery.

In short, AI has become a regular part of Trump’s online presence. Not in any serious policy-based sense, but as a tool for memes, self-promotion, political attacks, and spectacle.

We'll wait to see whether that helps Team Trump in the 2026 midterm elections. But with the president at an all-time low approval rating, and AI not faring much better in surveys, it's hard to see how such slop-like usage can do anything more than amuse his most hardcore fans.

After 17 years on YouTube, tech creator and Mashable 101 honoree Austin Evans has seen the creator economy evolve from an internet hobby into a full-fledged industry. Along the way, he's gone from solo creator to CEO, built a team, reinvented his content strategy, and learned that long-term success depends on thinking beyond the performance of any single video.

In this conversation with Mashable Culture Editor Crystal Bell at VidCon 2026, Evans reflects on the mindset shifts that helped him build a sustainable career, why he transformed his channel from straightforward tech reviews into entertainment-driven content, and how his perspective on AI has evolved.

He also shares why he no longer obsesses over subscriber counts, the metric he now focuses on, and why he believes authenticity will continue to matter on an increasingly AI-powered internet.

Watch the full interview above.

Heading off to college is a big deal. For many, this is their first real taste of independence, a chance to figure out who they are away from mom and dad, and the entry point into a new phase of life. For as exciting as this all is, it can also be overwhelming. Back-to-school gifts for college students must expertly bridge this gap: Equal parts practical and fun, logical and thrilling. What follows is our gift guide for those gearing up for college. There's a big emphasis on tech and gadgets, plus cozy and heartwarming items to help them feel at home.

In 2026, the fastest news delivery system in Washington still appears to be a sweaty intern in sneakers.

After the Supreme Court handed down a series of major rulings on June 30 — including a landmark decision on birthright citizenship and rulings on transgender athletes and campaign finance limits — interns were once again seen sprinting from the court with printed opinions in hand.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

The footage quickly turned into its own internet event, partly because the visual is irresistible and partly because everyone had the same questions: what is this tradition, and why are they still doing this?

Let us introduce the "running of the interns," one of Washington's strangest and most beloved rituals.

The tradition has existed in some form for decades, dating back to the print era of Supreme Court coverage. Because recording devices are banned inside the courtroom, hand-delivered opinions were once the fastest way for news organizations to get major rulings from the Court to reporters outside.

That job often fell to interns at media outlets such as CNN, NBC, ABC, CBS, and other news organizations covering the Court. They would wait for printed opinions inside or near the building, grab copies as soon as they were available, and race them to producers and correspondents stationed outside so their networks could report the decision as quickly as possible.

The "running of the interns" became a recognizable Washington media spectacle during the Bush v. Gore case in 2000, when TV networks were racing to report the decision that effectively settled a presidential election. In the years that followed, interns kept running on major decision days, including the 2012 Affordable Care Act ruling and the 2015 decision legalizing same-sex marriage nationwide, which popularized the tradition.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

The routine is simple: interns wait for printed opinions, grab the documents, and race them across the Court plaza to producers and correspondents preparing to go live. It's part breaking news, part relay race, part free cardio.

This tradition comes at a very digital time, when the Supreme Court posts opinions online — and PDFs are often available within moments of a ruling. I mean, the rule of birthright citizenship was posted online by SCOTUS the moment it was announced.

Plus, during the pandemic (March 2020 to June 2022), the Court actually released opinions exclusively online. Once that became normalized, the old paper relay started to feel less like a breaking-news necessity and more like a relic from another media era.

After this change, the concept was declared extinct. But the ritual clearly still has legs (pun intended), and the "run" is back, both IRL and online.

Many online are admiring the tradition — some to the point of tears — and the interns' hustle. Others find it absurd and intense. Some are tagging sneaker brands, begging them to turn the scene into an ad.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

In a world where every major ruling instantly becomes a PDF, a push alert, a live blog, and a social post, there's something refreshing about watching young people sprint through the streets in business casual attire, driven purely by their love of breaking news.

Natalie Tran has spent most of her life performing. She started acting at just 5 years old, built a career in theater and film, and eventually found an unexpected creative outlet through short-form videos on TikTok. But rather than replacing her acting ambitions, content creation has become a springboard for something bigger.

In this conversation with Mashable Culture Editor Crystal Bell at VidCon 2026, Tran reflects on what happened after one of her comedy sketches went viral and how she turned that momentum into a sustainable creative career. She explains why making short-form videos taught her the fundamentals of directing, editing, and storytelling, how those skills carried over into writing and directing her first short film, Passion Project, and why she believes creators are increasingly carving out their own path into film and television.

Tran also shares her philosophy on authenticity, balancing sketch comedy with her off-camera personality, navigating comments and metrics, and why she thinks passion — not algorithms — is still the most important ingredient for building a lasting career online.

Watch the full interview above.

TL;DR: Live stream Spain vs. Austria in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN, an Official Supporter of the FIFA World Cup 2026.

The knockout stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup is heating up. Now Spain return to action against Austria in the Round of 32.

Spain, the European Champions, secured two decisive wins in the group stage, defeating Saudi Arabia and Uruguay. Most fans would expect them to now beat Austria, a team that crept into the knockouts thanks to a last-minute goal. This still looks like a really competitive game.

If you want to watch Spain vs. Austria in the 2026 FIFA World Cup from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Spain vs. Austria?

Spain vs. Austria in the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off at 3 p.m. ET on July 2. This fixture takes place at the Los Angeles Stadium.

How to watch Spain vs. Austria for free

Spain vs. Austria in the 2026 FIFA World Cup is available to live stream for free on BBC iPlayer.

BBC iPlayer is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock BBC iPlayer to live stream the 2026 World Cup for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Spain vs. Austria for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK

4. Visit BBC iPlayer

5. Watch Spain vs. Austria for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window

Credit: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

$12.99 only at ExpressVPN

Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the 2026 World Cup without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Spain vs. Austria (plus more World Cup fixtures) before recovering your investment.

ExpressVPN's regular 30-day money-back guarantee is not available for any subscriptions purchased during the FIFA World Cup between June 10 and July 11. ExpressVPN remains our top pick for sport, but you will need to pay the monthly rate. Alternatively, Proton VPN still offers that all-important money-back guarantee.

What is the best VPN for BBC iPlayer?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on BBC iPlayer, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99. That covers you for the duration of the World Cup.

Live stream Spain vs. Austria in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free.

Taylor Swift's latest era? Bridal.

For months, fans have wondered when Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce would finally say "I do" after announcing their engagement last August. This week, those questions shifted into overdrive as reports of heightened security and elaborate preparations around New York City's iconic Madison Square Garden fueled speculation that the wedding is just days away. The timing has only added to the frenzy — the celebration is rumored to coincide with Fourth of July weekend, a holiday Swift has long called one of her favorites and famously celebrates with her star-studded Rhode Island parties.

Whether you're a Swiftie refreshing your feed for to-the-minute updates or someone who just opened X to find "Taylor wedding" trending, it's easy to feel like you've missed a chapter.

The reports have been plentiful. The theories, even more so. Here's everything we know about the rumored wedding weekend, along with what hasn't been confirmed yet.

Is Taylor Swift getting married this weekend?

It certainly seems that way.

After months of speculation following their engagement, multiple reports now point to the 4th of July weekend as the couple's long-awaited wedding celebration. On Wednesday, the Associated Press reported that Swift and Kelce are expected to wed at Madison Square Garden on Friday evening, with a more intimate rehearsal dinner planned for Thursday night. People, meanwhile, has spent the week chronicling the wedding preparations, reporting everything from a black-tie dress code and no-phone policy to celebrity guests arriving in New York ahead of the festivities.

The preparations around New York City's Madison Square Garden have only fueled the excitement, as workers wearing Taylor Swift t-shirts have been spotted unloading equipment from trucks outside the Manhattan arena.

That said, neither Swift nor Kelce has publicly confirmed a wedding date or venue. As with nearly every milestone in their relationship, the couple appears to be keeping the biggest details under wraps until they're ready to share them.

Why is Madison Square Garden at the center of the wedding rumors?

If you've seen Madison Square Garden trending alongside Swift's name, you're not imagining things.

The iconic arena has become the focal point of wedding speculation after reports of extensive event preparations, increased security measures, and activity surrounding the venue began circulating online. Fans quickly connected the dots, wondering whether one of the world's most recognizable entertainment venues could also become the backdrop for the biggest celebrity wedding of the year.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani even addressed the rumors during a recent press conference about the extreme heat wave hitting the city this weekend. "My recommendation to all New Yorkers is to stay inside and stay cool. And if you happen to be getting married at Madison Square Garden, you will be staying inside, and you will be staying cool. And I think it's a good example to set for the city at large."

The mayor followed up with an Instagram post advising New Yorkers on ways to beat the heat. "Here’s what you should know about the historic heat wave headed our way," the post read. "Especially if you’re (hypothetically) having your wedding at MSG this weekend."

Whether the Garden is hosting the ceremony itself, part of the festivities, or simply another event tied to the wedding weekend remains unconfirmed.

Who's rumored to be attending Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's wedding?

A Taylor Swift wedding was never going to be a quiet affair, at least on the internet. And the star-studded, 1000-person guest list is shaping up to be almost as headline-worthy as the wedding itself.

Several attendees have either confirmed their invitations or have been identified through reporting. Among them are San Francisco 49er George Kittle, Claire Kittle, Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reid, Graham Norton, and Suki Waterhouse. Other close friends, including Ed Sheeran and Zoë Kravitz, are widely expected to attend, though their invitations haven't been publicly confirmed.

One notable absence? Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales. After weeks of speculation, People reported that the Prince and Princess of Wales won't be making the trip to New York after all. However, the kings of New York — aka the Knicks starting five — reportedly did make the guest list.

Who else makes the final guest list remains one of the weekend's biggest mysteries. With Swift's decades-long friendships across music, film, and television, and Kelce's ties to the NFL, fans are expecting no shortage of A-list arrivals. We'll be on the lookout for Swift's childhood BFF Abigail Anderson.

What has Taylor Swift actually confirmed?

Officially? Almost nothing. That's become something of a pattern for Swift. While fans have become experts at decoding Easter eggs, the singer has increasingly chosen to share life's biggest milestones on her own terms — and often after the fact.

View this post on Instagram

Beyond announcing their engagement, neither Swift nor Kelce has publicly shared details about wedding plans, including the date, venue, or ceremony. Instead, much of what the public knows has come from reporting by outlets including the Associated Press, The New York Times, and People, which have pieced together details from permits, venue preparations, and sources familiar with the celebration.

Until Swift or Kelce makes it official, everything falls on a spectrum from credible reporting to enthusiastic internet detective work.

When will we know for sure?

Probably when Taylor Swift wants us to.

According to People, guests have been instructed to follow a strict no-phone policy, with phones reportedly being collected upon arrival. Combined with the event's extensive security measures, that could make this one of the rare celebrity weddings where very little leaks in real time.

Of course, this is Taylor Swift we're talking about. If anyone can pull off one of the year's most anticipated events without the internet immediately spoiling it, it's probably her.

Until then, the wedding remains exactly where Swift has always seemed most comfortable: at the center of the internet's attention, with millions of people trying to decode the plan while the mastermind stays one step ahead.

It seems like OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has learned a lesson from Intel. If you want the Trump administration to back off your company, simply provide them with an ownership stake in it.

According to a new report from the Financial Times, OpenAI, which is currently valued at $854 billion, is currently in early talks to give the U.S. government a five percent stake in the company. OpenAI CEO Altman has reportedly discussed the stake buy-in as a way to ease political pressure from Trump and his administration, according to the Financial Times report, which also states Altman has reportedly argued that doing so will also "share the upside of AI" with the public.

The White House has increasingly involved itself in matters related to the release of new AI models in recent months. The Trump administration reportedly requested that OpenAI stagger its future AI model releases, starting with the upcoming GPT 5.6. The U.S. government wants OpenAI to first release new AI models to a select group of close partners before any public launches.

Last month, the Trump administration forced OpenAI competitor Anthropic to remove its powerful new Claude Fable 5 and Mythos 5 AI models from public use. The administration issued an export control directive ordering a ban on foreign nationals using the models. To comply with the government order, Anthropic suspended the models entirely.

The Trump administration lifted the order on Wednesday following negotiations with Anthropic, allowing the company to make the models available to the public again. Anthropic reportedly agreed to work with the U.S. government on future AI model releases.

Anthropic and the Trump administration have openly feuded before regarding the use of AI models. Earlier this year, the Trump administration designated Anthropic a "supply-chain risk" to national security after disagreements arose over how the U.S. government could use Anthropic's AI models. 

OpenAI is likely seeking to avoid similar confrontations with the U.S. government as it prepares to go public in the near future.

Last summer, President Donald Trump openly called for the resignation of Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan. However, Trump seemingly backed off after the U.S. government took a 10 percent stake in the chipmaker.

Jessica McCabe didn't start her channel, "How to ADHD," with the goal of becoming one of YouTube's leading mental health creators. She started it because she needed somewhere she wouldn't lose her own notes.

At VidCon 2026, McCabe sat down with Mashable reporter Bethany Allard to discuss how that personal project evolved into a trusted resource for millions of people living with ADHD. She shares how her research process has changed over the years, why she works with researchers to ensure every video is evidence-based, how she built a team around the channel, and what she's learned about balancing authenticity with the responsibility of creating mental health content.

Watch the full conversation above.

After eight long years, it looks like Google is finally going to have to pay off that big EU fine.

Reuters reported that the Court of Justice of the European Union has ruled against Google in its latest attempt to appeal a massive €4.1 billion fine initially imposed in 2018. The EU's reasoning then and now was that Google used the Android operating system in anti-competitive ways, such as heavily incentivizing users to use Google Search and Chrome on new Android devices.

Google did change some of its policies over the years to duck and weave additional EU penalties, but the fine (which comes in at nearly $5 billion in U.S. dollars) is still in place, and now that Google has lost this latest appeal, it might not have much of a choice but to pay it. The "good" news for Google is that, due to a 2022 decision, the fine was cut down from €4.34 billion to €4.1 billion.

At any rate, Google isn't the first U.S. tech company to learn that the EU is serious about antitrust matters, and it probably won't be the last.

At this year’s British Grand Prix, 22 fully drivable Lego mini cars will take to the track as part of the F1 Drivers’ Parade at Silverstone, turning one of the most familiar moments of the race weekend into a full-scale Lego spectacle.

It's a really fun collaboration between Formula 1 and the Lego Group, continuing a partnership that’s already proven to be a fan favorite. Last year’s Miami Grand Prix saw Lego cars take part in the Drivers’ Parade, quickly becoming one of the most talked-about moments of the season. Now, the idea is back — and it’s even bigger this time around.

Each of the 22 Lego minicars are built using more than 28,000 bricks. The Drivers’ Parade takes place about an hour and a half before lights out on Sunday, July 5, and gives fans a chance to see all 22 drivers on track together ahead of the race.

Each Lego minicar is designed in the 2026 Formula 1 team colors and includes individual driver numbers, so fans can easily spot their favorites as they circle the track.

Formula 1 aims to bring a more creative, fan-focused feel to the weekend, adding another layer of entertainment to the race experience.

“Last year’s F1 Drivers’ Parade in Miami with the Lego big build cars was one of the most memorable and talked-about moments of the season,” said Formula 1 Chief Commercial Officer Emily Prazer. “This year, we’re building on that moment to create an incredible spectacle for fans attending the British Grand Prix and those watching globally.”

The Lego Group added that fan reaction in Miami helped bring the idea back for Silverstone — this time on a bigger scale.

UPDATE: A Siren Head movie has now been confirmed by the Hollywood Reporter to be in the works at Warner Bros. Pictures, with Zach Cregger (Weapons) and Brian Duffield (Whalefall) teaming up on the script.

Monsters that have long been haunting the internet are finding their way to the big screen.

2026 has already been a huge year for the world of creepypasta (internet urban legends) intersecting with Hollywood. Backrooms, Kane Parsons' feature length adaptation of his own series of YouTube shorts, has brought in $300 million at the global box office in four weeks. The Third Parent, an upcoming horror movie based on Elias Witherow's Tommy Taffy short story series that went viral on Reddit's r/NoSleep sub, is due for release next January.

The question is, will another internet nightmare soon be joining their ranks? Could Siren Head, the towering monster created by artist Trevor Henderson, be the next creepypasta to get the movie treatment? Nothing is confirmed yet — but if you look closely, there are clues.

What is Siren Head?

In a nutshell, Siren Head is a monster the height of a telegraph pole that's capable of blending into its surroundings while it hunts human prey. It was created by Henderson back in 2018, after a follower called Cally sent him an image of a graveyard framed against a blue sky. At this point Henderson was quickly building his social media by drawing monsters that he'd splice into photos. He liked Cally's image, and tried to draw something that he thought would look scary standing among the tombstones. Just like that, Siren Head was born.

"I was just drawing a long, emaciated figure, and I just had the idea to put a siren for its head because a) that noise has always terrified me, and b) I've always been kind of obsessed with the idea of numbers stations," Henderson told Mashable back in 2022. "Numbers stations are these radio broadcasts that are constantly playing — and no-one can identify their origins or what they're supposed to accomplish — that are just weird snippets of music, and strange voices saying odd number combinations. There's a lot of theories that they're like old Russian spy channels that have been abandoned and are still counting out codes."

Credit: Trevor Henderson

It's difficult to overstate just how popular Siren Head has become in the years since Henderson shared that first image. It was a slow burn initially, but when YouTuber Markiplier — who recently had his own feature film success with Iron Lung — started talking about the monster on his channel in early 2020, millions of people tuned in.

The thing is now all over the internet. Siren Head-inspired content has millions of views on TikTok and YouTube. There are multiple unofficial Siren Head games on Steam and merchandise on Amazon (much of which has been created without Henderson's knowledge or permission).

"The internet just kind of takes stuff," Henderson said. "And there's not a lot you can do, really, especially when a character blows up like Siren Head did. It kind of stops becoming yours, in some ways, and starts becoming everyone's."

Is a Siren Head movie in the works?

Speculation around a possible movie adaptation has been ramping up over the past week. There's been a couple of reasons for this. First, Henderson has started posting frequently about the creature again on Instagram.

By itself, this isn't that unusual. Although Henderson has created hundreds of monsters, Siren Head is a favorite that pops up now and then. But it's worth noting that the frequency of his posts has dialled up — there have been a handful over the last week alone, including some found footage-style Reels featuring the creature's trademark siren call.

What's even more intriguing, though, is who's been commenting on these posts.

View this post on Instagram

Beneath the above image, which Henderson posted about a week ago, movie producer Scott Glassgold replied with several eyes emoji. Glassgold, who founded production company 12:01 Films, is a big name in the horror movie space, particularly when it comes to adaptations based on viral internet urban legends (he's previously been involved in a number of deals, including stories that originally started on Reddit).

Credit: Instagram

Glassgold's comment didn't go unnoticed. A commenter asked him directly about the possibility of a Siren Head movie in response, to which he replied with three slightly cryptic siren emoji. Henderson himself then responded to Glassgold with a little megaphone. Mashable reached out to Glassgold to ask about the possibility of a film, and his response was just as cryptic. "I'm a huge fan of Trevor's and will be first in line to see anything he does," Glassgold said.

Henderson, when asked about the potential for a movie, also didn't give much away. “I'd be delighted," he told Mashable. "I think Siren Head has a lot of potential to be expanded into a film, but we’ll have to see. Either way, it makes me very happy that people still respond positively to the creature design in 2026."

Credit: Instagram

Credit: Instagram

So, what does it all mean? Well so far, there have been no official announcements and this is all speculative. But Glassgold's comments — plus the fact he's been sharing Henderson's recent Siren Head Reels — seem too deliberate to be chalked up to mere coincidence.

Here's hoping the creepypasta-to-movie pipeline gets a telegraph pole-sized extension in the near future.

Disclosure: The author of this text shares the same film/TV representative as Trevor Henderson. All reporting was conducted independently.

TL;DR: All 104 matches of the 2026 World Cup are available to watch for free on BBC iPlayer/ITVX. Access these free live streams from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN, an Official Supporter of the FIFA World Cup 2026.

The world is watching the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

16 cities across the U.S., Mexico, and Canada are welcoming the best international sides from around the world as they compete for arguably the biggest prize in sport. Huge names like Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland, and Lionel Messi are shining brightly, but there's still so much more to come from the knockout rounds.

If you're interested in watching the 2026 FIFA World Cup from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

What is the FIFA World Cup?

The World Cup is an international football competition between senior men's national teams. The 2026 World Cup has been expanded to 48 teams, split into 12 groups of four teams. The top two teams in each group and the eight best third-placed teams will progress to the knockout rounds.

The defending champions are Argentina. They won their third title at the 2022 World Cup after defeating France in an epic final.

When is the 2026 FIFA World Cup?

The 2026 World Cup is the 23rd edition of this famous competition. This year's tournament takes place from June 11 to July 19.

How to watch the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free

A number of streaming platforms are offering free coverage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup:

• Australia — SBS

• Austria — ORF and ServusTV

• Belgium — RTBF and VRT

• France — M6

• Germany — ARD and ZDF

• Ireland — RTÉ

• Italy — RAI

• Norway — NRK

• Netherlands — NOS

• Spain — RTVE

• UK — BBC iPlayer and ITVX (recommended)

These streaming services are geo-restricted, but anyone can secure access with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in another location, meaning you can livestream the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free from anywhere in the world.

Livestream the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK

4. Visit BBC iPlayer or ITVX (recommended)

5. Watch the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window

Credit: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

$12.99 only at ExpressVPN

Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch the 2026 FIFA World Cup without committing your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream this tournament before recovering your investment.

ExpressVPN's regular 30-day money back guarantee is not available for any subscriptions purchased during the FIFA World Cup between June 10 and July 11. ExpressVPN remains our top pick for sport, but you will need to pay the monthly rate. Alternatively, Proton VPN still offers that all-important money-back guarantee.

