Politics

Senators Accuse Equifax of ‘Price-Gouging’ Medicaid Programs

A report from Nytimes says three Democratic senators have accused the credit‑rating company Equifax of price gouging states for a service many will use to comply with new work requirements for Medicaid and food assistance passed by Republicans in Congress last year. In a letter to the company’s

Culture

Hat heist hits Aspen as $2,000 Fouquet toppers snatched from St. Regis

Pagesix reports a thief smashed a display window at the St. Regis in Aspen and stole two limited-edition Nick Fouquet hats from a display outside the hotel’s Snow Lodge. Security photos show an attractive man in his late twenties dressed in jeans and a puffy vest reaching into the

AI

One-third of consumers don't want AI on their devices, report finds

Reporting by Pcgamer notes a Circana report found that among people who don't want AI on their devices, nearly two-thirds said their devices already perform the tasks they need and they simply do not need AI capabilities. The report identified other reasons for rejection: 59% of those opposed

Politics

Trump's Unpredictable Style Gives Leverage but Has a Cost

Nytimes reports that President Trump’s negotiating style — marked by threats, retreats and abrupt shifts — has yielded results for the administration but is wearing on allies and adversaries a year into his second term. Some partners are weighing waiting him out or turning away rather than enduring the abrupt starts,

Culture

New Netflix Alan Ritchson action movie looks like Predator meets Metal Gear

In a report from Polygon, Netflix’s upcoming action film War Machine stars Alan Ritchson as a would-be Solid Snake–style soldier whose boot-camp selection exercise turns into a fight for survival in a jungle. Director Patrick Hughes’ trailer drops an elite team into a