What is the best VPN for the FIFA World Cup?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99. That covers you for the duration of the World Cup.

SAVE OVER $10: As of July 2, the Lego Botanicals Hibiscus Flower (10372) has dropped to a new low price of $55.95 at Amazon. That's $14.04 off its full price of $69.99.

Opens in a new window

Credit: Lego

Lego Botanicals Hibiscus Flower Building (10372)

$55.95 at Amazon
$69.99 Save $14.04

 

Get Deal

If you're looking for a sweet Lego set to piece together this summer, look no further than the Lego Botanicals Hibiscus Flower (10372).

This build is a delightfully colorful display for your home, and if you're hoping to grab it, we have good news: Amazon has it on sale right now. Even better, it's sitting at a new all-time low price. As of July 2, Amazon has slashed the price of this set down to $55.95, which is $14.04 off its original full price. Who knows how long it'll stay at this price.

The 660-piece Lego Botanicals Hibiscus Flower creates a pretty purple hibiscus flower display that features five large flowers, four buds that are opening, and two young flower nodes

Of course, the real highlight here is that this floral display will last you forever. No need to worry about watering or maintenance, which is a big win if caring for flowers and plants isn't really your strong suit. It's also worth noting that it's recommended for adults ages 18 and up. However, if you know someone younger who's interested, just help them out with the assembly.

This Lego deal is one you definitely don't want to miss. Act fast to grab the Lego Botanicals Hibiscus Flower at a new low price at Amazon.

Want to learn more about getting the best out of your tech? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories and Deals newsletters today.

The Dephy Sidekick is a powered ankle exoskeleton that brings wearable robotics beyond smartwatches and fitness trackers. Designed to reduce calf strain and provide extra assistance while walking, the consumer-focused device promises a smoother, less demanding stride. We put the $4,500 wearable to the test to see how it performs in everyday use.

TL;DR: The new Motorola Razr is available for free with T-Mobile. Claim this offer by activating a new line on an Experience More plan.

Opens in a new window

Credit: Motorola

Motorola Razr

Free when you activate a new line on an Experience More plan.

Shop Now

I'm old, but I can still remember the feeling of slamming shut your foldable Motorola Razr back in the '00s. It was the ultimate power move, and I'm so glad it's back.

Flip phones have completed their journey from retro nostalgia to absolute must-haves, and mobile carriers like T-Mobile are making it easier than ever to join the revolution.

The brand-new Motorola Razr launched with a fairly heavy $769.99 price tag, but not at T-Mobile. For a limited time, T-Mobile is giving away the Motorola Razr for free. And the best part? Unlike most high-profile phone deals like this, you don't need to hand over an eligible trade-in device to qualify.

To claim this limited-time offer, you simply need to activate a new line on T-Mobile's Experience More plan. It really is that easy.

T-Mobile is obviously not a charity. They are still picking up the full $769.99 tab for your new flip phone, but they are doing so via 24 consecutive monthly bill credits. Each month, your statement will display a standard finance charge for the phone, immediately followed by an equal promotional credit that balances that charge down to nothing.

What's happening here is you are entering a two-year commitment with the network. If you decide to cancel your service, move to a competing carrier, or try to upgrade to next year's model before those 24 months are completed, the remaining unpaid balance on the phone's retail value will become due immediately.

You will also need to pay tax on the full retail value of the device upfront, plus the industry-standard $35 connection charge. That's a small price to pay for a $770 premium foldable.

And it really is premium. You get a massive 3.6-inch Extreme AMOLED cover screen with a 90Hz refresh rate and a peak brightness of 1,700 nits. Motorola also upgraded the camera suite, packing a massive 50-megapixel main sensor alongside a highly capable 50-megapixel ultrawide lens.

It's all powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7450X processor, with 8GB of RAM, 256GB of built-in storage, and a robust 4,800mAh battery that easily stretches past 36 hours of regular use.

Score the new Motorola Razr for free with T-Mobile.

TL;DR: All fixtures of the 2026 Nations Championship are available to watch for free on ITVX. Access these free live streams from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

This is shaping up to be a special year for sport.

The schedule has been ridiculously busy this year. We've hardly had time to breathe between the Winter Olympics, T20 World Cup, and World Cup, and now the world of rugby has dropped a totally new competition to grab its share of the spotlight.

The Nations Championship is changing the game. This fresh tournament promises to deliver six rounds of elite matchups between top international sides followed by a blockbuster Finals Weekend. It feels like the Rugby World Cup without the filler.

If you're interested in watching the 2026 Nations Championship from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

What is the Nations Championship?

The 2026 Nations Championship is an international rugby union competition featuring 12 men's teams. The teams are divided into two pools of six (Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere). Over two international windows, each team plays all the teams in the opposite pool once. Every team plays three games at home and three away.

After six rounds, a finals series will be contested over three days with each team matched against the same ranked team in the other pool to decide final placements.

When is the 2026 Nations Championship?

The 2026 Nations Championship is the first edition of this competition. This year's tournament runs from the first round of fixtures on July 4 to the final on Nov. 29. The first round of fixtures is as follows:

• New Zealand vs. France — 8:10 a.m. BST on July 4

• Japan vs. Italy — 9:40 a.m. BST on July 4

• Australia vs. Ireland — 11:10 a.m. BST on July 4

• Fiji vs. Wales — 2:10 p.m. BST on July 4

• South Africa vs. England — 4:40 p.m. BST on July 4

• Argentina vs. Scotland — 8:10 p.m. BST on July 4

How to watch the 2026 Nations Championship for free

The 2026 Nations Championship is available to live stream for free on ITVX.

ITVX is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can secure access with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can livestream the 2026 Nations Championship for free from anywhere in the world.

Livestream the 2026 Nations Championship for free by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK

4. Visit ITVX

5. Watch the 2026 Nations Championship for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window

Credit: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

$12.99 only at ExpressVPN

Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch the 2026 Nations Championship without committing your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream multiple weekends before recovering your investment.

ExpressVPN's regular 30-day money-back guarantee is not available for any subscriptions purchased during the FIFA World Cup between June 10 and July 11. ExpressVPN remains our top pick for sport, but you will need to pay the monthly rate until that offer comes back into play. Alternatively, Proton VPN still offers that all-important money-back guarantee.

What is the best VPN for ITVX?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on ITVX, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee (after FIFA World Cup)

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and usually offers a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99.

Live stream the 2026 Nations Championship for free with ExpressVPN.

SAVE $40: As of July 2, the JBL Charge 6 is on sale for $159.95 at Amazon. That’s $40 off a rugged speaker with up to 28 hours of battery life.

Opens in a new window

Credit: JBL

JBL Charge 6

$159.95 at Amazon
$199.95 Save $40

 

Get Deal

The JBL Charge 6 is getting a solid price cut right now, dropping to $159.95 at Amazon from its usual $199.95. That’s $40 off, or a 20% discount, on a rugged portable speaker that packs a long battery life, a built-in power bank, and enough volume to handle outdoor hangs without breaking a sweat.

The JBL Charge 6 stood out in our roundup of the best portable Bluetooth speakers, where it was named the best option for most people. We also liked its ability to double as a power bank for charging devices on the go, along with its punchy, room-filling sound that stays clear even at higher volumes.

Add in its waterproof, dust-proof build and long battery life, and it’s easy to see why it’s our go-to pick for everyday listening. The JBL Charge 6 also tops our roundup of the best JBL speakers, where we put it through tests for sound quality, portability, waterproofing, and everyday fun factor. It came out as our best overall JBL pick because of its bold, lively audio, all-day battery life, and rugged build that’s ready for everything from backyard hangs to beach trips.

We also liked its versatility, with customizable EQ, real-time sound tuning, and support for pairing multiple JBL speakers for a larger setup when you need it. As you can probably tell, we never really tire of recommending the Charge 6 — and for good reason.

Pick up the JBL Charge 6 Portable Bluetooth Speaker on Amazon while this deal lasts.

Elon Musk's X is having another go at building out its creator tools, with a refreshed "command centre" rolling out for livestreamers, aiming to rival competitors like Twitch and YouTube.

Announced by X head of product Nikita Bier on Wednesday, Live Studio should make it easier for creators to manage their livestreams and control settings like making chat subscriber-only.

In the post, a video mocks up a livestreamed launch from Musk-owned SpaceX, managed through Live Studio.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Live Studio will replace X's existing Media Studio Producer. It's part of the site's Creator Studio, where folks who pay for $3 per month for X's Premium subscription can manage their content and view analytics in one spot. From Live Studio, creators can go live, create private test streams, schedule streams, broadcast with external software and gear using Real-Time Messaging Protocol (RTMP), and monitor live audience data.

X has a guide to using Live Studio on its website, which has more detail and FAQs, including how creators can manage chat settings before and during a livestream. This means streamers can limit chat to subscribers if they want to or leave them it to everyone.

It's not available everywhere though, only for X users in select U.S. states (Virginia, Oregon, California), as well as cities including Sydney, Seoul, Mumbai, Singapore, Paris, São Paulo, Frankfurt, Dublin, and Tokyo.

And X really wants creators to use the tool, with Bier tweeting that the company will "be rewarding creators who livestream by allocating $1 million in the upcoming cycle" though did not detail how this budget would be distributed, just "more details to follow."

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

If X isn't your platform of choice — I can't put my finger on why — there are others like Twitch, YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok where you can go live.

And if you're not sure where to even start, check out Mashable's In My Bag series for the gear you'll need, this year's VidCon hub for inspiration, and meet the Mashable 101, the creators shaping digital culture right now.

The explicit tube site Pornhub is now blocked in 25 U.S. states.

This is due to age-verification laws. These laws vary state by state, but typically require visitors of a site with over a third of explicit content to submit a government ID or other form of age authentication. Louisiana was the first state to enact such a bill a couple of years ago, and now others have followed suit. In June, the Supreme Court deemed Texas's age-verification law constitutional, setting a precedent for such bills that come before and after.

The best VPNs for Pornhub:

---

Best for Porn

ExpressVPN

30-day money-back guarantee

Shop Now

---

Best for security

Proton VPN

30-day money-back guarantee

Shop Now

---

Best for beginners

TunnelBear

30-day money-back guarantee

Shop Now

According to one preliminary study, age verification won't work to keep minors off porn sites. This is because of software like VPNs that allow someone to appear to be in a different location, and because of non-compliant websites. (The Florida attorney general is suing foreign-based porn sites for not instituting age verification.) Yet, these laws keep getting passed — and are encroaching on non-explicit websites as well, experts told Mashable.

While Pornhub is not blocked in Louisiana, it is blocked in these states:

• Alabama

• Arizona

• Arkansas

• Florida

• Georgia

• Idah

• Indiana

• Iowa

• Kansas

• Kentucky

• Mississippi

• Missouri

• Montana

• Nebraska

• North Carolina

• North Dakota

• Oklahoma

• South Carolina

• South Dakota

• Tennessee

• Texas

• Utah

• Virginia

• West Virginia

• Wyoming

Pornhub isn't blocked in Ohio despite the state's age-verification law, due to a clause stating that establishing age verification methods doesn't apply to a provider of an interactive computer service (Aylo considers itself one).

In Louisiana, where users must submit ID to view Pornhub, the site has seen traffic decline by around 80 percent, Aylo (Pornhub's parent company) told Mashable.

"These people did not stop looking for porn. They just migrated to darker corners of the internet that don't ask users to verify age, that don't follow the law, that don't take user safety seriously, and that often don't even moderate content. In practice, the laws have just made the internet more dangerous for adults and children," Aylo stated when asked for comment by Mashable back in January.

In a statement to Mashable, Aylo continued:

First, to be clear, Aylo has publicly supported age verification of users for years, but we believe that any law to this effect must preserve user safety and privacy, and must effectively protect children from accessing content intended for adults.

Unfortunately, the way many jurisdictions worldwide have chosen to implement age verification is ineffective, haphazard, and dangerous. Any regulations that require hundreds of thousands of adult sites to collect significant amounts of highly sensitive personal information is putting user safety in jeopardy. Moreover, as experience has demonstrated, unless properly enforced, users will simply access non-compliant sites or find other methods of evading these laws.

Industry experts say that, in addition to not working for their intended purpose, age verification laws also raise concerns about privacy protection and safety since websites now have to host (even more of) people's personal information. It will be harder to be anonymous online, which experts warn is dangerous to free speech. Adult industry experts Mashable spoke to in an explainer on age-verification laws advocated for device-level filters, as did Aylo in its statement.

Some in the adult industry worry about what Trump's second presidential term will bring due to the conservative policy outline Project 2025 and its measures to ban porn. One of Project 2025's authors, Russell Vought, was caught on a secret recording stating that age-verification laws are the "back door" to a broader porn ban.

TL;DR: Unblock Pornhub from Iowa with a VPN. The best service for unblocking porn sites is ExpressVPN.

The world of porn continues to be rocked by new laws that require visitors to upload ID before accessing sites. After a number of states introduced these restrictions, Pornhub hit back by banning visitors from these locations. It's an ongoing battle that shows no signs of slowing down.

Age-verification laws for adult content have now been passed in Iowa. Pornhub has not yet been banned in Iowa, but access is still restricted. Fortunately, users can bypass these restrictions in just a few simple steps.

How to unblock Pornhub for free in Iowa

VPNs are useful tools that can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to secure servers in other locations. This process bypasses geo-restrictions so you can access sites like Pornhub from anywhere in the world.

Unblock Pornhub by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in a location that supports access to Pornhub

4. Visit Pornhub

Opens in a new window

Credit: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

$12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee)

Get Deal

The best VPNs for unblocking porn sites are not free, but most do offer free-trial peiods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can unblock porn sites like Pornhub without actually spending anything. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you the opportunity to temporarily retain access to Pornhub before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to sites like Pornhub, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for bypassing content restrictions is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for Pornhub?

ExpressVPN is the top choice for unblocking porn sites like Pornhub, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast streaming speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Unblock Pornhub for free in Iowa with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: The Samsung 32-inch Odyssey G55C curved gaming monitor is on sale for $189.99 at Amazon, down from its $319.99 list price.

Opens in a new window

Credit: Samsung

Samsung 32-inch Odyssey G5 Curved Gaming Monitor

$189.99 at Amazon
$329.99 Save $140

Get Deal

Amazon has taken another swing at Samsung monitors to offer you more budget-friendly prices to upgrade your gaming rig. This time, a 32-inch Odyssey model has been knocked under the $200 mark. 

As of July 2, the 32-inch curved Samsung Odyssey G55C gaming monitor is now available for only $189.99 after a 41% price cut off its $319.99 list price. The lowest price we’ve had for this monitor yet (confirmed with price tracker camelcamelcamel), this saves you $130 off the QHD display — which is a very nice affordable upgrade from an older 1080p panel without moving into OLED price brackets.

As for what else you’re getting from this monitor, the Samsung Odyssey G55C’s 1,000R curved screen has been built to pull more of your peripheral vision into the game. By using the said QHD screen, with 2,560 x 1,440 resolution, you’ll be given much sharper image detail than Full HD while still being less demanding than a full 4K gaming monitor. 

Plus, you’re getting a 165Hz refresh rate, a 1ms MPRT response time, AMD Radeon FreeSync support, and HDR10. Altogether, whether you’re a multiplayer gamer who loves Fortnite or immersive single-player titles like Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced — any game you play will feel smoother and all the more eye-poppingly stunning at the same time. 

What’s more, if you’re a hybrid or remote worker, this Samsung monitor also comes with an Eye Saver Mode and glare-free screen features, which should help if this is going to double as your main work desk display between sessions.

If you’re willing to pay a bit more to venture into an OLED monitor, Samsung’s Odyssey G6 monitor is on sale at $200 off. The non-curved 1440p Samsung Odyssey G5 monitor is now only $149.99.

Imagine buying Meta's smart glasses for a fixed price, but then having to pay a monthly price for unlimited access to all of their features? Well, you don't have to imagine anymore.

In a help article on its website (via The Verge), Meta quietly announced the Meta One subscription as a requirement to unlock "expanded access to features like Conversation focus," and to provide access to premium support for the glasses.

In the article, Meta insists that the subscription isn't required to use the glasses or access any of its features. But the key is in the free monthly usage limit; for Conversation focus, the limit is 3 hours per month, whereas Meta One Premium subscribers get 15 hours of access. Additionally, unused hours don't roll over to the next billing cycle, so saving some hours one month won't get you more hours next month.

This pertains to all of Meta's AI glasses, including those branded by Meta itself, or the ones co-branded with Oakley and Ray-Ban.

Conversation focus is an AI-enabled feature that amplifies voices of people you're facing, making communication easier in noisy places.

While Meta's limits on the feature (3 hours for free, 15 hours for subscribers) sound like AI rate limiting, a Meta spokesperson told Wired that it is not, as the Conversation focus feature runs entirely on the glasses themselves.

It's easy to find an analog to what Meta has done here. Apple's AirPods Pro, for example, have a feature called Conversation Boost, which amplifies the voice of the person talking in front of you. The feature is available for free.

While Meta has bundled the feature unlock with premium support, it's still quite obvious which way the company is heading. A Meta spokesperson told Wired that the company will "start testing new optional subscription plans that offer more premium features and advanced capabilities for those who want to unlock more from our apps and AI glasses.”

TL;DR: Live stream McNally vs. Rybakina in Wimbledon 2026 for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Some of the big stars are in action at Wimbledon today, including No. 2 seed Elena Rybakina. She plays U.S. hopeful Caty McNally in the second round.

Rybakina, who won Wimbledon in 2022, has been in good form this season, winning the Australian Open for the first time. But she was also among the big names eliminated from the French Open by a lower-ranked opponent. Will the same thing happen again when she faces the unseeded McNally? Or will Rybakina score the expected win and challenge for a second Wimbledon title?

If you want to watch McNally vs. Rybakina in Wimbledon 2026 for free from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

How to watch McNally vs. Rybakina for free

McNally vs. Rybakina in Wimbledon 2026 is available to live stream for free on BBC iPlayer.

BBC iPlayer is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock free live streams on sites like BBC iPlayer from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Wimbledon 2026 for free by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK

4. Visit BBC iPlayer

5. Live stream Wimbledon 2026 for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window

Credit: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

$12.99 only at ExpressVPN

Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer money-back guarantees and free trials. By leveraging these offers, you can unblock BBC iPlayer without committing with your cash. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it gives you plenty of time to live stream Wimbledon 2026 before recovering your investment. It's a sneaky trick, but it works.

ExpressVPN's regular 30-day money back guarantee is not available for any subscriptions purchased during the FIFA World Cup between June 10 and July 11. ExpressVPN remains our top pick for Wimbledon, but you will need to pay the monthly rate. Alternatively, Proton VPN still offers that all-important money-back guarantee.

What is the best VPN for Wimbledon?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for streaming live sport on free platforms like BBC iPlayer, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast streaming speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99. That covers you for the duration of Wimbledon.

TL;DR: Live stream Royer vs. Zverev in Wimbledon 2026 for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Germany might have been eliminated from the World Cup but the country's No. 1 tennis player, Alexander Zverev, is eyeing a second Grand Slam trophy this year as he takes to the court at Wimbledon.

Zverev just won the French Open — his first-ever Grand Slam title. And with Alcaraz out of action right now and Sinner looking shaky for a second straight tournament, Zverev will feel confident about going all the way. But first he must get past unseeded French opponent Valentin Royer in the second round. Can Royer cause an early upset or will Zverev continue his momentum?

If you want to watch Royer vs. Zverev in Wimbledon 2026 for free from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

How to watch Royer vs. Zverev for free

Royer vs. Zverev in Wimbledon 2026 is available to live stream for free on BBC iPlayer.

BBC iPlayer is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock free live streams on sites like BBC iPlayer from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Wimbledon 2026 for free by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK

4. Visit BBC iPlayer

5. Live stream Wimbledon 2026 for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window

Credit: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

$12.99 only at ExpressVPN

Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer money-back guarantees and free trials. By leveraging these offers, you can unblock BBC iPlayer without committing with your cash. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it gives you plenty of time to live stream Wimbledon 2026 before recovering your investment. It's a sneaky trick, but it works.

ExpressVPN's regular 30-day money-back guarantee is not available for any subscriptions purchased during the FIFA World Cup between June 10 and July 11. ExpressVPN remains our top pick for Wimbledon, but you will need to pay the monthly rate. Alternatively, Proton VPN still offers that all-important money-back guarantee.

What is the best VPN for Wimbledon?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for streaming live sport on free platforms like BBC iPlayer, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast streaming speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99. That covers you for the duration of Wimbledon.

Donald Trump made over $1 billion from cryptocurrency in 2026, with his business dealings laid out in a 927-page mandatory report released by the U.S. Office of Government Ethics. But what exactly are Trump's crypto ventures and how does regulation play out here? In an article published by The Conversation, Marta Khomyn senior lecturer, finance and data analytics, Adelaide University, explains everything we need to know.

US President Donald Trump once called cryptocurrency a "scam". It's now a major moneymaker for him: his just-released annual financial disclosure shows he made more than US$1 billion from cryptocurrency last year.

This news has raised the ire of Trump's critics. Juliana Stratton, the Illinois lieutenant governor and a Democratic Senate candidate, accused Trump of using his public office “to make billions while American families struggle to afford their basic needs. His infinite greed is disgusting.”

The White House denied Trump or his family has engaged in conflicts of interest. Deputy press secretary Anna Kelly said “all actions by President Trump and his administration are taken in the best interest of the American people”.

But how exactly has Trump earned so much money from cryptocurrency?

How does cryptocurrency work?

A cryptocurrency is simply digital money. It differs from traditional money in two ways.

First, traditional currencies are issued by central banks of each country, while cryptocurrencies are issued according to rules written in computer code.

The computer code behind crypto may be controlled by a company. Or the code may be predefined ahead of time (for example, in a “white paper” that sets up the algorithm behind crypto) and controlled by no one at all.

Second, transactions in traditional money happen via the banking system, while transactions in cryptocurrency happen on blockchains, which are databases that store information on who owns what.

Bitcoin is the oldest and best-known cryptocurrency, with a decentralised structure and no single entity controlling its issuance or making profits off it.

Aside from Bitcoin, there are tens of thousands of privately issued coins, which run on public blockchains such as Ethereum or Solana. But private coins, unlike Bitcoin, are issued by private companies to make money.

Transactions on a blockchain can involve transferring many different versions of private crypto assets – anything that can be written into a piece of code, regardless of whether that digital asset has any value at all.

What are the Trump’s crypto businesses?

Trump and his family are involved in three kinds of digital assets: the $TRUMP memecoin, a governance token called WLFI, and a stablecoin called USD1.

Memecoins are coins with no real business behind them. They derive their value from investor attention – a digital equivalent of buying a kid’s scribble because it's your kid, not because the scribble has value in the outside world.

Stablecoins, by contrast, are a digital equivalent of a fiat currency like USD. For example, each unit of USD1 is designed to be worth exactly US$1. To maintain this value, stablecoins are typically backed by short-term government bonds and cash.

Governance tokens are yet another type of coin, which give holders voting rights over a crypto project, but no ownership over the project itself, and no claim on its profits.

The $TRUMP memecoin launched three days before Trump's inauguration in January 2025. About 80% of its supply is held by Trump-affiliated companies, which also collect a fee every time the coin changes hands.

WLFI and USD1 are issued by World Liberty Financial, cofounded in 2024 by the Trump family and business partners. A Trump business entity owns about 60% of the company and is entitled to 75% of net proceeds from token sales.

Trump's annual financial disclosure shows World Liberty brought him more than $500 million last year, while the memecoin business brought in more than $600 million. Forbes now estimates Trump’s net worth at $6 billion, up from $2.3 billion in 2024.

How do you make a billion dollars from tokens?

Let's start with the stablecoin, USD1.

As a stablecoin issuer, you take in dollars, hand out coins, and use the dollars to buy US Treasury bonds. Then, you earn interest on Treasury bonds. The more coins you issue, the greater the amount of money you earn interest on. So the main trick is to convince someone to use your stablecoin and hand in the dollars to you, preferably in large amounts.

For USD1, that someone handing in the dollars was Binance, the world's largest crypto exchange, which had pleaded guilty to US money-laundering violations in 2023. Binance reportedly wrote the computer code underpinning USD1 and promoted it on its platform.

Then, in May 2025, MGX – an Abu Dhabi state fund chaired by the United Arab Emirates' national security adviser, Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan – invested $2 billion in Binance and paid in USD1. This instantly created $2 billion of interest-earning reserves for the Trump venture, worth an estimated $80 million a year.

Binance today holds 87% of all USD1.

The Securities and Exchange Commission dropped its lawsuit against Binance days after the exchange listed USD1, and in October 2025 Trump pardoned Binance's founder, Changpeng Zhao. A Wall Street Journal investigation later revealed Sheikh Tahnoon had also secretly bought a 49% stake in World Liberty itself for about $500 million, four days before Trump's inauguration.

The $TRUMP memecoin required even less effort.

With memecoin, you simply let speculators buy a digital asset that is effectively pure hype packaged as a currency. You make money on every trade. And because anyone, anywhere can buy the coin anonymously, legal experts warn that it operates as a channel for untraceable gifts to Trump and his family.

Some buyers openly spent $148 million in memecoin for seats at a dinner with Trump.

Like most memecoins, $TRUMP collapsed after the initial hype: it now trades at about 98% below its peak.

A Reuters investigation of Trump and his family's four main crypto ventures – World Liberty, the memecoin business, American Bitcoin and AI Financial Corp – found the family has gained about $2.3 billion since Trump retook office, almost exactly matching the amount lost by more than a million investors.

Without precedent

Some of the crypto regulations issued under Trump are good policy.

For example, the GENIUS Act clarifies the rules of the game for all – something the crypto industry had sought for years.

But all the useful crypto regulation is at risk of being undermined by stories of special favours and institutionalised corruption in Trump's crypto ventures.

It’s also likely to undermine the US reputation for the rule of law, as Trump’s crypto dealings are without precedent in US history: anyone seeking presidential favour can simply buy the president's coin.

Author: Marta Khomyn, senior lecturer, finance and data analytics, Adelaide University.

The original article was published July 2 on The Conversation.

Disclosure statement: Marta Khomyn does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

SAVE $17: As of July 2, the Lexar ES3 1TB Portable SSD is on sale for $152.99 at Amazon. That's a 10% discount and $17 in savings.

Opens in a new window

Credit: Lexar

Lexar ES3 1TB External SSD

$152.99 at Amazon
$169.99 Save $17

 

Get Deal

Amazon just knocked the Lexar ES3 1TB Portable SSD down to $152.99 from its usual $169.99 price, saving you $17 for a limited time. A 10% discount might not sound huge at first glance, but it lands at a useful moment. Reports are warning that AI-driven demand is putting pressure on memory and storage-related components, with prices expected to climb further in the coming months.

The Lexar ES3 is built for quick file transfers, with enough speed to move large photos, videos, game files, and other bulky folders without making you sit around waiting. It works with a wide range of devices, including newer iPhones, laptops, game consoles, and cameras, so you can use it across multiple setups instead of buying separate storage for each.

It's also designed with portability in mind. The drive is light and slim enough to slip into a pocket or bag without taking up much space, and it comes with a USB-C cable so you can plug it in and get started right away. For anyone storing more personal files, it also includes built-in file protection features for an extra layer of security.

Grab the Lexar ES3 1TB Portable SSD on Amazon before your next "storage full" jump scare.

SAVE $150: As of July 2, Marshall Monitor III A.N.C. headphones are on sale for $229.99 at Amazon. That marks a return to their lowest-ever price.

Opens in a new window

Credit: Marshall

Marshall Monitor III Headphones

$229.99 at Amazon
$379.99 Save $150

 

Get Deal

The Marshall Monitor III A.N.C. headphones are a pair our reviewer said "are some of the best I've tried." If they've been on your radar, now is a great time to grab them as Amazon has slashed their price down from $379.99 to $229.99.

This saves you $150 on these awesome headphones, but that's not all. That's the lowest-ever price at Amazon. It's not just the black model on sale at this price, either. You can also save on the cream colorway.

Mashable's Bethany Allard found a lot to love with the Marshall Monitor III headphones, highlighting that they offer "The best on-ear controls I've ever tried." Allard adds that they're "Incredibly customizable, from ANC to spatial audio." Sound quality and balance stood out as well, with Allard noting, "As someone who prefers a more mid-heavy mix, the Monitor III headphones felt like the audio match I've been looking for."

On top of that, the Marshall Monitor III headphones have a truly stellar battery life that lasts up to 70 hours with active noise cancellation enabled or up to 100 hours without it.

Want to learn more about getting the best out of your tech? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories and Deals newsletters today.

TL;DR: The Magic: The Gathering Marvel Super Heroes Jumpstart Booster Box is on sale for $129.99 at Amazon, down from its $167.76 list price.

Opens in a new window

Credit: Magic: The Gathering

Magic: The Gathering Marvel Super Heroes Jumpstart Booster Box (24 Packs)

$129.99 at Amazon
$167.76 Save $37.77

Get Deal

Marvel Super Heroes has finally landed in Magic: The Gathering, and if you’re looking for the best launch pricesfor the crossover set’s easiest pick-up-and-play box, Amazon continues to dominate the market.

As of July 2, the Magic: The Gathering Marvel Super Heroes Jumpstart Booster Box is on sale at Amazon for $129.99. Against its $167.76 list price, that saves you $37.77 and takes 23% off the 24-pack box — equal to paying only $5.41 per pack before tax.

This listing is shipped and sold by Amazon directly, rather than a third-party marketplace seller, with free delivery for as soon as July 8 at the time of writing. Amazon is marking the item as final sale with no returns, so double-check that you’re happy with everything before buying. 

This deal price is beating TCGplayer’s market price of $147.44. As for buying from the dedicated trading card selling platform, TCGplayer listings for this box are only going as low as $152.43 with shipping included. 

Inside the box, you’re getting 24 Magic: The Gathering Marvel Super Heroes Jumpstart Boosters, each containing 20 cards. Every pack is built around one of 51 possible Marvel Super Heroes themes, with all the land cards already included. That means you can open two packs, shuffle them together, and start playing almost immediately. 

That makes this one of the simpler ways to try Magic’s Marvel crossover without building a deck from scratch. The packs are also compatible with other Jumpstart products in Magic, so there’s room for fun deck combos if you already have some lying around. 

The MTG Avatar: The Last Airbender Beginner Box is now on sale for under $20. Plus, the 30-pack Magic: The Gathering Marvel Super Heroes Play Booster Box is at its lowest-ever price on Amazon. 

SAVE $50: As of July 2, the Bose SoundLink Micro Portable Bluetooth Speaker is on sale for $79 at Amazon, down from $129. That's a 39% discount, knocking $50 off the regular price.

Opens in a new window

Credit: Bose

Bose SoundLink Micro

$79 at Amazon
$129 Save $50

 

Get Deal

Portable speakers can get surprisingly expensive, but Amazon just knocked the Bose SoundLink Micro Portable Bluetooth Speaker (2nd Gen) down to a much easier sell. It's on sale for $79 instead of its usual $129, saving you $50. That's the lowest price we've seen for the compact Bluetooth speaker so far.

The Bose SoundLink Micro may be small enough to fit in your hand, but it punches well above its weight in sound. Bose managed to squeeze surprisingly full sound and deep bass into a compact design, making it a solid option for everything from beach days to kitchen playlists.

The speaker is waterproof and dustproof, so rain, splashes, or sandy conditions aren't likely to end the party early. Bose also doubled the battery life compared to the original model, with up to 12 hours of listening time, which means you can get through a full day without worrying about recharging halfway through.

If you prefer more bass in playlists or want voices and podcasts to sound clearer, the companion app lets you adjust bass and treble to better match your listening. And if a single speaker feels a little too small for a larger room or outdoor setup, you can pair two compatible Bose speakers together for a bigger, more immersive sound.

Grab the Bose SoundLink Micro Portable Bluetooth Speaker (2nd Gen) on Amazon while it’s still under $80.

In an era of endless reboots and sequels, The Devil Wears Prada 2 managed to do the impossible: stay true to its roots while evolving for a new generation. In our latest episode of How It Hits, we take a look at the "legacy sequel" phenomenon through the lens of one of cinema's most stylish comedies.

Senior editor Shannon Connellan breaks down the return of Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Stanley Tucci, and Emily Blunt, and look at how the shift from print to digital journalism provides the perfect backdrop for the continued power struggle between Miranda Priestly and Andy Sachs. Groundbreaking? Actually, yes.

The Devil Wears Prada 2 is now available to rent or purchase on Prime Video. This story was originally published on May 1 with the film's release in cinemas.

Silo Season 3's premiere is now only a day away, and we already have some more clues to work with.

On Wednesday, Apple TV released the above video showing green fields gradually decaying over 20 minutes, intercut with news bulletins and clips from the show. "STAY TUNED FOR A LIVE CELEBRATION OF THE SILO'S ORIGINS" reads the central caption. Spliced in with this is footage from both the Season 2 finale and, presumably, the start of Season 3, showing glimpses of still-alive(!) Juliette (Rebecca Ferguson) as well as congressman Daniel Keene (Ashley Zukerman). We also get a hint of a new character, billionaire Per Stensen (Colin Hanks), along with a news story about him purchasing a large parcel of land in Georgia. Intriguing!

The video ends with a link to howdidwelosethisworld.com, a site containing more images and clips to pore through ahead of the season's premiere. The plot thickens.

Silo Season 3 premieres Friday 3 July on Apple TV, with new episodes dropping each week.

SAVE $201: As of July 2, the 55-inch Hisense S7 Canvas TV is on sale for $698.99 at Amazon. That's a 22% discount on list price.

Opens in a new window

Credit: Hisense

55-inch Hisense S7 Canvas TV

$698.99 at Amazon
$899.99 Save $201

 

Get Deal

TVs aren't just about screen size and how well they display your favorite TV shows and movies anymore. These days, just as much thought goes into how they blend into your space when they're not in use.

This is why art TVs are becoming increasingly popular, transforming your boring, dark screen into colorful images. One of the most popular option is the Hisense Canvas, and as of July 2, the 55-inch Hisense S7 Canvas TV has dropped to its best-ever price of $698.99 at Amazon. With this deal, you'll save $201.

When choosing what to display on the TV, you'll get a choice of over 1,000 complimentary artworks and photographs, not to mention, you can upload your own images to make it a more personalized experience. And it's easy to switch different pictures or styles, so you're not stuck with one decision for months. It also has a Hi-Matte anti-glare display to really enhance the images, making artwork truly look like the real thing.

For performance, it features a native 144Hz refresh rate with AI Smooth Motion for sharp action in sports and gaming. Plus, audio is delivered through a 2.0.2 multi-dimensional system with DTS Virtual:X for immersive sound. And for streaming, it runs on Google TV, so access to your favorite apps and live channels is nice and easy.

Find the Hisense Canvas TV on sale at Amazon right now.

Two decades and the invention of smartphones and social media later, The Devil Wears Prada is back. It's triggering — I worked at a fashion magazine in the 2010s and it was Miranda Priestly–inspired hell — but it's a high-heeled reboot I frankly welcome on my neck.

Everything we loved about the 2006 original finds reinvention here: Runway's coveted closet, star-studded runway shows, Meryl Streep destroying editorial staff with laconicism. The Devil Wears Prada director David Frankel and writer Aline Brosh McKenna return, treating their shimmering sequel like an event, one that's just as meme-worthy and acerbic 20 years down the runway.

Offering the season's most anticipated collection of high fashion, celebrity cameos, and sweeping statements on modern media, The Devil Wears Prada 2 delivers an expertly tailored sequel, made-to-measure and unmistakably its own brand.

The Devil Wears Prada 2 reinvents the original film for 2026.

Back to that coveted "Runway" closet. Credit: Macall Polay / 20th Century Studios

Andy Sachs (Anne Hathaway), former Runway assistant in the 2000s, is now an investigative journalist who goes viral for an impassioned "journalism still f***ing matters" speech at an awards ceremony. However, when her whole team gets laid off by text during the same event, Andy needs a job — and the illustrious fashion magazine Runway needs some good PR.

Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep) still reigns as Runway's imperious editor-in-chief (don't you forget it). With a little help from her new Gen Z Emily/Andy, Amari (Simone Ashley), she's begrudgingly toned down her signature superciliousness for an obligatory tolerance — ugh, progressive labor laws. However, she's still the most formidable fashion editor on the planet. Alas, Miranda is currently the internet's "villain du jour" after covering a fast-fashion brand linked to sweatshop conditions (it's called SpeedFash, so the clues were there). Going viral puts Andy back on Condé Nast Elias-Clark Publications' radar, so whether the EIC likes it or not (she doesn't), she's Runway's newest (returning) employee.

Understanding the fierce power of The Devil Wears Prada as a pop cultural moment, Frankel and Brosh McKenna stack the sequel with references to the original film. Some are subtle: a Central Park vendor selling seemingly identical cerulean belts (I said seemingly!). Some are overt: Runway's Met Gala–style benefit being groundbreakingly themed "Spring Florals." But where there's past, there's present. Those Motorola RAZR V3s and T-Mobile Sidekick IIs have been replaced with Samsung's latest Galaxy smartphones. The soundtrack's KT Tunstall and Jamiroquai make way for Dua Lipa, Lady Gaga, and Doechii — though, of course, Madonna's "Vogue" makes its requisite appearance. Plus, Andy's ultra '00s pageboy cap gets a full scene nod.

Miranda Priestly: Forever en vogue. Credit: Macall Polay / 20th Century Studios

The Devil Wears Prada cinematographer Florian Ballhaus also returns with nostalgia in hand. The sequel's opening sequence, in which we reconnect with Andy, is nearly identical to the original film, from teeth-brushing to sweeping shots of New York City. Production designer Jess Gonchor (who worked on the original film), art director Robert Guerra, and set decorator Regina Graves meticulously refresh the world of Runway and the '00s New York it thrived in. 

Walking back into Miranda Priestly's hallowed office feels like we never left, though the interior has been updated in the editor's style. The film takes us for drinks at Bubby's, the favored bar where Andy and her friends toast to "paying that rent." It's unmistakably The Devil Wears Prada, but make it 2026, and it's matched by the film's unparalleled cast.

Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Stanley Tucci, and Emily Blunt make The Devil Wears Prada 2.

"Runway" editorial team, assemble! Credit: Macall Polay / 20th Century Studios

Let's get this clear: The Devil Wears Prada is nothing without its cast. Triumphantly strutting back into their iconic roles, Streep, Hathaway, Stanley Tucci, and Emily Blunt are who we're here to see, decked out in covetable couture from costume designer Molly Rogers (who worked with Patricia Field on the first film) and armed with more ruinous reads than a Drag Race mini challenge.

Streep slips back into Miranda Priestly's Valentinos with ease, delivering withering glares and critiques with the restrained demeanour that launched a thousand reaction GIFs. 2026 brings with it distasteful developments for the editor-in-chief; watching Streep spit out words like "bum bag" in disbelief at current fashion is worth the ticket price. But legacies like Miranda's defy frivolous trends, and Streep's EIC feels eternally en vogue as a woman still at the top of her game, confident in her exquisite taste, and loath to completely bow to a changing industry.

Dazzling in Annie Hall-inspired style, Hathaway returns to her earnest Andy Sachs roots wholeheartedly, moving her protagonist from naive newcomer who can't spell Gabbana to respected journalist, outwardly shrugging off Miranda's signature shade while desperately seeking her approval. Dismissive as always, the editor doesn't recognise her former assistant at all — it's been 20 years and this is Miranda Priestly. However, eventually, the power dynamic between them reverts to muscle memory: Miranda waiting for Andy to fail, Andy determined to succeed whatever the impossible task (there's no secret Harry Potter book, but something more editorial).

Yes, it's Dior, thanks so much for asking. Credit: Macall Polay / 20th Century Studios

The tailored twinkle in The Devil Wears Prada's eye, Tucci's Nigel Kipling, is sublime returning as the charming art director whose dress-downs still rival Miranda's. A darling in Dior, Blunt's Emily Charlton remains serving curt, with the star's sharp comedic timing hitting every mark as Miranda's scorned former assistant — "May the bridges I burn light my way," she declares, genuinely. 

Though there's been 20 years between the events of the first film and its sequel, director Frankel authentically addresses ancient grudges between characters — a moment of camaraderie between Miranda and Nigel had me misty-eyed.

The Devil Wears Prada 2 rolls out the glossiest supporting cast.

The list everyone wants to be on. Credit: Macall Polay / 20th Century Studios

Beyond the core four is a dazzling supporting cast, with Simone Ashley impeccable as Miranda's latest first assistant, Amari, responsible for keeping her boss uncanceled, with the help of a delightful Caleb Hearon as second assistant Charlie. Rachel Bloom lights up her all-too-brief appearance as Andy's book publisher friend who is "editing a memoir by one of Paris Hilton's chihuahuas." 

B.J. Novak plunges The Devil Wears Prada 2 into Succession territory as the heir to Runway's parent company, and Lucy Liu is serene as Sacha Barnes, the one designer who won't do press. 

Meanwhile, Andy's plunged into yet another strained romance storyline with real estate agent Peter (Colin From Accounts' Patrick Brammall), a plot distraction that feels wildly unnecessary, but one that sees Brammall in fine comedic form (a joke about Australians needing to say hello to each other literally anywhere landed only with me, but reader, it landed). 

Ultimately, watching Miranda Priestly and Andy Sachs back on screen is the competency porn we deserve without another season of The Pitt just yet. Though The Devil Wears Prada might be a time capsule of pre-internet publishing, its sequel cleverly reinvents the franchise for the now with its meme-worthy one-liners and undying love for fashion and journalism. That's all.

The Devil Wears Prada 2 is now available to rent or purchase on Prime Video. This review was originally published on May 1 with the film's release in cinemas.

You've likely noticed that journalism has transformed in the 20 years since The Devil Wears Prada distilled the profession into a pop-cultural moment. Based on Lauren Weisberger's novel, this iconic satire, alongside fellow fashion media gems Ugly Betty, The Bold Type, and How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, inspired a generation of wide-eyed, early-internet journalists. (Me, I'm talking about me.)

Now online metrics keep editors up at night, with virality that all-important talking point in editorial meetings, the higher-ups insistent on "gaining online traction," and the impact of AI overviews and chatbots a pervasive thorn in all of our sides. Legacy media has, of course, transformed with the internet, especially fashion journalism. Recently taking the hallowed reins from Miranda Priestly–inspiration Anna Wintour, Vogue's head of editorial content is former Vogue.com editor Chloe Malle, and the publication's Met Gala is an internet moment as much as an in-person event. 

And it's now, in 2026, that The Devil Wears Prada 2 arrives — refreshed, but ever-committed to old-school media ethics and making Big Bads out of corporate tech bros who value profit over authenticity.

From the film's very first moments, the current state of media is on full display by director David Frankel and writer Aline Brosh McKenna, whether championed or dismissed as yesterday's news.

Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep) is still very much the formidable editor-in-chief of the illustrious Vogue Runway magazine. Owned by Condé Nast Elias-Clark Publications, Runway now has a social media and video strategy. In the plot, Miranda's job could potentially evolve from EIC into a "global head of content" (essentially mirroring Wintour's path to being Condé Nast's chief content officer). Only slightly showing grief at her industry's evolution, she's now answering to the Elias-Clark chairman Irv Ravitz (Tibor Feldman) and his corporate tech bro son Jay (B.J. Novak) along with an ever-evolving world of online advertisers. 

Meryl Streep and Anne Hathway in "The Devil Wears Prada 2." Credit: Macall Polay / 20th Century Studios

Meanwhile, Andy Sachs (Anne Hathway) is winning awards for her work at investigative outlet Vanguard and going viral for acceptance speeches in which she declares "journalism still f***ing matters." Through Miranda and Andy, the film spends ample energy on the difficulties of balancing "pieces with gravitas" and editorial integrity with corporate demands, as well as how hard it can be for editorial teams to argue the value of a publisher's authentic point of view. As Andy says, "They keep sucking the soul out of everything and repackaging it."

To keep Miranda and Andy in esteemed company, there’s a wave of cameos from renowned editors, journalists, and authors including Edward Enniful, Tina Brown, Vanessa Friedman, Kara Swisher, Jia Tolentino, Suleika Jaouad, Amelia Dimoldenberg, Tomi Adeyemi, and Molly Jong-Fast.

But not everyone's on the same "yay journalism!" page. "Remember when magazines were a thing?" asks Emily (Emily Blunt), a disgruntled but still chic ex-Runway employee who has since moved into high-fashion retail. (No one in this movie says the word "Substack" or mentions the overlap between the creator economy and fashion, for what it's worth.)

Emily Blunt in "The Devil Wears Prada 2." Credit: Macall Polay / 20th Century Studios

Again and again, The Devil Wears Prada 2 satirises extremely specific, problematic elements of the current state of media. The excessive spending of the pre-2020s industry is mourned. A moment early on in the film, when Andy's entire editorial team is fired by text at a journalism awards event uncomfortably mirrors the too-many newsrooms gutted by top-down layoffs in recent years. (Succession Season 2 even parodied this sad reality with Kendall Roy's brutal Vaulter layoffs.) Corporate euphemisms like "downsizing" and "consolidation" for layoffs go hand in hand with insistent pressure from the top. "Let's show the markets we are ready to crank that EBITDA!" Jay Ravitz says in a moment of dialogue that's way too real.

At times, the film tips over into grandstanding (watching Andy declare journalism more important than real estate to an agent she's into feels ridiculous). And at times, the film also falls into romanticising the practicalities of the job: Andy helming Runway's well-funded, hallowed features department without a staff writer or freelancer in sight? Unlikely.

But, for a film whose main drawcard is the glossy high fashion world, celebrity cameos, and a magnificent cast, The Devil Wears Prada 2 goes unexpectedly hard examining the challenge of maintaining editorial integrity in today's media industry. That job "thousands of girls would kill for?" It's changed.

The Devil Wears Prada 2 is now available to rent or purchase on Prime Video. This story was originally published on May 1 with the film's release in cinemas.

SAVE OVER $400: As of Nov. 5, the De'Longhi Magnifica Evo Next is on sale for $699 at Amazon. That's a 36% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window

Credit: De'Longhi

De'Longhi Magnifica Evo Next

$699 at Amazon
$1,099.95 Save $400.95

 

Get Deal

Coffee connoisseurs listen up — there's a new De'Longhi deal at Amazon. As of July 2, the De'Longhi Magnifica Evo Next has dropped in price by over $400 ($400.95 to be exact), marking the lowest-ever price of $699 for this model.

This De'Longhi machine is a super automatic espresso maker that's designed to bring café-quality coffee into your home with as little effort as possible. It has 13 one-touch recipes, so you can make everything from espresso, cappuccinos, lattes, americanos, and long coffees at the press of a button.

A built-in conical burr grinder with 13 grind settings ensures your beans are freshly ground and optimally prepared for extraction every time, and the LatteCrema Hot System automatically textures milk and milk alternatives into smooth, creamy foam.

And the whole thing is designed intuitively. It has a 2.4-inch TFT color display and soft-touch buttons which make it easy to browse through recipes and personalize your coffee experience. You can even save your preferences across three user profiles where you can adjust things like the strength or coffee size based on individual tastes.

Get this coffee machine deal at Amazon now.

SAVE $130: As of July 2, the Hisense 50-inch E6 Cinema Series is on sale for $249.99 at Amazon. That's a 34% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window

Credit: Hisense

Hisense 50-inch E6 Cinema Series

$249.99 at Amazon
$379.99 Save $130

 

Get Deal

Buying a new TV is much more enjoyable when it comes with a good discount, especially when it's something as slick as the Hisense 50-inch E6 Cinema Serie. As of July 2, this TV has dropped from $379.99 to $249.99, so your next movie night or watch party for the World Cup will really impress.

This TV combines a Hi-QLED display with lots of smart features to create an immersive home entertainment experience. Hi-QLED Color produces rich, lifelike shades, while the Total HDR Solution supports Dolby Vision, HDR10+ Adaptive, HDR10, and HLG to enhance contrast, deepen blacks, and bring out brighter colors.

And it's not just the picture quality that is cinema-level. For audio, Dolby Atmos works alongside Dolby Vision, delivering immersive sound that complements the detailed picture quality.

Organizing streaming and app control is simple thanks to Fire TV. This OS brings together all your favorite streaming services and live channels on a single, easy-to-use home screen, with easy access to platforms like Netflix and Prime Video. Not to mention, it also includes Alexa voice control which lets you search for content, launch apps, and do lots more using simple voice commands.

Head to Amazon to secure this TV deal.

The list of cameos in The Devil Wears Prada 2 is so long it takes up an entire length of the movie screen in the end credits.

The glossy, glamourous sequel invites the A-list to the world of Runway, with fashion designers, creative directors, stylists, models, Hollywood stars, comedians, creators, musicians, athletes, journalists, and authors appearing in scenes involving fashion shows, long Hamptons lunches, and VIP birthday parties. You know, Donatella Versace and Lady Gaga's cameos are brilliant.

Here's every cameo we could spot in The Devil Wears Prada 2, a valiant task if we do say so ourselves.

Donatella Versace

Lady Gaga

Marc Jacobs

Brunello, Camilla, and Carolina Cucinelli

Domenico Dolce

Stefano Gabbana

Naomi Campbell

Winnie Harlow

Ashley Graham

Karolina Kurkova

Amelia Gray Hamlin

Anok Yai

Calum Harper

Law Roach

Wisdom Kaye

Heidi Klum

Jon Batiste

Ciara

Karl-Anthony Towns

Ronny Chieng

Hannah Berner

Paige DeSorbo

Rory McIlroy

Erica Stoll

Sarah Tanno

Frederic Aspiras

Edward Enninful

Vanessa Friedman

Tina Brown

Kara Swisher

Tomi Adeyemi

Suleika Jaouad

Jia Tolentino

Molly Jong-Fast

Jenna Bush Hager

Amelia Dimoldenberg

Brigitte Lacombe

Richard Kirshenbaum

Adam Pendleton

Marc Glimcher

The Devil Wears Prada 2 is now available to rent or purchase on Prime Video. This story was originally published on May 1 with the film's release in cinemas.

SAVE OVER $30: As of July 2, the Ninja Pods and Grounds coffee maker is on sale for $99.95 at Amazon. That's $30.04 off its full price of $129.99.

Opens in a new window

Credit: Ninja

Ninja Pods and Grounds Coffee Maker

$99.95 at Amazon
$129.99 Save $30.04

 

Get Deal

Amazon's had some great deals on espresso machines after Prime Day, including some straigtforward models that offer the basics.

The Ninja Pods and Grounds coffee maker is one that's caught our eye. The black model is on sale for $99.95 right now at Amazon, saving you over $30 on list price. For a few extra cents, you can also score the pretty glacier blue and sage green models for $99.97, or the stone model for $99.99.

The beauty of this Ninja coffee maker is it has a dual-brew style, allowing you to make up a cup of coffee with either grounds or a pod, if you're in a rush. It offers four brew styles — Classic, Rich, Over Ice, and Specialty — and can accommodate a variety of brewing sizes. According to the store page, you can brew a 6, 8, 10, or 12oz cup from a pod or a 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 18, or 24oz grounds brew.

On top of that, it also comes with a built-in frother for milk. This can be folded away when you're not using it. And speaking of space, this compact little machine will fit nicely on a kitchen counter, as it's about 13.3-inches high and 5.5-inches wide.

Looking to buy a new coffee machine for your home? Don't miss out on this great deal on the Ninja Pods and Grounds coffee maker at Amazon.

Want to learn more about getting the best out of your tech? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories and Deals newsletters today.

You know Lady Gaga appears in The Devil Wears Prada 2, but you don't know just how perfect it is.

Mother Monster, who teamed up with Doechii for soundtrack banger "Runway," garners applause with her cameo in the awaited sequel. But you'll have to wait until the final act to see Lady Gaga in the same universe as Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep).

There are two moments with Gaga appearing as herself in The Devil Wears Prada 2. One is a hilarious dressing room altercation between Miranda and Gaga before a major fashion event in Milan's Accademia di Brera, in which the Mayhem singer is less than excited to see the Runway editor-in-chief — there's not a poker face in sight.

"Who let her in here?" Gaga scoffs at Miranda. "Nigel said I'd never do another cover."

I won't ruin the whole scene, but I will say one thing: We never see Miranda Priestly grovelling, but this scene comes pretty close, as the famously acerbic editor must get Gaga onside. Considering Streep herself asked Gaga to be in the film, it's hilarious to watch them hating on each other in the scene.

On a stunning, structural set, Gaga later performs among the runway models during the show in the Brera, surrounded by Italian designer looks by Dolce & Gabbana, Fendi, Emilio Pucci, Moschino, Missoni, Lorenzo Seghezzi, Etro, Rosamosario, Roberto Cavalli, Antonio Marras, and of course, Prada. She's singing her track from The Devil Wears Prada 2 soundtrack, "The Shape of a Woman." (The artist has another track, "Glamorous Life," made for the film.)

It's by no means the only cameo in the film, with a runway's worth of fashion icons, Hollywood stars, journalists, and more celebrities invited to the most star-studded affair of the season. And Gaga herself is no stranger to a cameo.

The Devil Wears Prada 2 is now available to rent or purchase on Prime Video. This story was originally published on May 1 with the film's release in cinemas.

TL;DR: The Pokémon TCG Mega Greninja ex Premium Collection is on sale for $88.99 at Amazon, down from its $99.99 list price.

Opens in a new window

Credit: The Pokémon Company

Pokémon TCG Mega Greninja ex Premium Collection

$88.99 at Amazon
$99.99 Save $11

 

Get Deal

Mega Greninja is about to leap into the Mega Evolution product lineup, and Amazon has already cut the price of the Premium Collection before release day. 

As of July 2, the Pokémon TCG Mega Greninja ex Premium Collection is available to pre-order at Amazon for $88.99. That’s 11% off its $99.99 list price, saving you $11 on the sealed box before it officially releases on July 3. Although being sold and shipped by third-party seller Toynado Alley instead of Amazon, this box still comes with a 30-day refund/replacement window and free delivery for as soon as July 6 at the time of writing.

With eight booster packs included, Amazon’s $88.99 price works out to roughly $11.12 per pack before factoring in the Mega Greninja ex foil promo, oversize lenticular promo card, or tech sticker. As usual, booster packs include 10 trading cards, one Basic Energy, and a Pokémon TCG Live code card. 

The Premium Collection is built around Mega Greninja ex, giving collectors the Ninja Pokémon in both a playable foil promo and a larger display card. The card’s Mortal Shuriken Ability lets you discard a Basic Water Energy to place six damage counters on one of your opponent’s Pokémon, while its Ninja Spinner attack can potentially hit for 200 damage.

This Amazon price cut is very welcome, butyou should know that you can get the Mega Greninja ex Premium Collection much cheaper elsewhere. TCGplayer currently has 19 presale listings starting from $64.98 with shipping included, which is below its $67.78 market price. Walmart is even lower at $53.99, but that listing is sold and shipped by third-party seller that does not offer returns.

SAVE $350: As of July 2, the Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 is on sale for $449 at Amazon. That's a 44% discount off the list price.

Opens in a new window

Credit: Jackery

Jackery Explorer 1000 v2

$499 at Amazon
$799 Save $300

 

Get Deal

The Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 is back on sale at Amazon, and this time you can save $350 on the list price. As of July 2, it's dropped from $899 to $499 for the unit only.

This Jackery unit is both powerful and reliable. With a 1,500W AC output and 3,000W surge peak, it can run multiple appliances at once. And not just small devices like phones or laptops, it can run fridges, AC units, and electric cooking devices. And all this power is in a 23.8 pound build with a foldable handle, making it easy to carry for camping or road trips.

Portable power stations are rarely something you know you'll need in advance, especially if a storm or power outage rolls through pretty fast. But thankfully this device supports ultra-fast charging, going from 0 to 100% in as little as one hour using emergency mode via the Jackery app, or around 1.7 hours in standard mode.

You can even use the app to switch between charging modes. The app also lets you manage general power use and optimize performance, whether you need quiet overnight operation or energy-saving settings.

Find this portable power station deal at Amazon now.

There was major 2026 World Cup drama yesterday — with late goals, controversial penalty decisions, and England on the ropes.

The high-stakes drama continues on July 2, as top European teams Spain and Portugal play their first knockout games. Expect more megastar-in-the-making stuff from Spain's Lamine Yamal and god-tier moments from Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo.

It all kicks off at 3 p.m. ET, with three games played across the afternoon and evening.

FIFA World Cup schedule today: July 2

• Spain vs. Austria (Los Angeles Stadium) — kickoff at 3 p.m. ET

• Portugal vs. Croatia (Toronto Stadium) — kickoff at 7 p.m. ET

• Switzerland vs. Algeria (BC Place Vancouver) — kickoff at 11 p.m. ET

How to watch FIFA World Cup games today

Watch Spain vs. Austria

Spain need to show something special here and live up to their hype as potential World Cup winners. They haven't done anything quite on the level of France yet, and this match won't be easy — Austria will also fight hard for a spot in the Round of 16.

Live coverage will be on Fox and Fox One. Peacock will carry the live Spanish-language coverage.

Watch Portugal vs. Croatia

This is a challenge for both Portugal and Croatia, who have been among the best teams in European football in recent years. Now their respective star players, Cristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modric, are playing what could be their last major tournament and both want to go as far as possible.

Live coverage will be on Fox and Fox One. Peacock will carry the live Spanish-language coverage.

Watch Switzerland vs. Algeria

Switzerland are unbeaten at this World Cup and will fancy their chances at getting past Algeria. But Algeria could show underdog spirit in trying to reach the Round of 16 for only the second time in their history.

Live coverage will be on FS1 and Fox One. Peacock will carry the live Spanish-language coverage.

Opens in a new window

Credit: Fox One

Fox One (3-Month Subscription)

$39.98
$59.97 Save $19.99

 

Get Deal

Opens in a new window

Credit: Peacock

Peacock (Spanish Language)

Starting at $10.99/month

Get Deal

More live streaming options

Live TV cable replacement

Not interested in signing up for a standalone streaming service like Fox One or Peacock? You can sign up for a live TV cable replacement service, like YouTube TV or Hulu + Live TV.

These services carry over 100 live channels, but run off a WiFi connection. You'll get live access to Fox and FS1, plus a whole lot more. Here are some options to consider:

• YouTube TV — 10-day trial, then $67.99/month for 3 months

• Fubo Sports — 1-day trial, then $45.99/month for 1 month

• Hulu + Live TV — 3-day trial, then $89.99/month

Watch the World Cup for free with a VPN

It's possible to watch the World Cup for free on international services like ITVX, BBC iPlayer, NOS, or RTÉ. Our global World Cup watch guide can walk you through the process.

You will need a VPN to live stream the World Cup on these free streaming services. We recommend ExpressVPN — a Mashable-tested service and an Official Tournament Supporter of the FIFA World Cup in the U.S., Canada, and Europe — as our VPN of choice for sport. It offers servers in 105 countries, a user-friendly app available on all major devices, a speedy connection, and up to 10 simultaneous connections.

Opens in a new window

Credit: ExpresVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

$12.99 only at ExpressVPN

Get Deal

TL;DR: Live stream Switzerland vs. Algeria in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN, an Official Supporter of the FIFA World Cup 2026.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup knockout rounds continue with Switzerland vs. Algeria. The Swiss are unbeaten so far, racking up two wins and a draw in the group stage, and they'll see this fixture with Algeria as a winnable game.

Algeria have only reached the knockouts once before in the World Cup — all the way back in 2014 — but it's perfectly possible for lower-ranked teams to frustrate and potentially upset bigger name opponents. It's what the World Cup is all about.

If you want to watch Switzerland vs. Algeria in the 2026 FIFA World Cup from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Switzerland vs. Algeria?

Switzerland vs. Algeria in the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off at 11 p.m. ET on July 2. This fixture takes place at BC Place Vancouver.

How to watch Switzerland vs. Algeria for free

Switzerland vs. Algeria in the 2026 FIFA World Cup is available to live stream for free on BBC iPlayer.

BBC iPlayer is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock BBC iPlayer to live stream the 2026 World Cup for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Switzerland vs. Algeria for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK

4. Visit BBC iPlayer

5. Watch Switzerland vs. Algeria for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window

Credit: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

$12.99 only at ExpressVPN

Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the 2026 World Cup without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Switzerland vs. Algeria (plus more World Cup fixtures) before recovering your investment.

ExpressVPN's regular 30-day money-back guarantee is not available for any subscriptions purchased during the FIFA World Cup between June 10 and July 11. ExpressVPN remains our top pick for sport, but you will need to pay the monthly rate. Alternatively, Proton VPN still offers that all-important money-back guarantee.

What is the best VPN for BBC iPlayer?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on BBC iPlayer, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99. That covers you for the duration of the World Cup.

Live stream Switzerland vs. Algeria in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free.

Sleep trackers — wearable devices that monitor all your vitals — provide detailed summaries of your sleep cycle so you know how many hours of REM, deep, and light sleep you're getting. Most fitness trackers come equipped with sleep tracking these days, but choosing the best from that bunch is not as straightforward. These days, sleep trackers come in all shapes and sizes, and fortunately, our experts here at Mashable have tested them all.

So if the magnesium supplements and pillow sprays in your sleepmaxxing routine aren't working, here are the best sleep trackers of 2026.

Oura Ring update

The Oura Ring got an update in 2026. On May 28, the brand released the Oura Ring 5, a 40 percent smaller smart ring with some improved tech. We are in the process of testing the Oura Ring 5, so the Oura Ring 4 is still included in this list until we complete our testing.

I'm not bragging or anything, but I was a pretty big Pokémon fan before things got weird. I was collecting cards and building an unstoppable team on Pokémon Blue way back in the '90s. I still think about my overpowered combo of Blastoise and Pidgeot that absolutely dominated the Pokémon League. Was it truly competitive? Absolutely not, but they were happy times.

I'm not as deep in the hobby as I once was, and I probably fall into the category of slightly bewildered old dude who can't quite comprehend the prices and hype that surrounds Pokémon in 2026. But that doesn't mean I'm not a fan. And it definitely doesn't mean I'm not well aware of what's been launched by Pokémon this year.

We are officially halfway through 2026, and the hype train shows absolutely no signs of slowing down. The collabs are getting more ambitious, the prices continue to baffle me, and I can't help but feel a tinge of jealousy of anyone just getting started in this wild world. From massive Lego sets to uber-trendy watches, Pokémon is leaning extremely hard into the nostalgia of '90s kids like me.

Looking to treat your inner child to a blast from the past? Or maybe you're now bankrolling the hobby for your own kid? Whatever your reasons, these are the absolute best Pokémon product launches of 2026 so far.

Lego Pikachu and Poké Ball

Lego and Pokémon coming together feels like Lebron and Jordan teaming up in their prime. It's unfair to everyone else.

Mashable made a whole lot of fuss about this collaboration early in 2026, and I'm still not over it. I know that not everyone is thrilled with how they look (Pikachu seems to get a lot of negative publicity), but come on! Do you know how I would have lost my mind about this collab back in the day? Yes, I know the world is a horrible, cynical, and bitter place, but can we not allow ourselves to have just a modicum of fun? Please. We need this.

Spoiler incoming: I feature all three of the first-ever Lego Pokémon sets in this roundup, but it felt right to start with Pikachu. This build consists of 2,050 pieces, capturing the little guy leaping straight out of a brick-built Poké Ball that can be displayed either popped wide open in a battle stance or entirely closed up.

I don't own this set, but my Luke Skywalker (Red Five) Helmet is starting to sweat. We go way back, but I can't deny that the Pikachu and Poké Ball would look great on my desk.

Opens in a new window

Credit: Lego

Lego Pikachu and Poké Ball

$199.99 at Lego

 

Shop Now

Pokémon Pokopia

Are you completely burnt out by Pokémon Champions or the relentless pursuit of trading cards at anything close to market value? Nintendo dropped the perfect tonic back in May.

Pokémon Pokopia is Pokémon for Animal Crossing fans. You're tasked with building and running a peaceful, customized island sanctuary for wild Pokémon. There are no battles, no dread about coming up against that trainer who has you figured out, and no stress whatsoever. Instead, it's all about positivity and vibes.

For anyone who wants to decompress after a long day of staring at spreadsheets, Pokémon Pokopia is the perfect salve.

Opens in a new window

Credit: Nintendo

Pokémon Pokopia

$69 at Amazon

 

Shop Now

Pokémon TCG: Mega Evolution Ascended Heroes Elite Trainer Box

OK, let's get into it. The trading card market was bananas last year, and absolutely nothing has changed. In fact, it feels even wilder in 2026 after a wave of Mega Evolution releases. At the risk of sounding like an old man yelling at clouds, I remember the days when you could quite simply walk into a store and pick up a humble pack of cards for retail price.

Those days are long gone. Nowadays, you have severe price volatility, mass scalping, and investors rather than collectors.

The Pokémon TCG entered into a new Mega Evolution block in 2026, and demand has never been higher. Ascended Heroes kicked off the madness in January, and it remains the most sought-after TCG launch of the year. You can't buy the standard 36-pack booster boxes. If you want packs, the Elite Trainer Box is your best route.

It comes packed with 11 booster packs, two full-art N's Zekrom promo cards, 65 card sleeves, 40 Energy cards, six damage-counter dice, a coin-flip die, and a storage box with dividers. The pull rates have been notoriously brutal, but the secondary market prices reflect the hype. The top chase card, the full-art Special Illustration Rare of Mega Gengar ex, is currently trading online for upwards of $950. Guys, that's a lot for a Pokémon card. Should we maybe calm down and take a good, long look at ourselves?

Opens in a new window

Credit: Pokémon

Pokémon TCG: Mega Evolution Ascended Heroes Elite Trainer Box

$59.99 at Pokémon Center

 

Shop Now

Lego Venusaur, Charizard, and Blastoise

We did promise you more from the first-ever Lego Pokémon launch, and here's the second installment.

This absolute behemoth lets you build the iconic trio in 6,838 pieces. Each figure sits on its own type-specific base: Venusaur gets a lush jungle with movable vines, Charizard is propped on a volcano with posable wings, and Blastoise stands on a sandy beach complete with articulated water cannons.

They connect to form one build, but each Pokémon can also be detached to display solo on your shelf. It feels like the ultimate tribute to my childhood Game Boy sessions, and with that in mind, I will be discarding Venusaur and Charizard and firmly focusing my attention on Blastoise. We can reminisce about the good old days and how he ripped through all my rivals whilst I was sat in the back of my parents' car.

Opens in a new window

Credit: Lego

Lego Venusaur, Charizard, and Blastoise

$649.99 at Lego

 

Shop Now

Pokémon x G-Shock GA-110PKM-7A

Preorders for this new watch went live on July 1.

Casio’s newly unveiled Pokémon watch is undeniably cool. Casio has taken its classic, chunky GA-110 analog-digital model and stuffed it full of little details to please Pokémon nerds. The watch hands, pushers, dial, and translucent bezel are accented in the retro red, blue, and green color scheme of the original Game Boy games. The inset dial is shaped like a classic Poké Ball, with a little yellow speed indicator needle designed to look like Pikachu’s tail.

The strap features custom illustrations of 30 distinct Pokémon spanning the entire history of the franchise. It even ships inside a metal display tin designed to look like a Poké Ball.

Collabs involving major brands can sometimes come across as lazy. Why would they put the effort in when they know that fans are going to buy the product regardless of quality? But that's not the case here. It genuinely feels like a lot of effort has gone into this launch. $270 isn't exactly cheap, but all the little touches combine to offer something of real value for fans. I don't even wear a watch, but I'm tempted. Just think of the cool points from the other dads at the playground.

Opens in a new window

Credit: Pokémon x G-SHOCK

Pokémon x G-Shock GA-110PKM-7A

$270 at G-Shock

 

Shop Now

Lego Eevee

Rounding out the Lego Pokémon drop is this charming Eevee model. It was the design that escaped most of the bad reviews on launch, and it's easy to see why. It's adorable.

At just under 600 pieces, this is the most accessible and budget-friendly of the Pokémon sets. Despite its smaller footprint, Lego did not skimp on features. You can tilt Eevee's head, adjust its perky ears, move all four limbs, and angle its bushy tail.

It's a seriously cute build that won't break the bank like some of the other items on this list. It's still not cheap, but this is Pokémon we're talking about. That ship sailed a long time ago.

Opens in a new window

Credit: Lego

Lego Eevee

$59.99 at Lego

 

Shop Now

Pokémon TCG: Mega Evolution Chaos Rising Booster Display

Pull rates from the Ascended Heroes expansion can be soul-crushing. The release of Chaos Rising helped out collectors.

The star attraction here is the guaranteed foil promo card of Mega Greninja ex. Unlike the blind gamble of an Elite Trainer Box, you know exactly what you are getting upfront here: the playable Mega Greninja ex, a giant oversized version of the same card for your display binder, a high-quality enamel pin, and 36 Chaos Rising booster packs.

If you actually play the physical game rather than just hoarding cards in your basement like a Pokémon-obsessed Gollum, this is easily the most valuable TCG product released this year. And if you are sat in the dark whispering to your cards that you'll always love them and nobody will come between you, those booster packs should scratch that itch.

Opens in a new window

Credit: Pokémon

Pokémon TCG: Mega Evolution Chaos Rising Booster Display

$279.99 at Amazon

 

Shop Now

Pokémon x Target Starter Pullover Jacket

I don't know much about fashion, but I know this jacket slaps (as the kids say).

It's an official three-way collab between Pokémon, Target, and Starter. It features a high-contrast royal blue, yellow, and red shell with heaps of '90s energy. The spacious front pocket flap showcases Kanto Region text on the outside, plus embroidered Kanto Gym Badges on the inside of the flap and zipper pocket. Need I say more?

Opens in a new window

Credit: Target

Pokémon x Target Starter Pullover Jacket

$129.99 at Target

 

Shop Now

Pokémon Champions

Pokopia is busy helping out exhausted gamers. Pokémon Champions is doing the exact opposite. If your idea of a good time is sweating over damage calculations, predicting double-switches, and stressing over potential attacks, this is your new obsession.

Pokémon Champions strips away the open-world lag and focuses entirely on the battle box. It is fast, unforgiving, and addictive. It's also free-to-play for mobile devices and Nintendo Switch, which is neat.

The mobile port launched in June with surprisingly solid cross-play. Although it is technically free-to-play, you will have to grind (or open your wallet) to unlock certain battle cosmetics.

Opens in a new window

Credit: Pokémon

Pokémon Champions + Starter Pack

$6.99 at Nintendo

 

Get Deal

For years, brands have spent billions chasing influencers with massive followings. Increasingly, they're realizing some of their most persuasive creators are already on the payroll.

In June, Starbucks announced a TikTok update to its ongoing Green Apron Creators program, which will now pay select baristas to make TikTok videos through what the company says is the platform's first custom Creator Network for a brand. In the pilot program, employees will receive creative briefs, create content for Starbucks' TikTok presence, and share in advertising revenue — a notable shift from simply encouraging workers to post organically.

On its face, the program looks like another influencer marketing campaign. But it's really a sign that brands are beginning to formalize employee-generated content as a core marketing strategy.

The timing isn't accidental

For years, Starbucks has had a complicated relationship with Gen Z. The company became the target of widespread boycott campaigns amidst the Israel-Hamas war after what Starbucks called misinformation spread online about its political positions, while separate criticism surrounding its response to unionization efforts fueled additional backlash. Whether justified or not, the result was the same: Starbucks suddenly found itself fighting for credibility with a generation that increasingly values authenticity over polished advertising.

Now, rather than relying solely on outside creators, it's betting that the people behind the counter can help rebuild that connection.

It's a strategy that feels tailor-made for TikTok

Long before Starbucks announced Green Apron Creators in 2025, baristas were already making viral videos about complicated drink orders, secret menu hacks, and what really happens behind the espresso machines (especially when those limited-edition Bearista cups hit the shelves). Those posts often performed because they felt less like advertisements and more like behind-the-scenes access.

It's the same phenomenon that turned everyday workers into unlikely internet personalities. A Staples Baddie explaining office supplies. Costco workers revealing hidden perks. Trader Joe's crew members showing off their favorite seasonal finds. Audiences tend to trust people who actually do the job.

That authenticity has become increasingly valuable

Recent data from Sprout Social found that 61 percent of Gen Z discover products through employee-generated content, reflecting a growing preference for real people over highly produced influencer campaigns.

Starbucks isn't alone in recognizing that switch.

Dell has spent years building an internal ambassador program through its Social Media University, training roughly 1,200 employee creators across more than 80 countries. Sprout Social's employee advocacy program has grown from just six participants to roughly 100 employees, who accounted for nearly 30 percent of the company's video impressions in 2025 while producing less than 8 percent of its content.

The economics make sense

Brands spent an estimated $32.55 billion on influencer marketing in 2025, according to Later's State of Influencer Marketing report, but the industry is steadily moving toward smaller creators. eMarketer projects that micro- and nano-creators will account for nearly half of influencer marketing spending in 2026, and Mashable's own survey data found that among those who follow creators, 62 percent are attracted to creators who feel like "real people."

Employees often fit that profile perfectly. They already understand the brand, already have firsthand expertise, and don't require expensive talent contracts. More importantly, they feel authentic and relatable — qualities audiences increasingly value over polished, highly produced marketing.

In many cases, they're also creating the kind of content audiences actually want to watch.

In 2026, the creator economy is moving closer to everyday people. First, brands shifted budgets away from celebrities toward influencers. Then they embraced micro-creators over mega-influencers. Now they're discovering their own employees may be among the most credible creators they have.

Starbucks' Green Apron Creators program may be the clearest sign yet that the next frontier of creator marketing isn't finding new influencers. It's recognizing the ones already wearing the uniform.

On the list of places people imagine Taylor Swift getting married, Madison Square Garden probably falls somewhere below her Rhode Island estate, a castle in England, or a private Island in the Caribbean somewhere.

And yet, here we are.

After roughly three years of dating, two very public NFL seasons, and an engagement announcement that broke the internet, pop-mogul Swift and NFL star Travis Kelce are getting married. Though the couple has not publicly confirmed when or where the nuptials are taking place, reports of wedding-related events over the 4th of July weekend have turned Madison Square Garden into the center of a modern celebrity mystery.

Here's the tea, allegedly: according to multiple sources (one of which is an unnamed New York City official), Swift and Kelce are expected to hold wedding-related events at the Garden, including a smaller rehearsal event for about 100 guests at MSG's Infosys Theater on July 2, and a larger Friday celebration with about 1,000 people on July 3.

So far, much of the commentary around the rumored venue hasn't exactly been kind. Madison Square Garden is not a traditional wedding venue; it is the home of the Knicks and Rangers, a concert arena, a boxing venue, and a building attached to Penn Station, one of the least romantic places in New York City — at least since the original station was demolished.

For some, that has made the rumored choice easy to mock: tacky, unromantic, attention-seeking, too public, too obvious, and too much. Others have accused the whole thing of being a stunt, a diversion for paparazzi and fans while the couple slips away to the actual wedding location.

But as the days creep closer to Independence Day weekend, the evidence is getting harder to ignore.

Before you write the idea off as a romantic misfire, there are actual reasons it makes sense for them to tie the knot at Madison Square Garden. Hear me out.

Let's lay out the evidence

First and foremost, there is the paperwork. Public records show street closures planned around Madison Square Garden from July 2 through midday July 4, with portions of West 31st Street and West 33rd Street expected to close to both pedestrians and vehicles during the events. Another permit, filed by MSG event planner Winick Productions, reportedly requested a tent or canopy outside the arena for an event involving 500 to 999 attendees.

In recent days, the area around the Garden has become a circus of trucks, security, staging materials, greenery, a "40-inch mirrorball," and crews coming and going. Workers were reportedly seen putting down (and then pulling back up) a red carpet. A forklift driver was even spotted wearing a vintage Taylor Swift crew t-shirt outside the venue, apparently from her 2011 Speak Now tour, during which she performed at MSG.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

The security inside the arena appears just as strict as outside. According to TMZ, MSG event production employees working on setup have been told to leave their phones behind during shifts, wear wristbands, and pass through an additional security layer when arriving for work. Even MSG employees not working on the arena set-up have been affected, forced to wait in lines for security screenings. Allegedly, no one has been told what the event actually is.

Even city officials have leaned into the speculation, with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani joking that the weekend would bring a World Cup match, America's 250th anniversary, and "Taylor Swift’s wedding," before later adding during a heat-wave briefing, "If you happen to be getting married at MSG, you will be staying inside and staying cool."

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Is this an elaborate decoy?

Some people are convinced MSG is not the actual wedding location at all, but an expensive misdirect meant to keep paparazzi and fans focused on Midtown while Swift and Kelce marry somewhere else. Others think the Garden could be the reception rather than the ceremony, with the couple exchanging vows privately before moving into the larger celebration.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

The theory is not completely baseless. Swift, along with her publicist Tree Paine, have spent years proving she can keep major plans quiet until she is ready to release them: Folklore was announced the day before it came out, The Tortured Poets Department became a surprise double album two hours after its initial release, and her relationship with Joe Alwyn was kept largely private during their six years together (listen to Swift's song "Peace" for more context on this dynamic).

But her relationship with Kelce has been notably public, visible, and loud — this is not the same version of Swift who spent years hiding a relationship from view. With that, along with the growing evidence over the past few days, this theory is getting harder and harder to defend.

So, what does the internet have to say?

For some people, the idea of Swift getting married in a sports arena has become shorthand for everything they already find exhausting about the Taylor Swift machine: too big, too public, too stage-managed, too expensive, too much.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Aesthetically, many are stuck on the image of a billionaire choosing Madison Square Garden to host a wedding when she could, in theory, get married anywhere she wants.

Others are not buying the idea that Madison Square Garden represents "privacy" or "discretion." They point to other famous couples (Zendaya and Tom Holland or Beyoncé and Jay-Z) as proof that high-profile people can get married quietly if they really want to. But is a 1,000-person event at one of Manhattan's most famous venues truly private? Or just a spectacle with a security plan?

There is also plain fatigue. Some are less invested in where the wedding happens than in the fact that the wedding has become impossible to avoid. The speculation has been building since Swift and Kelce announced their engagement last August, and the combination of clues, permits, hotel rumors, delivery sightings, prediction markets, and guest-list theories has turned the wedding into the kind of rolling public mystery that people either love or resent. Even people who do not care have learned enough to have an opinion.

The Garden is actually a perfect choice of venue

Madison Square Garden sounds strange as a wedding venue if the question is romance, but it does make sense if the question is logistics.

Swift and Kelce's wedding has some major extenuating circumstances: paparazzi, drones, fans, security, celebrity arrivals, vendor access, traffic flow, potential leaks, and emergency coordination. While her Rhode Island estate or a private island might offer a better backdrop, neither would solve those problems.

Outdoor venues are easier to photograph from above, and even a private island in the middle of nowhere can’t always control the airspace. Estates like hers in Rhode Island are bound to draw crowds outside their gates — Swift has already experienced this firsthand at Jack Antonoff and Margaret Qualley’s 2023 wedding in New Jersey. Enormous crowds gathered outside, hoping to catch a glimpse not of the bride and groom, but of her. (Antonoff even wrote a Bleachers song about it.)

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

MSG solves several of those problems at once: the arena is enclosed and built to handle major events with the biggest names in the world, including the President of the United States, who attended the NBA Finals there on June 8. It has controlled, private entrances and access points, backstage corridors, loading docks, multiple security checkpoints, catering infrastructure, and daily operations that move VIPs through the building without exposing their arrivals to the public. In theory, the whole event could operate like Fort Knox with florals.

MSG also has the physical capacity for the party that Swift and Kelce are trying to throw. The arena's venue-rental materials list a capacity of 19,500 for concerts, 2,000 for cocktails, and 1,250 for banquets. A 1,000-person celebration would not be stretching the venue.

The space can also be completely re-imagined. Close your eyes and imagine MSG, now take out the court, stage, and seats, and what you have left is an 820,000-square-foot blank canvas. Reports state that a massive castle is being built, with a lush garden surrounding the structure and fabric draped from the ceiling and covering the floors. The Garden is becoming a literal garden.

The theme would track with the couple's engagement, which took place in Kelce's flower-filled backyard, and with Swift's own visual history; she has used castle imagery during both the Fearless and Speak Now tours.

It also tracks with Swift’s larger relationship to stagecraft. She has spent over a decade transforming arenas and stadiums into ultra-specific visual worlds, from mossy cabins to 1989-coded cityscapes. Her team already knows how to make a massive venue feel intimate while maintaining a high level of design. The Eras Tour alone proved that night after night.

If the rumors are true, she may have foreshadowed the moment in her 2020 song "The Last Great American Dynasty": "The wedding was charming, if a little gauche."

Scientists are closing in on an explanation for how mysterious pure sulfur rocks ended up on the surface of Mars.

NASA's Curiosity rover accidentally discovered them at Gale Crater in 2024 by driving over them, crushing the material, and exposing a bed of crystals the color of Mello Yello. The mission team later realized this wasn't a small patch of rare rocks but a vast field sprawling 50 yards.

When sulfur is made naturally on Earth, it is usually linked to superheated volcanic gases and hot springs. Another way it can form is through interactions with bacteria, said Abigail Fraeman, deputy project scientist on the Curiosity mission, two years ago.

"We don't think we're anywhere near a volcano where the rover is, so that is a puzzling feature to find in this particular location," she told Mashable then. 

But a team of researchers now has an alternative idea that wouldn't require hot springs or Martian life. Instead, a space rock may have slammed into an area that already had a cache of sulfur buried underground. The extraordinary heat from the collision could have melted the sulfur into a liquid, thus allowing it to cascade downhill for a few miles before hardening into solid chunks like the ones the rover found. 

Curiosity is surrounded by plenty of sulfates — rocks that contain sulfur mixed with other materials — at Gale Crater. But unadulterated sulfur is a whole different story. No other Mars mission has found pure elemental sulfur just lying around.

Scientists recently presented their study of the pure sulfur on Mars at the European Geosciences Union General Assembly in Vienna, Austria. 

The smoking gun for the scientists' asteroid hypothesis is a small, damaged crater about 1,280 feet wide uphill from the sulfur deposits. Part of that crater's lip is missing; it could have been a natural channel for molten sulfur to spill out and flow about 2.5 miles downhill.

The sulfur may have pooled behind piles of rock that had fallen into the valley. A handful of clues support this, but one of the most compelling comes from the round holes spotted in the rocks. Researchers think they may be bubbles that foamed as gas escaped from the cooling liquid sulfur, according to one of two papers presented at the Lunar and Planetary Science Conference in Houston in March. Rover images showed more holes at the higher points of the deposit, which is what scientists would expect from a pool gradually cooling from the bottom up.

To test the asteroid impact idea, researchers modeled space rocks striking the Martian surface at speeds between about 11,000 and 22,000 mph with computers. The simulations showed that faster impacts melt more sulfur, according to another LPSC paper. 

After inadvertently crushing Convict Lake, a rock containing pure sulfur, Curiosity found others like it, such as this one dubbed Snow Lake. Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech / MSSS

But there was a catch. Only about 20 to 25 percent of the melted sulfur stayed inside the crater. The rest was blasted out or vaporized. 

When the scientists assumed sulfur made up only a small portion of the ground — as is common on Mars — the simulated crash didn't produce nearly enough melted sulfur. When the ground around the crater was composed of at least half sulfur, the impact could have produced the right amount of liquid sulfur to explain the rover's discovery.

The team suggests the sulfur itself could have come from ancient volcanic eruptions that already existed at the site of the asteroid collision. The impact could have melted those rocks rather than created them. 

The simulations are still rough, the researchers say, as they don't have a specialized physics model yet for how sulfur behaves under the extreme pressures of an asteroid impact.

Curiosity is approaching the region where scientists think this sulfur-rich material may be located. Future observations could reveal whether those rocks truly contain a lot of sulfur, helping to confirm whether an asteroid impact could have created the strange sulfur deposits.

Looking for something great to watch at home? Streaming subscribers are spoiled for choice between Hulu, Netflix, HBO Max, Disney+, Apple TV, Prime Video, Shudder, Paramount+, Peacock, and more. And that's before you even look at the vast libraries of movies and television programs within each streamer!

Don't be overwhelmed or waste an hour scrolling through your services to determine what to watch. We've got your back, whatever your mood. Mashable offers watch guides for all of the above, broken down by genre: comedy, thriller, horror, documentary, and animation, among others. But if you're seeking something brand new (or just new to streaming), we've got you covered there, too.

17. Lee Cronin's The Mummy

Evil Dead Rise director Lee Cronin puts his own gory spin on mummy stories in Lee Cronin's The Mummy. (No relation to the Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz franchise, or to the 2017 Tom Cruise flop.) Here, the mummy is Katie (Natalie Grace), a young girl who was kidnapped while her family lived in Egypt. Her parents (Jack Reynor and Laia Costa) rejoice when she turns up years later. However, there are several red flags to her reappearance: She's found in an ancient sarcophagus, and she seems to have a thirst for blood.

Cronin's penchant for creepy kids doesn't quite translate to his take on The Mummy, with most of the film's scares falling flat. As I wrote in my review, "On the one hand, the gore, when it comes, is spectacular. On the other hand, it's sandwiched within an underwhelming storyline that never truly lets loose." — Belen Edwards, Entertainment Reporter

Starring: Jack Reynor, Laia Costa, May Calamawy, Natalie Grace, Veronica Falcón, Shylo Molina, Billie Roy, Hayat Kamille, Emily Mitchell, May Elghety, Husam Chadat, Tim Seyfi, and Mark Mitchinson

How to watch: Lee Cronin's The Mummy debuts July 3 on HBO Max.

16. Worst Neighbor Ever

I hate how addicted I am to Netflix's Worst ________ Ever franchise: Worst Ex Ever, Worst Roommate Ever, and Worst Neighbor Ever. They get grim and twisted. And I can't get enough.

This true crime series offers 50-minute (or so) episodes, each unfurling a nightmarish scenario, told by the survivors who lived it. While I've not yet seen Worst Neighbor Ever, I have seen ID's similarly themed Fear Thy Neighbor and both seasons of Worst Roommate Ever. These stories tend to be shocking, creepy, but — be warned — not always satisfying. (HBO's Neighbors seemed to stop at a kind of "This is bonkers, huh?" with no real resolution.)

From the trailer, I'm anticipating this one will be satisfying for your next true crime fix. — Kristy Puchko, Entertainment Editor

How to watch: Worst Neighbor Ever is now streaming on Netflix.

15. Sharkfest

It wouldn't be summer TV without sharks, and National Geographic gets things started with its 14th annual SharkFest. The festivities begin July 5 with Hammerhead Sharks Up Close with Bertie Gregory, then continue throughout the month with programming like World's Biggest Mako, Attack of the Samurai Sharks, and Shark vs. Giant Croc. If you're looking to get up close and personal with sharks from the comfort of your own home, dive into Sharkfest. — B.E.

How to watch: Sharkfest begins July 5 on National Geographic, Disney+, and Hulu.

14. The Get Out

If you like your action with some dark comedy, you'll want to check out The Get Out.

Based on Thomas Perry's novel Strip, this thriller stars Russell Crowe as night club owner Manco Kapak. After decades of shady deals, he's ready to change his life to become more legit and less stressed out, but breaking ties with a cartel is easier said than done. Manco hits a unique snag when he's held up by a pair of masked thieves who think of their life of crime as a movie. This premise promises a wild ride, while a star-studded cast assures a fun watch. — K.P.

Starring: Russell Crowe, Luke Evans, Teresa Palmer, Daniel Zovatto, Josh McConville, Nina Dobrev, and Aaron Paul

How to watch: The Get Out is now available to rent or purchase on Prime Video.

13. Obsession

Audiences went feral for writer/director Curry Barker's ultra-creepy Obsession. The film turns rom-com expectations on its head by presenting a lovelorn protagonist named Bear (Michael Johnston), who might seem like a nice guy but is actually the movie's villain.

Obsessed with his friend Nikki (a riveting Inde Navarrette), he makes a wish that she'll not only notice him, but will love him more than anyone else. In the way of the mythic monkey's paw, this wish goes horribly wrong, transforming Bear's dream girl into a nightmare. Obsession is thoroughly chilling, especially thanks to Navarrette's harrowing performance. But Barker's exploration of sexual politics ultimately feels juvenile because of a flubbed final act. As I explained more in-depth in my review, "This makes the finale of Obsession unnerving — not so much for what it shows, but for the empathy it ultimately lacks."* — K.P.

Starring: Michael Johnston, Inde Navarrette, Cooper Tomlinson, Megan Lawless, and Andy Richter

How to watch: Obsession is now available to rent or purchase on Prime Video.

12. Bang My Box: The Robin Byrd Story

If you love Sex and the City or And Just Like That... you won't want to miss Bang My Box: The Robin Byrd Story. Produced by Sarah Jessica Parker, this documentary explores the life and groundbreaking sex-positive work of New York City icon Robin Byrd.

Before Carrie was musing over shoes and Mr. Big, Byrd was hosting The Robin Byrd Show on public access TV from her Manhattan apartment. She tackled topics that spooked the mainstream media, including LGBTQ+ rights, sex toys, AIDS awareness, and safer sex. She went from being a crotched-bikini-wearing provocateur to becoming a fearless activist. So, watching her doc seems a terrific way to close out Pride Month. — K.P.

How to watch: Bang My Box: The Robin Byrd Story is now streaming on HBO Max.

11. Human Vapor

Train to Busan, The Ugly, and Hellbound writer and director Yeon Sang-ho has a new horror series for you, and it's based on Ishirō Honda's classic Japanese 1960 sci-fi thriller The Human Vapor. Co-written with Gannibal's Shinzo Katayama (who also directs), this South Korean-Japanese series was developed by Toho (the legendary studio responsible for the original Vapor film and a little-known franchise called Godzilla) and Yeon's own Wow Point studio.

Set in Japan, the series follows a killer known as the Human Vapor (played by newcomer UTA), who appears to be able to turn himself into exactly that in order to murder people — very publicly. Online streams, TV broadcasts, it's live and horrific. And worse, the killer announces the details of his targets in advance, promising a similar press conference each time with gory details. Detective Kenji Okamoto (Shun Oguri) and reporter Kyoko Kono (Yu Aoi) race against time to find and stop the murderer, but learn they're chasing extremely homicidal smoke. Good luck. — Shannon Connellan, Senior Editor

Starring: Shun Oguri, Yu Aoi, Suzu Hirose, Kento Hayashi, UTA, and Yutaka Takenouchi

How to watch: Human Vapor is now streaming on Netflix.

10. Adventure Time: Side Quests

Adventure Time is back with a new look and new 11-minute episodes! Executive producer and showrunner Nate Cash worked on previous seasons of the show as a storyboard supervisor, creative director, voice director, and supervising director. For this new spinoff, he's removed the hard lines of familiar characters, creating a softer feel. But this is still the Finn and Jake we all know and love. 

Across the episodes given to press, Adventure Time: Side Quests offered a kooky collection of tales, introducing new characters and bringing back fan favorites like Ice King, Marceline the Vampire Queen, Princess Bubblegum, and Lumpy Space Princess. Like the early seasons of Adventure Time, these eps are fun, weird, and funny, but do little to affect the show's complex lore. (Look to Fionna and Cake or Distant Lands for that!) The first few made me wonder if Cash was looking to relaunch the show to grab a new audience of young kids. But episodes like "Joey Waffles" and "Game Night" deal in more mature content, like discussions of depression, divorce, and the drama of a Dungeons and Dragons session going off the rails. Which is all to say, fans of the original Adventure Time will likely be grateful for more quests with Finn, Jake, and the oddballs of Ooo. — K.P. 

Starring: Sasha Knight, John Dimaggio, Tom Kenny, Olivia Olson, and Hynden Walch

How to Watch: Adventure Time: Side Quests is now streaming on Hulu and Disney+.

9. Elle

Who was Elle Woods before Legally Blonde? Find out in Elle, Prime Video's prequel series. The show transports viewers to Elle's (Lexi Minetree) junior year of high school. Instead of living it up in Los Angeles as she'd hoped, she and her parents must move to Seattle, whose grungy, rain-soaked vibes are the polar opposite of Elle's bubbly pink optimism.

Despite a delightful leading performance from Minetree and some truly fun teen drama, Elle suffers from prequel syndrome. Why does Elle's fish-out-of-water experience here not inform her time at Harvard Law? Why do we need an Elle Woods origin story in the first place? Why not make a new teen drama? As I wrote in my review, "I would like Elle better if it wasn't a Legally Blonde prequel." — B.E.

Starring: Lexi Minetree, June Diane Raphael, Tom Everett Scott, Chandler Kinney, Jacob Moskovitz, Gabrielle Policano, Zac Looker, and James Van Der Beek

How to watch: Elle is now streaming on Prime Video.

8. Enola Holmes 3

Enola Holmes, Sherlock's younger sister, returns for a third Netflix movie, with Millie Bobby Brown back on the trail as the now-established detective. Set in Malta instead of Victorian England, Enola Holmes 3 sees the titular heroine grown up and facing two troubling paths: the case of the kidnapped brother, Sherlock (Henry Cavill), and the case of walking down the aisle. However, Enola's marriage to her beloved Lord Tewkesbury (Louis Partridge) takes a back carriage seat when the game is afoot. "With another playful performance from Brown and her accomplished co-stars, and a Victorian narrative that surprisingly acknowledges Britain's bloody colonial legacy, Enola Holmes 3 files another satisfyingly twisty case for the franchise," I wrote in my review. "And this time, we finally get to hang out properly with Dr. John Watson (Himesh Patel)." — S.C.

Starring: Millie Bobby Brown, Henry Cavill, Helena Bonham Carter, Himesh Patel, Louis Partridge, and Sharon Duncan-Brewster

How to watch: Enola Holmes 3 is now streaming on Netflix.

7. She's the He

Siobhan McCarthy flips the script on '00s gender-swap comedies like She's the Man in She's the He, a film whose cast mainly includes trans, non-binary, and queer actors. "Gender-bending narratives have always been told by cis people, and they've always used trans people as the butt of the joke," McCarthy, who identifies as trans and nonbinary, told Screen Anarchy. "I began to think about what it would mean for one of those stories to get told by a trans person and to really foreground trans joy in the telling of that story."

She's the He centers on best friends Alex (Nico Carney) and Ethan (Misha Osherovich), whose plan to convince their fellow high school students they're not gay involves pretending to come out as trans. But such a performance might just be the start of a real path to self-discovery. — S.C.

Starring: Misha Osherovich, Nico Carney, Suzanne Cryer, Mark Indelicato, Malia Pyles, Emmett Preciado, and Kyle Butenhoff

How to watch: She's the He is now available to rent or purchase on Prime Video.

6. Survival of the Thickest, Season 3

Michelle Buteau and Danielle Sanchez-Witzel's Netflix comedy series takes its final bow with Season 3, with a colossal cast joining Survival of the Thickest to send it off (just look at that starring lineup). Based on Buteau's book and directed by Insecure head writer Amy Aniobi (who's also the showrunner) alongside Survival of the Thickest Seasons 1 and 2 director Kim Nguyen, the series reconnects with designer and stylist Mavis Beaumont (Buteau). She's crushing it in New York's fashion world and looking to launch her own inclusive line for every body type. She's also loving life with her artist best friend Khalil (Tone Bell) and head over heels for handsome Italian Luca (Marouane Zotti). But she's also thinking about the future (and not just the next Paris Fashion Week), which comes with a whole range of blunt health conversations with icon Wanda Sykes in a guest-starring doctor role. — S.C.

Starring: Michelle Buteau, Tone Bell, Marouane Zotti, Peppermint, Liza Treyger, Garcelle Beauvais, Wanda Sykes, D.L. Hughley, Ashley Graham, Ronny Chieng, Ice-T, Wyatt Cenac, Jenna Lyons, Kandi Burruss, LaQuan Smith, Charles Harbison, Ashley Romans, Anthony Michael Lopez, Alecsys Proctor-Turner, RonReaco Lee

How to watch: Survival of the Thickest Season 3 is now streaming on Netflix.

5. Ready or Not 2: Here I Come

In this direct sequel to Ready or Not, Samara Weaving reprises the the role of the Grace Le Domas (née MacCaullay), who was recently widowed when a deal with the devil went sideways for her in-laws. But they're not the only ultra-rich families who've struck such an agreement. And now, a new lot of affluent and armed antagonists are on the hunt for round two. At least this time, Grace gets a Player 2 in her estranged sister (Kathryn Newton).

In my review out of SXSW, I cheered the bonkers fun that the filmmaking team known as Radio Silence brings to this sequel. Particularly shouting out Sarah Michelle Gellar and Shawn Hatosy for bringing mesmerizing menace as a pair of toxic twins, I concluded, "Ready or Not 2: Here I Come is a winner when it comes to being a totally batshit good time."* — K.P.

Starring: Samara Weaving, Kathryn Newton, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Shawn Hatosy, Néstor Carbonell, Kevin Durand, Olivia Cheng, David Cronenberg, and Elijah Wood

How to watch: Ready or Not 2: Here I Come is now streaming on Hulu.

4. X-Men '97, Season 2

Disney's revival of the mighty '90s X-Men: The Animated Series is back for a second season — and the Apocalypse is nigh. Ancient Egyptian mutant En Sabah Nur (voiced by Adetokumboh M'Cormack and Ross Marquand in the past and present, respectively) will dominate our heroes' focus in Season 2. However, with the gang scattered across time, reuniting this dream team is higher on the to-do list. Though he's the fan favorite villain who will become Apocalypse, En Sabah Nur's journey is long and full of terrors. Notably, the series comes after turbulence behind the scenes; X-Men '97 showrunner and writer Beau DeMayo was fired by Disney after Season 1, though he had finished writing Season 2. — S.C.

Starring: Ross Marquand, Matthew Waterson, Ray Chase, Jennifer Hale, Alison Sealy-Smith, Cal Dodd, Lenore Zann, and George Buza

How to watch: X-Men '97 is now streaming on Disney+.

3. The Devil Wears Prada 2

The word "iconic" gets thrown around a lot these days. But there's no denying that The Devil Wears Prada movie adaptation was iconic. The fashion had audiences gagging on the eleganza of Andy Sachs' (Anne Hathaway) stylish journey of self-discovery working under the iron fist that was Runway magazine's editor-in-chief Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep) — herself a thinly veiled Anna Wintour. Who among us hasn't yelled, "Gird your loins!" in a clumsy Stanley Tucci impersonation? Or felt smug about cerulean ever since we first heard that epic monologue?

Twenty years later, this chic sequel picks up with the tables turned. Andy is a successful journalist, while Miranda's reign at Runway is threatened by a current scandal. Will Andy aid her? Or expose her?*

Mashable's Shannon Connellan wrote in her review, "Offering the season's most anticipated collection of high fashion, celebrity cameos, and sweeping statements on modern media, The Devil Wears Prada 2 delivers an expertly tailored sequel, made-to-measure and unmistakably its own brand." — K.P

Starring: Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, Stanley Tucci, Lucy Liu, Justin Theroux, B. J. Novak, Simone Ashley, and Pauline Chalamet

How to watch: The Devil Wears Prada 2 is now available to rent or purchase on Prime Video.

2. Project Hail Mary

Amaze! Amaze! Amaze! You can now watch sci-fi crowdpleaser Project Hail Mary at home. Based on the bestselling novel by Andy Weir, Project Hail Mary imagines a terrifying scenario: Earth's sun is dimming, and we have one last-ditch hope at figuring out how to save it. That hope is Dr. Ryland Grace (Ryan Gosling), a science teacher stranded alone in space. Alone, that is, until he meets Rocky (voiced and puppeted by James Ortiz), everyone's new favorite movie alien. 

That encounter kicks off the heartwarming bromance that fuels the rest of Project Hail Mary, which bursts with humor, apocalyptic drama, and riveting spacewalks. As Mashable Entertainment Editor Kristy Puchko wrote in her review, "Imagine The Martian meets Half Nelson meets E.T., and you'll get some idea of the mirthful mash-up that is Project Hail Mary." — B.E.*

Starring: Ryan Gosling, Sandra Hüller, Lionel Boyce, Ken Leung, Milana Vayntrub, and James Ortiz

How to watch: Project Hail Mary is now streaming on MGM+.

Best of streaming this week: Silo, Season 3

Silo Season 2 left us on so many brutal cliffhangers that Season 3 has felt a long time coming, but now we're hopefully poised to get some of the big questions answered: What exactly is the safeguard? What's next for Sims (Common) and his family? Will Bernard (Tim Robbins) survive that fire? Based on the trailer, which cuts between the underground silo in the present day and the pre-silo storyline started in that surprise Season 2 flashback, it looks like we may also get an origin story. Eep. — Sam Haysom, General Assignment Editor, UK

Starring: Rebecca Ferguson, Common, Harriet Walter, Chinaza Uche, Avi Nash, Alexandria Riley, Shane McRae, Remmie Milner, Rick Gomez, Billy Postlethwaite, Clare Perkins, Ashley Zukerman, Jessica Henwick, Laura Innes, Jessica Brown Findlay, Morven Christie, Reed Birney, Matt Craven, Colin Hanks, and Steve Zahn

How to watch: Silo Season 3 premieres July 3 on Apple TV.

(*) denotes a blurb came from a prior list.

Nintendo's venture from the gaming world into the cinema is going splendidly, as yet another hit film has broken major box office records. The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is the highest-grossing film in the U.S. for 2026 so far and while it's still floating around in theaters, you can now officially watch it at home.

The best ways to watch 'The Super Mario Galaxy Movie' at a glance:

---

Buy or rent it

'The Super Mario Galaxy Movie' on Prime Video

$9.99 or $19.99

Shop Now

---

Buy or rent it

'The Super Mario Galaxy Movie' at Apple TV

$9.99 or $19.99

Shop Now

---

Stream it

Peacock Premium yearly subscription

$109.99/year (save $21.89)

Get Deal

---

Stream it

Peacock Premium for Students and Young Adults

$5.99/month for 12 months (save $5/month)

Get Deal

---

Stream it

Peacock Premium for First Responders and Medical Professionals

$6.99/month (save $4/month)

Get Deal

---

Stream it

Peacock Premium for Active Military and Veterans

$6.99/month (save $4/month)

Get Deal

---

Stream it

Peacock Premium for Teachers

$6.99/month (save $4/month)

Get Deal

---

Stream it for free

Instacart+ (includes Peacock Premium for free)

$99.99/year (save $109.99/year)

Get Deal

---

Stream it for free

Walmart+ (includes Peacock Premium for free)

$98/year (save $109.99/year)

Get Deal

The film brings back 2023's The Super Mario Bros. Movie voice cast favorites, including Mario (Chris Pratt), Luigi (Charlie Day), Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy), Toad (Keegan-Michael Key), and Bowser (Jack Black). New characters join in on the action as well, including a tiny Bowser Jr. voiced by Benny Safdie, Princess Rosalina voiced by Brie Larson, Yoshi voiced by Donald Glover, and Fox McCloud voiced by Glen Powell.

If a love of Nintendo's longtime mascot isn't enough to reel you in, the star-studded cast surely will. Here are all the details you need to know to watch The Super Mario Galaxy Movie at home.

What is The Super Mario Galaxy Movie about?

Based on Nintendo's hit Super Mario Galaxy video game, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie follows Mario, Luigi, and Princess Peach, along with their sidekicks, on a galactic adventure to rescue Princess Rosalina (Peach's long-lost sister) after she's kidnapped by Bowser Jr. Can they save her before her cosmic powers are drained and Bowser Jr. uses them to free his father?

Check out the official trailer below:

How to watch The Super Mario Galaxy Movie at home

Credit: Universal Pictures

There are a few of different ways you can watch The Super Mario Galaxy Movie at home. You can buy it or rent it at digital-on-demand retailers for as low as $9.99 or you can stream it on Peacock. See all the details below.

Buy or rent it on digital

After being delayed from it’s original digital release date, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie made its digital debut on May 19, 2026. That means you can buy or rent the movie from on-demand retailers. If you choose to rent, you'll get 30 days to watch the film and just 48 hours to finish it once you start. If you choose to buy it, then it's yours to keep and watch forever.

Here are some quick links to rent or purchase the film:

• Apple TV — buy for $19.99, rent for $9.99

• Fandango at Home — buy for $19.99, rent for $9.99

• Google Play — buy for $19.99, rent for $9.99

• Prime Video — buy for $19.99, rent for $9.99

• YouTube — buy for $19.99, rent for $9.99

Stream it on Peacock

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie makes its debut on Peacock alongside other Universal Pictures films (including the Super Mario Bros. Movie) on July 30, 2026. Based on the theater-to-streaming trajectory for other Universal movies (like Wicked: For Good, another high-performing Universal film), that's actually earlier than we anticipated.

While the cheapest Peacock subscription costs just $7.99, it unfortunately won't grant you access to theatrical releases. Instead, you'll need at least Peacock Premium, which costs $10.99 per month. Before you sign up, be sure to check out the best ways to save some money on a subscription below.

The best Peacock streaming deals

Best Peacock deal: Save up to $33 on an annual subscription

Opens in a new window

Credit: Peacock

Peacock Premium annual subscription

$109.99 per year or $169.99 per year (save 17%)

Get Deal

If you pay up front for a year of Peacock Premium or Premium Plus, you can save up to $33.89. Premium (with ads) costs $10.99 monthly, which adds up to $131.88. If you pay for the annual plan, however, it'll only cost you $109.99 — a savings of $21.89. Likewise, the Premium Plus plan costs $16.99 per month, which adds up to $203.88. The annual plan, on the other hand, costs just $169.99 — a savings of $33.89. You'll essentially be getting two months of streaming for free by opting for an annual subscription.

Best Peacock deal for Xfinity customers: Free Peacock Premium for eligible accounts

Opens in a new window

Credit: Peacock / Xfinity

Peacock Premium

Free for select Xfinity customers

Learn More

If you're an Xfinity customer, we highly recommend logging into your account to see if you're eligible for free streaming on Peacock. Here's a breakdown of who is eligible (head to Xfinity.com for more details):

• Xfinity Internet customers who are Diamond or Platinum Xfinity Rewards members can get Peacock Premium for free by redeeming a reward for it. Sign in at xfinity.com/rewards and choose Peacock as a reward. Then, wait for your email (it may take a few hours) with instructions on activating the offer.

• NOW TV customers can also receive Peacock Premium as part of their service.

• New customers with Xfinity Internet and an X1 TV Box, Flex streaming TV Box, or a Xumo Stream Box from Xfinity can get Peacock Premium for free for six months.

Best Peacock deal for students and young adults: Save $5/month for one year

Opens in a new window

Credit: Peacock

Peacock Premium for Students

$5.99/month for 12 months (save $5/month)

Get Deal

Opens in a new window

Credit: Peacock

Peacock Premium for young adults

$5.99/month for 12 months (save $5/month)

Get Deal

Both students and young adults can take $5 per month off a Peacock Premium subscription all year long. Verify your student status or age through SheerID and you'll receive a unique promo code to knock the price down to just $5.99 instead of $10.99. Just note that once the promo year is up, you'll be charged full price unless you cancel.

Best for first responders, medical professionals, military, and teachers: Save $4/month

Opens in a new window

Credit: Peacock

Peacock Premium for First Responders and Medical Professionals

$6.99 per month (save $4 per month)

Get Deal

Opens in a new window

Credit: Peacock

Peacock Premium for Military

$6.99 per month (save $4 per month)

Get Deal

Opens in a new window

Credit: Peacock

Peacock Premium for Teachers

$6.99/month (save $4 per month)

Get Deal

First responders, medical professionals, teachers, and military personnel can all secure Peacock Premium subscriptions (with ads) for a discounted rate of $6.99 per month by verifying professional status through SheerID. Those who continue to meet verification qualifications can renew their subscription at a discounted rate each year. Prices are subject to change year to year.

Best for Instacart users: Free Peacock Premium with Instacart+ subscription

Opens in a new window

Credit: Instacart / Peacock

Peacock Premium annual subscription

Free for Instacart+ subscribers (save $109.99/year)

Get Deal

An Instacart+ membership ($99.99 per year) unlocks a free Peacock Premium subscription ($109.99 per year value) on top of free grocery delivery, lower fees, and credit back on eligible pickup orders. You'll even get a free two-week trial to kick things off. I recommend timing your trial to match up with the release of The Super Mario Galaxy Movie on Peacock, so you can watch it for free. Just be sure to cancel before you're charged the full amount. We recommend setting a calendar alert to remind you.

Best for Walmart shoppers: Free Peacock Premium for Walmart+ members

Opens in a new window

Credit: Walmart

Walmart+

$98 per year

Get Deal

One of the best ways to score streaming services for free is by signing up for a Walmart+ membership. With a $98 Walmart+ subscription, you can choose either Peacock Premium or Paramount+ Essential as a free perk — and you can switch every few months. Since Peacock Premium is a $109.99 value, the $98 Walmart+ membership is already a better deal than paying for Peacock on its own. Of course, you'll also get free shipping with no order minimums, fuel discounts, a Scan & Go checkout tool, and early access to deals during Walmart's major shopping events.

Project Hail Mary is the first movie to bring me to the theaters in an embarrassing amount of time. So long I'm not willing to disclose it on the internet. But I am so glad it's the film that brought be back to the theater because it was So. Dang. Good.

How to watch 'Project Hail Mary' at a glance:

---

Rent or buy it

'Project Hail Mary' on Prime Video

$5.99 or $12.99

Get Deal

---

Rent or buy it

'Project Hail Mary' on Apple TV

$5.99 or $12.99

Get Deal

---

Rent or buy it

'Project Hail Mary' on Fandango at Home

$5.99 or $12.99

Get Deal

---

Stream it

Amazon Prime trial

free for 30 days (save $14.99)

Get Deal

---

Stream it

MGM+

$7.99/month

Get Deal

The book was a masterpiece and I'm happy to report that Drew Goddard's adaptation of Andy Weir's novel (of the same name) does it justice. Sure, it took some liberties with the story, but it makes for a faster-paced, more emotional journey. Plus, I'm not mad about a lot of the science babble getting cut.

It stars a witty, impeccably dressed Ryan Gosling as Ryland Grace and an adorable rock spider alien named Rocky (voiced by James Oritz).

Project Hail Mary made its theatrical debut on March 20, 2026 and enjoyed an extended stay in theaters across the country, but now the film has (finally) expanded its horizons, giving you other ways to tune in. Here's everything you need to know in order to watch Grace and Rocky at home.

What is Project Hail Mary about?

Middle school science teacher Ryland Grace (Gosling) wakes up from a coma on a spacecraft (the Hail Mary) with no memory of who he is or why he's there. As his memory slowly returns, he realizes he's the sole survivor of a crew on a suicide mission to save Earth from alien microorganisms (astrophage) that are eating the sun's energy. Can his science skills and perseverance help him to save humanity?

Check out the official trailer below:

When will Project Hail Mary be streaming?

Amazon MGM Studios announced in mid-April that it was delaying the streaming release for Project Hail Mary and extending its theatrical run. The film even returned to IMAX theaters for a week to give audiences a chance to see the film in the way it was originally intended.

"We announced yesterday that MGM is extending the exclusive theatrical window for Project Hail Mary, so it won’t be on streaming anytime soon," Co-director Christopher Miller said in a post on X. "This is a movie that needs to be seen on a big screen...make plans to see it in a theater now! Bring friends and loved ones. It’s an experience to share with others."

As the highest-grossing film for Amazon MGM ever and the second highest earner for 2026 as a whole, the studio waited as long as possible before debuting it on streaming. But there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Project Hail Mary officially hit the streaming circuit on June 18.

How to watch Project Hail Mary at home

Credit: Amazon MGM Studios

Buy or rent it on digital

Project Hail Mary officially made its at-home debut on digital retail sites like Prime Video and Fandango at Home on May 12, 2026. You can buy it forever at any of the retailers below or rent it for 30 days.

• Prime Video — buy for $12.99, rent for $5.99

• Apple TV — buy for $12.99, rent for $5.99

• Fandango at Home — buy for $12.99, rent for $5.99

• Google Play — buy for $12.99, rent for $5.99

• YouTube — buy for $12.99, rent for $5.99

Stream it on MGM+ or Prime Video

Project Hail Mary has had quite an interesting ride since leaving the theaters. Following its digital release, it made its streaming debut on Amazon's niche streaming service MGM+ on June 18.

Previous Amazon MGM Studios films like Challengers and Blink Twice graced MGM+ first before finally expanding to Prime Video. So, while it seems bizarre that Amazon would choose to debut its biggest movie ever on its smaller, niche streaming service, it's not out of the ordinary.

If you held off on signing up for MGM+ in hopes of it expanding to Prime Video, your patience has been rewarded. Project Hail Mary is now set to make its Prime Video streaming debut on July 3, 2026.

The good news is that you can score a free 30-day trial to Prime if you're a new or returning subscriber, which will allow you to watch Project Hail Mary for free. It appears that MGM+ no longer offers free trials, but it is cheaper overall if you're ineligible for the Amazon Prime trial at $7.99 per month ($5.17 per month if you sign up for a full year).

Opens in a new window

Credit: Prime Video

Amazon Prime monthly subscription

free 30-day trial, then $14.99 per month

Get Deal

Opens in a new window

Credit: MGM+

MGM+

$7.99 per month

Get Deal

Opens in a new window

Credit: MGM+

MGM+ add-on via Prime Video

$7.99 per month

Get Deal

UPDATE: Jul. 1, 2026, 10:02 a.m. EDT This story has been updated with the latest streaming details for "Project Hail Mary," including its Prime Video debut date and pricing updates on digital retailers.

New MacBook Pro and iPad Pro devices are coming, but perhaps slightly later than we'd hoped for.

According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple is planning to launch new MacBook Pros and iPad Pros in the first half of 2027.

Starting with the laptops, the MacBook Pro with Apple's new M7 chip will come with a new design, which probably means it'll be a little slimmer than current models. Some of these may have OLED displays, as has been rumored for a while. The timing on these is a little murky as Apple itself is struggling with the chip shortage that recently pushed the prices of its products across the board.

The one exception to this is the new 14-inch MacBook Pro with an M6 chip, as that one should launch before the end of the year. This chip cycle is a little different for Apple as the company will reportedly skip the M6 Pro and M6 Max chips and go straight to M7 chips, which are optimized for AI purposes.

Then there are the tablets, which might come with M6 or M7 chips. Either way, this will be an upgrade over the current iPad Pro models, which launched last October with an M5 chip. Design-wise, they'll look roughly the same as before, though they might have a new vapor chamber cooling system inside.

Again, timing is a little unclear, but Apple reportedly plans to launch the iPhone 18, iPhone Air 2, and iPhone 18e in the spring of 2027 (remember, this September, we're probably only getting the Pro models and the new, foldable iPhone), so the new iPads could be lumped together with those.

The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.

With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.

So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Thursday, July 2, 2026:

Across

The "A" of G.P.A.: Abbr.

• The answer is AVG.

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

Fashion's Oscar ___ Renta

• The answer is De La.

Waterways traveled by gondola in 2-Down

• The answer is Canals.

The Ponte di Rialto in 2-Down, e.g.

• The answer is Bridge.

Remove, as nails from a cat

• The answer is Declaw.

Pair of peepers

• The answer is Eyes.

Down

On ___ (how some pranks are done)

• The answer is A dare.

Italian city that's the subject of this puzzle

• The answer is Venice.

"More than happy to!"

• The answer is Gladly.

Pond scum

• The answer is Algae.

Relaxant in some edibles, for short

• The answer is CBD.

Stitches together with needle and thread

• The answer is Sews.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to the latest Mini Crossword.

Today's Connections: Sports Edition will be easier if you watch international soccer.

As we've shared in previous hints stories, this is a version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.

Like the original Connections, the game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight, and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier — so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for the latest Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

What is Connections: Sports Edition?

The NYT's latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication's sports coverage. The sports Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Each puzzle features 16 words, and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake — players get up to four mistakes before the game ends.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

Here's a hint for today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: The greens

• Green: Race team

• Blue: Da mets

• Purple: Ohio sports

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

• Yellow: Found on the Green

• Green: Parts of a NASCAR Team

• Blue: Mets Managers

• Purple: Teams in Columbus

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections: Sports Edition #647 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Found on the Green: BALL MARKER, FLAGSTICK, HOLE, PUTTER

• Parts of a NASCAR Team: CREW CHIEF, DRIVER, PIT CREW, SPOTTER

• Mets Managers: HODGES, MANUEL, SHOWALTER, VALENTINE

• Teams in Columbus: BLUE JACKETS, BUCKEYES, CLIPPERS, CREW

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new sports Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Connections.

Welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalogue.

Released in August 2025, Pips puts a unique spin on dominoes, creating a fun single-player experience that could become your next daily gaming habit.

Currently, if you're stuck, the game only offers to reveal the entire puzzle, forcing you to move on to the next difficulty level and start over. However, we have you covered! Below are piecemeal answers that will serve as hints so that you can find your way through each difficulty level.

How to play Pips

If you've ever played dominoes, you'll have a passing familiarity with how Pips is played. As we've shared in our previous hints stories for Pips, the tiles, like dominoes, are placed vertically or horizontally and connect with each other. The main difference between a traditional game of dominoes and Pips is the color-coded conditions you have to address. The touching tiles don't necessarily have to match.

The conditions you have to meet are specific to the color-coded spaces. For example, if it provides a single number, every side of a tile in that space must add up to the number provided. It is possible — and common — for only half a tile to be within a color-coded space.

Here are common examples you'll run into across the difficulty levels:

• Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.

• Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.

• Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.

• Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.

• Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.

If an area does not have any color coding, it means there are no conditions on the portions of dominoes within those spaces.

Easy difficulty hints, answers for July 2 Pips

Number (15): Everything in this space must add up to 15. The answer is 1-5, placed horizontally; 5-5, placed horizontally.

Number (7): Everything in this space must add up to 7. The answer is 1-5, placed horizontally; 6-6, placed vertically.

Less Than (8): Everything in this space must be less than 8. The answer is 0-0, placed vertically.

Equal (4): Everything in this space must be equal to 4. The answer is 4-4, placed horizontally.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for July 2 Pips

Equal (6): Everything in this space must be equal to 6. The answer is 0-6, placed horizontally; 1-6, placed horizontally.

Less Than (1): Everything in this space must be less than 1. The answer is 0-5, placed vertically.

Equal (1): Everything in this space must be equal to 1. The answer is 1-6, placed horizontally; 1-5, placed horizontally.

Less Than (1): Everything in this space must be less than 1. The answer is 0-0, placed vertically; 1-2, placed horizontally.

Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 1-2, placed horizontally.

Equal (5): Everything in this space must be equal to 5. The answer is 1-5, placed horizontally; 0-5, placed vertically; 5-3, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (2): Everything in this space must be greater than 2. The answer is 5-3, placed horizontally.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for July 2 Pips

Number (7): Everything in this space must add up to 7. The answer is 4-3, placed vertically.

Greater Than (0): Everything in this space must be greater than 0. The answer is 1-6, placed horizontally.

Number (17): Everything in this space must add up to 17. The answer is 1-6, placed horizontally; 5-6, placed vertically.

Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 0-6, placed horizontally.

Equal (0): Everything in this space must be equal to 0. The answer is 0-0, placed horizontally; 0-3, placed vertically.

Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 4-6, placed vertically.

Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 5-4, placed horizontally.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 4-6, placed vertically; 5-4, placed horizontally.

Equal (1): Everything in this space must be equal to 1. The answer is 1-1, placed horizontally.

Number (1): Everything in this space must add up to 1. The answer is 4-1, placed vertically.

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 1-5, placed horizontally.

Number (7): Everything in this space must add up to 7. The answer is 3-2, placed horizontally; 2-5, placed vertically.

Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 2-5, placed vertically.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

Hurdle Word 1 hint

Football shoe.

Hurdle Word 1 answer

CLEAT

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Break the law.

Hurdle Word 2 Answer

CRIME

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Setting.

Hurdle Word 3 answer

VENUE

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Gander.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

GUESS

Final Hurdle hint

Shop.

Hurdle Word 5 answer

STORE

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you're an old soul.

Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for today's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

What is Connections?

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: Imitators

• Green: Old English

• Blue: AKA

• Purple: Where to watch the game

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

Here are today's Connections categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

• Yellow: They impersonate other things

• Green: Old-timey names for things we still use

• Blue: Starting with nicknames

• Purple: Starting with sports venues

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections #1117 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• They impersonate other things: COPYCAT, MIME, MOCKINGBIRD, T-1000

• Old-timey names for things we still use: LOOKING GLASS, SPECTACLES, TALKIE, WATER CLOSET

• Starting with nicknames: BILLY GOAT, DAN DAN NOODLES, RICH TEXT, TOM-TOM

• Starting with sports venues: COIRT JESTER, DIAMOND RING, FIELD MOUSE, TRACK RECORD

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Connections.

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you're a foodie.

Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game, requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.

By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.

If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.

NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Added flavor

The words are related to seasoning.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe liquid spices.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Get Saucy.

NYT Strands word list for July 2

• Marinara

• Bechamel

• Get Saucy

• Tzatziki

• Teriyaki

• Sriracha

Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and if you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now!

Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Strands.

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you're a know-it-all.

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. 

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

An expert.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...

Today's Wordle starts with the letter M.

The Wordle answer today is...

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

MAVEN

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints. Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Wordle.

Can he not tell a lie? Maybe! A Florida-based tech company recently launched a chatbot that cosplays as George Washington, and the AI’s responses mostly align with historical facts, according to a Mashable test.

Computer Biology Labs Inc. launched a free, interactive educational tool this week based on America’s first president, trained on Washington's own speeches and correspondence, as well as archives from the Library of Congress (the project is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. government). The chatbot is part of Computer Biology Lab's America's Founders Series and is intended to educate Americans about Washington's role in the nation's founding, not for open-ended role-play.

"This is our gift to America on its 250th birthday," Scott Coloney, founder of Computer Biology Labs, said in a statement. "Every child should have the thrill of using artificial intelligence to explore this country's founding, engage with the nuanced and complicated parts of that story, and learn timeliness and extraordinary leadership lessons from the man who helped win American independence. We hope this experience will encourage further questions and learning no matter the platform, not just around the Fourth of July, but year-round."

Rather than typing queries into the chatbot, users verbally ask questions. "Washington" responds verbally, and the software transcribes the question and response in a text box.

As Mashable discovered, the chatbot is not afraid to discuss all aspects of Washington.

Our conversation with "President Washington":

Mashable: Did you really own slaves?

"George Washington": Yes, I did own enslaved persons at Mount Vernon. It is a matter of record and one that troubled my conscience increasingly in my later years. I grew up in a society where slavery was entrenched, and like many of my contemporaries, I initially accepted it as part of the social order. However, as time went on, I became more aware of the moral and practical shortcomings of the institution. In my will, I provided for the emancipation of my slaves upon the death of my wife, Martha. I believed it was a step toward justice, though I wish I could have done more during my lifetime.

What do you think of Donald Trump?

I am not acquainted with Mr. Donald Trump, as he lived long after my time. I can speak, however, to the principles I held dear during my life. I believed firmly in the importance of character, the unity of government, and the pursuit of principles over personal ambition. These values guided my actions and decisions throughout my service to the country.

Do you think America is good?

The question of whether America is good is not one easily answered with simple terms, for it requires consideration of the principles upon which the nation was founded and the conduct of its people. In my view, the United States was blessed with a unique opportunity to establish a government based on the principles of liberty, justice, and unity. It is within the power of its citizens to uphold these ideals and determine the character of the nation. If they choose wisely and act with virtue, then the nation can indeed be considered good. It rests upon the conduct and choices of the people to realize the potential of the Republic and ensure its prosperity and moral standing.

Credit: Courtesy Computer Biology Lab's America's Founders Series

Do you think a woman should be president?

I never dealt directly with the notion of a woman holding the office of the presidency, as such a concept was not considered in my time. However, I believed in the principles of liberty, equality, and the capacity of individuals to contribute to the common good, regardless of their circumstances. If a woman possesses the necessary virtues, wisdom, and dedication to the Republic, I see no reason why she should be precluded from such a role. The judgment should rest on character and ability, not on gender.

Do you know about the Civil War?

The Civil War occurred long after my time, commencing in the year 1861, some 62 years after I departed this life. Thus, I did not witness the events or the tumult that sundered the Union I labored to establish. However, I can speak to the principles I held dear: the preservation of the Union and the avoidance of sectional strife. I earnestly hoped that the bonds of Union and the shared commitment to the principles of liberty and self-government would endure.

What did you think of the native people who were on this land first?

The question of the native peoples who inhabited this land before European settlement is one that I grappled with during my lifetime, though not always with the insight I might wish for. I recognized the complexity of their societies and their deep connection to the land. In military and diplomatic matters, I often dealt with Native American tribes, sometimes as adversaries, sometimes as allies, and I endeavored to treat them with respect. However, I must also acknowledge the policies of expansion and land acquisition pursued by settlers and governments, including during my own administration, which often led to the displacement and suffering of these peoples. It is a matter that weighs on the conscience of our nation and stands as a reminder of the need for justice and fairness in governance.

Do you know that your answers are powered by artificial intelligence?

I am not a living man, nor a spirit. I am an educational recreation of George Washington, brought forth by a company called ConstantLife.AI. They have studied my letters, speeches, and writings to create this conversational experience, allowing you to engage with history in a direct manner. You may think of me as a history book you can converse with, rather than merely read.

Additional reporting by Rebecca Ruiz.

The PlayStation disc will soon be consigned to the junk drawer of history.

Sony announced July 1 that new console games will no longer come on discs after January 2028. From then on, they will be sold digitally through the PlayStation Store, and at retailers in digital formats — download codes, cards, or boxes.

Games released before January 2028, or already scheduled to come out on disc before then, will not be affected.

Sony also said it will close the PlayStation Store on the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita, two older consoles. Players will no longer be able to buy new digital content directly through those devices.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Sony described the move in a release as a response to consumer behavior, noting that 85 percent of full-game sales for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 were digital in the fourth quarter of 2025. The change is accelerating: Across the full year, 78 percent of full-game sales were digital.

Still, the news hit hard for many. On PlayStation’s blog, the announcement post quickly drew thousands of comments from fans criticizing the decision.

Across social media channels, gamers are responding the same way—with outrage. To many online, discs made PlayStation games feel like something they actually owned.

You could lend a game to a friend, trade it in, resell it, buy a used copy, or keep it on a shelf for years without wondering whether a digital store would still support it. A digital-only future makes all of that feel less certain.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Meanwhile, Microsoft's Xbox is trying to solve its own physical-media problem. The company is testing a disc-to-digital feature that would let players convert eligible physical Xbox One and Xbox Series X discs into digital copies tied to their Microsoft accounts, as long as they still own the discs, according to the Verge.

Why is Sony making gamers worried?

On June 25, Sony also posted a legal notice saying that, starting September 1, 2026, previously purchased StudioCanal movies and shows would be removed from PlayStation users’ video libraries in the UK because of content licensing agreements.

The affected list includes hundreds of titles, from Apocalypse Now: The Final Cut and Bridget Jones’s Diary to American Gods and Paddington 2. For players already nervous about digital ownership, the timing is hard to ignore. Sony is asking gamers to accept a more digital future right after reminding customers that “purchased” digital content can still disappear.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

The PS3 store will begin closing in Mexico, Honduras, and Nicaragua in August 2026. Other Latin American and Middle Eastern countries will follow later in 2026. In all other countries, the PS3 and PS Vita stores are scheduled to close in July 2027.

Whether fans like it or not, the gaming industry has been moving in this direction for years. PC gaming has been largely digital for a long time through storefronts like Steam, the online game marketplace owned by Valve. Nintendo has experimented with “game-key cards” for the Switch 2.

Grand Theft Auto VI is another sign of the times. The upcoming Rockstar Games title, expected to be one of the biggest video game releases of the decade, is reportedly launching without a traditional disc-based version.

The irony for longtime PlayStation fans

In 2013, Sony mocked Microsoft over the Xbox One, Microsoft’s then-upcoming console, after Microsoft proposed restrictive rules around digital game sharing. A PlayStation video showed one of its executives handing a physical game box to another. The message was clear: PlayStation was the company that understood players wanted to share and own their games.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Thirteen years later, that clip has resurfaced — as a means to explain why the announcement seems ironic to old-school players.

The decision also cuts against PlayStation’s own history. The original PlayStation helped popularize CD-ROM games in the 1990s, when discs were cheaper and could hold more data than cartridges.

The PlayStation 2 became one of the most popular DVD players of its era, putting the format in millions of homes. The PlayStation 3 helped push Blu-ray, the high-definition disc format that followed DVD.

For much of PlayStation’s existence, the disc was not incidental to the console, but was part of what made the console matter. Now Sony has until January 2028 to prove that disc-loving gamers still matter to the PlayStation brand.

SAVE $200.99: The Ecovacs Ultramarine P1 Cordless Robotic Pool Vacuum is on sale for $299 at Amazon, down from the normal price of $499.99. That's a 40% discount.

Opens in a new window

Credit: Ecovacs

Ecovacs Ultramarine P1 Cordless Robotic Pool Vacuum

$299 at Amazon
$499.99 Save $200.99

 

Get Deal

It's time for summer fun in the pool. While hotter and hotter summers prove uncomfortable for plenty of situations, things are still enjoyable outside while in the pool. There's only the slight issue of who has to clean the pool. Instead of dealing with the hassle, check out this Amazon deal that solves the issue.

As of July 1, the Ecovacs Ultramarine P1 Cordless Robotic Pool Vacuum is on sale for $299 at Amazon, down from the normal price of $499.99. That's a 40% discount.

Designed to clean for up to 180 minutes at a time and cover up to 1,937 square feet, the Ecovacs Ultramarine P1 is about to become the savior of summer. It's great for both in-ground and above-ground pools. Plus, it can work on a variety of pool materials like fiberglass and pebble stone. Shape is also a non-issue since the Ecovacs can handle everything.

When it comes to cleaning power, the Ultramarine P1 uses 4,800 GPH suction to rid your pool of sand, dirt, leaves, and other debris that tends to land in the pool. The two-layered filter can capture hair, twigs, fine dust, and even algae.

From the Ecovacs app, you can set a cleaning schedule, choose from three suction modes, and set the overall run time.

While it's on sale for under $300, upgrade your summer fun with the Ecovacs Ultramarine P1 Cordless Robotic Pool Vacuum. It's a cost-efficient way to make sure the pool is always clean when you're ready to take a dip.

SAVE $300: As of July 1, the Samsung 65-inch S85H OLED 4K TV is on sale for $1,697.99 at Amazon. That's a savings of 15%, which is its best price to date (still live from Prime Day).

Opens in a new window

Credit: Samsung

Samsung 65-inch S85H OLED 4K TV

$1,697.99 at Amazon
$1,997.99 Save $300

 

Get Deal

Got a new TV on your wishlist? I suggest graduating to an OLED model if you want an upgrade that makes a noticeable difference.

OLED TVs have a more advanced lighting system and are noticeably more vibrant and detailed than QLEDs, particularly while watching dim scenes or in dark rooms. They also come with steeper price tags, of course, but you can still grab one of Samsung's 2026 OLED models for its Prime Day price if you act fast.

As of July 1, the Samsung 65-inch S85H OLED 4K TV is still down to $1,697.99 at Amazon post-Prime Day. That's $300 off its list price and its best price on record.

The S85H is Samsung's most affordable OLED TV for 2026, with the S90H and S95H (which we crowned the best OLED TV of 2026) available as the premium upgrades. It features a remarkably thin panel and an NQ4 AI Gen2 processor, which can upscale older content to 4K. Unlike the its more expensive siblings, the S85H showcases a glossy screen, which will preserve black levels better in bright rooms, but could be more prone to reflections.

Other features like Color Booster Pro, AI Customization Mode, Real Depth Enhancer, Voice Amplifier Pro, and Motion Based Sound, all work together to deliver a personalized, immersive viewing experience. The 120Hz refresh rate, AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, and acceptable input lag also make the S85H worthy of console gaming.

Consider the 65-inch (the sweet spot for most people) S85H OLED 4K TV if you want a Samsung OLED model that offers the best picture quality for the best price.

SAVE OVER $600: As of July 1, the Anker Solix C2000 is on sale for $849.99 at Amazon. That's a 43% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window

Credit: Anker

Anker Solix C2000

$849.99 at Amazon
$1,499 Save $649.01

 

Get Deal

The Anker Solix C2000 is back on sale at Amazon. As of July 1, this portable power station is almost half its usual price. Normally $1,499, it is now reduced to $849.99.

It's a reliable portable power station that delivers 2,400W rated output and up to 4,000W peak, making it powerful enough to run multiple appliances at once, including bigger devices like window or RV air conditioners. A two-door fridge can run for up to 32 hours with this model.

Despite this power capacity, it's actually relatively compact and lightweight, weighing only 41.7 pounds. This makes it a great power source for camping vacations and road trips. Anker also states it was designed with space-saving in mind, and is 25% lighter and 29% smaller than similar units. So you don't need to worry about it taking up lots of space when you're away from home.

It comes with lots of smart features that improve efficiency, such as fast charging. You get six recharging methods including AC and solar (solar panels are sold separately), allowing a full recharge in as little as 58 minutes.

This portable power station deal is available right now at Amazon, so don't miss out.

On the very same day Sony announced it would no longer produce physical discs for PlayStation games starting in Jan. 2028, Microsoft signaled it might do something similar for Xbox.

However, it seems Microsoft is being thoughtful about all those gamers who already have a library of video games on physical discs.

According to a new report from The Verge, Microsoft employees are currently testing a new Xbox feature called "Disc2Digital" which would digitize physical game discs. 

The feature just recently launched in the test phase, but was first noticed after “enable Disc2Digital” was discovered in the Xbox PC app code back in May. 

Disc-to-digital games will work much like regular digital games on Xbox. Disc-to-digital games will be available on Xbox Cloud Gaming and users can stream the game with a Game Pass subscription. If the digital title is an Xbox Play Anywhere title, the disk-to-digital version will also be available on PCs and handheld devices.

Users must be signed in to an Xbox account on an Xbox console to be granted a digital entitlement for the physical game.

Physical discs will continue to work even after the game has been digitized. However, the disc-to-digital game will be tied to the physical copy. This means if a user sells the physical disc or gives it away, they will no longer have access to the digital version. The disk-to-digital game will move from the original Xbox account to the new Xbox account based on its connection to the physical game.

The Verge reports that the disc-to-digital feature will work on most Xbox One and Xbox Series X game discs. Microsoft has told testers that some Xbox One discs may not be compatible with the feature. Disc2Digital will also not work with physical discs for the original Xbox or Xbox 360 game consoles.

While Disc2Digital seems like a sign that Microsoft plans on doing away with physical game discs like Sony, the company has yet to confirm the move to go fully digital. The move from physical discs to digital games seems inevitable, even though many gamers prefer to have physical media. However, the main complaint among gamers about digital games has long been the inability to fully own their purchases. There have been instances where digital media has been pulled from a consumer's library or made unavailable even after they purchase the title.

Even in its testing phase, Microsoft's Disc2Digital feature seems to show care towards its customers and their concerns about their purchases. 

If Microsoft does go fully digital like Sony in the future, Disc2Digital will go a long way in making the Xbox stand out from its competitors.

SAVE $420: As of July 1, get the Roborock Qrevo Edge 2 Robot Vacuum and Mop for $879.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $1,299.99. That's a discount of 32%.

Opens in a new window

Credit: Amazon

Roborock Qrevo Edge 2 Robot Vacuum and Mop

$879.99 at Amazon
$1,299.99 Save $420

 

Get Deal

Robot vacuums are one of those "the future is here" items that can actually help put a dent in your daily chore list. If you're looking to trade some cash for time and peace of mind, but you don't want to pay a small fortune for a great model, you're in luck. We've found one that's more than worth splurging on right now at Amazon.

As of July 1, get the Roborock Qrevo Edge 2 Robot Vacuum and Mop for $879.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $1,299.99. That's $420 off and a discount of 32%.

This combo robot vacuum and mop can tackle even the most frustrating of messes all on its own, from bare floors to carpet and beyond. It offers powerful 25,000 Pa of suction with an anti-tangle system that's perfect for getting up ground-in dirt and debris, hair, and more.

It uses a special flexible arm to reach some of those areas that other robot vacuums can't get to, and uses a precision algorithm to guide it into sweeping those areas without your input, so all you're left with while you're up and about doing other things are simple, clean floors. It can avoid obstacles on its own with ease as well. In addition to mopping up messes both large and small, it can handle emptying its own reservoir, too — so you can truly let it go off on its own and be your own personal cleaning crew.

This premium robot vacuum and mop is the perfect choice if you've been wanting to get some time back from cleaning. It's a splurge, but made better since it's on sale. Best to pick it up discounted while you still can.

For Jenine Pastores and Josh Jackson, Tubby Nugget has always been more than just a cute character.

At VidCon 2026, the creators behind the internet's beloved little nugget sat down with Mashable Culture Editor Crystal Bell to reflect on the journey from sketching the lovable character for fun to building a brand with plushies, collectibles, and a passionate community of fans. They also share what it's like meeting people who've formed real emotional connections with Tubby at conventions and other in-person events, where the character comes to life in a whole new way.

The conversation also dives into the business of expanding Tubby Nugget beyond social media, the challenges of growing a creator-led brand, and the unexpected story behind the Tubby Nugget x Obsession crossover that almost became a reality.

Watch the full interview above.

SAVE 33%: Amazon's got the Sony 55-inch OLED 4K Ultra HD TV Bravia XR8B Smart Google TV on sale for $998, down from $1,499.99. That's a 33% discount or $501.99 in savings.

Sony 55-inch OLED 4K Ultra HD TV Bravia XR8B Smart Google TV

$1,298 at Walmart
$1,499.99 Save $201.99

 

Get Deal at Walmart Get Deal at Amazon

Rumor has it the PlayStation 6 won't drop until late 2027, so you technically have plenty of time to prep your living room setup. But if your current TV is struggling to keep up with your PS5 graphics without lagging, you might want to jump on an upgrade a little early.

Right now, Amazon's got the Sony 55-inch OLED 4K Ultra HD TV Bravia XR8B Smart Google TV on sale for $998, down from $1,499.99. That's a 33% discount or $501.99 in savings. This is the lowest we've seen it go for since February.

As for the screen itself, it's an OLED, which means your picture should be crystal clear no matter how dark the scene is. It also has Google TV built right in, so you can pull up Netflix or Crunchyroll from the home screen.

Bonus: Since it's a Sony TV, it comes with exclusive PS5 features (like Auto HDR Tone Mapping) and a 120Hz refresh rate.

Some New York City proposals involve a skyline view. This one involved police custody.

Two people were arrested Wednesday, July 1, after climbing to the top of the Empire State Building, unfurling a banner, and apparently turning the whole thing into a marriage proposal 1,454 feet above midtown Manhattan.

The pair was spotted around noon on the building’s antenna, dressed in black and wearing face coverings. They attached a banner that read, "When the power of love beats the love of power, the world knows peace." It's a take on a quote frequently attributed to guitarist Jimi Hendrix, but actually spoken by 19th-century British politician William Gladstone.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

After spending roughly half an hour near the top of the tower, the two began climbing down to a lower platform, where one appeared to get down on one knee. Because apparently the observation deck was too basic.

The climbers were identified as Angela Nikolau and Ivan Beerkus, the Russian daredevil couple and content creators highlighted in the 2024 Netflix documentary Skywalkers: A Love Story.

Nikolau, a former gymnast and the daughter of circus performers, and Beerkus, a longtime "rooftopper," have built their public personas around illegal climbs of skyscrapers and landmarks around the world. The documentary follows both their relationship and one of their most dangerous stunts: an attempt to scale Malaysia’s Merdeka 118, one of the tallest buildings on the planet.

Once at the top, the couple made sure to post to their social media, and the photos went immediately viral.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Police took the pair into custody after they descended, while a spokesperson for The Empire State Building called the incident “unauthorized." Their social media team, on the other hand, used the moment to poke fun at another big event happening in New York City this week (cough Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce).

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

It is still unclear how the climbers got access to the antenna, which rises far above the building’s public areas. The Empire State Building remained open during at least part of the incident, though the observation deck was reportedly later cleared as police responded.

This was not the first time someone had climbed the Empire State Building — daredevils and climbers, like Alain Roberthave, who scaled the building in 1994, have previously made their way onto the building’s antenna and other restricted areas, while Jared Leto legally scaled part of the landmark in 2023 to promote a Thirty Seconds to Mars tour.

As for proposals, this definitely was the first that didn't take place on the observation deck.

When Megan Letter uploaded her first YouTube video in 2013, she wasn't chasing a career. She simply loved playing The Sims and wanted to share that passion with other people online.

More than a decade later, she's watched the internet reinvent itself time and time again. Algorithms have changed. Short-form video has reshaped audience habits. Monetization has shifted across platforms. Through it all, MeganPlays has continued to evolve without losing sight of the thing she believes matters most: building a genuine connection with her community.

In this VidCon edition of Creator Playbook, the gaming creator reflects on the lessons she's learned from 13 years online. She shares why consistency is still one of the most important ingredients for growth, how creators can use analytics without letting the algorithm dictate every creative decision, and why YouTube and TikTok serve very different purposes for today's creators.

She also tells Mashable Culture Editor Crystal Bell about the realities of making a living online — from navigating brand deals and platform monetization to recovering from creator burnout. Along the way, MeganPlays offers candid advice for aspiring creators, including why they shouldn't wait for the "perfect" setup before posting their first video and how finding the right niche can help build a lasting audience.

Whether you're just starting your creator journey or looking to adapt to an ever-changing internet, MeganPlays' biggest lesson is refreshingly simple: just start.

Watch the full Creator Playbook interview above.

There's no other way of putting it: Things are looking grim at Xbox right now.

A couple of different reports paint a bleak picture of the Microsoft-owned video game console manufacturer. Chiefly, The Verge reported that large-scale layoffs and even studio closures could happen around July 6. This could include Arkane Studios, the French developer behind Dishonored, Prey, and the upcoming Marvel Blade game, which still exists only in vague teaser form. The Verge's report suggests Microsoft could cancel Blade, which was set to launch in 2027.

Arkane joins a list of at least four other Xbox subsidiary studios that could either be shut down or, potentially, spun off and sold to someone else. It's unclear how likely the latter possibility is, though. One other studio on that list includes State of Decay developer Undead Labs, per Gamesbeat. The next game in that series, State of Decay 3, has been in development for years and is set to launch in 2027 at the time of this publication.

Compulsion Games, Double Fine, and Ninja Theory round out the list of studios that might cease to exist as soon as next week, per previous reports. One of Xbox's major issues during the last decade or so has been a distinct inability to consistently ship first-party games, and shutting down or spinning off several studios is unlikely to help in that regard. Layoffs in other parts of the Xbox business that are not otherwise shutting down are also likely, per GamesBeat.

All of these developments follow a leadership change at Xbox earlier this year, though the problems go back much farther than that. New Xbox head executive Asha Sharma has made some small symbolic overtures to win hearts and minds, such as confirming the existence of a next-gen Xbox console, Project Helix, in development. However, Xbox's reputation among video game enthusiasts is at a historical low, thanks to rampant layoffs, a lack of compelling software, and Microsoft's very controversial relationship with the Israeli military.

Fashion collabs are taking over the world right now; I've seen some partnerships that I'd never thought would happen (Naomi Osaka's Wimbledon dress sold out within hours). But with the World Cup ending on July 19, everyone's trying to get a piece of that soccer advertising pie, including T-Mobile.

Today, T-Mobile announced that it's teaming up with Umbro (an iconic sportswear brand) to create limited-edition jerseys exclusively for T-Mobile members. And from the photos, they don't look half bad (most collabs are kitschy and just short-lived fads). I could definitely see someone wearing one of these jerseys while running errands or going about their day.

Credit: Atiba Jefferson

The drop won't happen until Tuesday, July 7, and as I mentioned above, you have to be a T-Mobile member to get one. They'll be available exclusively through the T-Life app for $60 on a first-come, first-served basis. Once they sell out, they're gone.

T-Mobile is framing the surprise collab as a way to celebrate a "record-breaking Member Month" (apparently, nearly 14 million members engaged during the first week alone).

Even if you miss out on the jersey, the other perks it's throwing at qualifying members right now are pretty great. Along with bringing back a free year of DoorDash DashPass, T-Mobile's basically paying for its members' streaming subscriptions with free Netflix, Hulu, and MLB.TV. It even added Apple TV+ for $3 per month, plus free texting and high-speed data in more than 215 countries if you happen to be traveling this summer.

We have Mario, Zelda, and GTA as video games that will always be part of our lives. But we can't forget Minecraft. The game that has infinite possibilities — there's something for every age and experience level in the game. Minecraft will forever be a favorite, and now we have a new way of showing our love.

The best backpacks of 2026? We're convinced. Credit: Herschel

The limited-edition Herschel Minecraft collection is now live at herschel.com, and it's packed with must-have items if you're a fan of the game. But be warned, the collab is selling out quickly, so hop on anything you want before it vanishes.

Highlights of the Herschel Minecraft collab

The Herschel Supply x Minecraft collection is filled with backpacks, lunch boxes, pencil cases, and accessories. And unlike some collabs, the collection features way more than just Steve and swords. Snag a Creeper hat, an Enderman backpack, and a hip pack with a print that depicts The End.

Credit: Herschel

At the time of writing, the incredible Cube Little America Backpack is sold out in all colorways, but we have fingers crossed for a restock. However, there's still plenty to choose from. Browse the selection of Creeper merch, Pink Sheep, and Enderman items. There are also options that reflect life in the Overworld, the Nether, and the End.

As an in-game treat, you can download the free Herschel Backpack Trials Add-On from the Minecraft Marketplace to get a massive inventory expansion so you can carry up to 442,368 items. You'll need the Minecraft Bedrock Edition to add on this free expansion.

How to buy the Herschel Minecraft collab

The entire collection of Herschel Supply x Minecraft items is on sale now at Herschel's website. Stock is dwindling on items, so shop today to get the best selection. Plus, that will ensure items arrive in time for the 2026-2027 school year. The collection has items for both kids and adults. Herschel offers free ground shipping on orders over $75.

Opens in a new window

Credit: Herscel

Herschel x Minecraft collection

 

Shop Now

SAVE $80: As of July 1, get the DeWalt 20V Max Cordless Drill and Impact Driver for $169 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $249. That's a discount of 32%.

Opens in a new window

Credit: Amazon

DeWalt 20V Max Cordless Drill and Impact Driver

$169 at Amazon
$249 Save $80

 

Get Deal

If you've got a list in your head of important home DIY projects to finish, you're going to need the right tools for the job. With Fourth of July weekend right around the corner, now's the perfect time to get it all done, too.

As of July 1, get the DeWalt 20V Max Cordless Drill and Impact Driver for $169 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $249. That's a discount of 32%.

This combo kit comes with the perfect selection of tools to get everything you're interested in fixing or building done: two batteries, a charger, and a special DeWalt-branded bag to keep it all organized. The DDC771 has a two-speed transmission and 300 unit watts of power, so it's ready to tackle any job, whether you need its 0.5-inch single-sleeve ratcheting chuck or its ergonomic handle to save your hands a bit of pain.

The other tool, the DCF885, is compact and lightweight, with a three-LED light ring and a 20-second delay to illuminate even the darkest rooms so you can see exactly what you're doing. That way, if you're having to work in low-light conditions or when light isn't optimal (possibly later in the day), you're covered — and you can get things finished even faster.

This combo kit is a great pick for anyone who's handy at home, or even for brand-new homeowners who might need a nudge in the right direction when it comes to the tools they need for new home projects. Be sure to grab it while it's still discounted.

SAVE $8: Through July 1, you can sign up for MGM+ as a Prime Video add-on subscription for only $3.99 per month for two months. That's $4 off the usual $7.99 per month, for a grand total of $8 in savings.

Opens in a new window

Credit: MGM+

MGM+ (Prime Video add-on)

$3.99/month for 2 months (save $4/month)

Get Deal

Amazon Prime Day showcased some pretty awesome streaming deals, with popular and niche streaming services offering 99-cent subscriptions. Unfortunately, those deals have evaporated, as to be expected. If you're kicking yourself for missing your opportunity to save on your summer streaming slate, Amazon's giving you a second chance.

Through July 1, you can sign up for MGM+ as a Prime Video add-on subscription for only $3.99 per month for two months. Usually $7.99 per month, that's about $8 total in savings. Sure, it's not as impressive as the 99-cent deal, but beggars can't be choosers.

The catch is that you have to subscribe through Prime Video, which requires a Prime membership. The MGM+ streaming library will then live inside of your Prime Video app as a premium add-on channel and you'll be billed directly through Amazon for convenience.

Wondering if MGM+ is worth it? Well, as Amazon's niche streaming service, it's surprisingly robust with TV and movie options. As of now, it's the only place you can stream Project Hail Mary (which will expand to Prime Video on July 3), one of the biggest movies of the year. It's also where you'll find The Martian (another Andy Weir novel adaptation), the small town mystery MGM+ Original Series From, Nickel Boys (one of our favorite movies of 2024), and most likely Is God Is when it makes its streaming debut later this summer.

If you're looking to expand your streaming horizons this summer, this is one of the cheapest ways you can do so. It certainly beats rewatching the same shows over and over again on Netflix.

Apple has a new iOS update for everyone, but don't get too excited.

The Cupertino-based iPhone manufacturer released its latest software update for its flagship mobile device this week. It's called iOS 26.5.2, and according to the official release notes that appear when you try to download it, it only installs security updates on your phone. No new features, UI changes, or bug fixes are included in this update. If you hate Liquid Glass, it's not changing at all with this update, sorry to say.

That said, you should definitely still install iOS 26.5.2 because security updates are important. You don't want your iPhone to be compromised in any way. Here's how you do it, in case you've forgotten:

1. Open the Settings app

2. Go to General, then Software Update

3. Hit the install button

The update is north of 10GB, so you may need to do some storage management to make it fit.

A major vulnerability has been discovered in one of the core privacy features that Apple offers its customers. And according to the cybersecurity researchers who discovered the exploit, this issue appears to have been ongoing for more than a year.

Apple's "Hide My Email" is a privacy feature that obscures a user's email address by generating a unique iCloud email address, which then forwards emails to the user's main email address. The feature allows users to receive emails without revealing their personal email address.

According to a new report from 404 Media, a vulnerability allows anyone to discover the email address behind the "Hide My Email" address Apple creates.

The vulnerability, which the outlet isn't revealing because it is still exploitable, was discovered by online privacy company EasyOptOuts. 404 Media has also independently confirmed that the exploit exists.

Typically, before an exploit is revealed to the public, researchers report their discovery to the company and give the company a reasonable amount of time to fix the vulnerability. According to EasyOptOut, they informed Apple more than a year ago, yet the vulnerability still exists.

”Apple Hide My Email is leaking email addresses that are supposed to be hidden," said EasyOptOuts cofounder Tyler Murphy. "We reported the issue and replication instructions to Apple over a year ago. We don't know why it hasn't been fixed, but we don't feel comfortable waiting any longer. Hide My Email users deserve to know that it may be possible for attackers to discover their hidden email addresses."

Murphy told 404 Media that the issue was reported to Apple in June 2025. The company said it "addresses" the issue in March 2026. However, Murphy discovered the vulnerability still existed.

“We don't know the full scope of the issue, but in our limited tests with volunteers, 100% of Hide My Email addresses were exploitable,” Murphy told 404 Media.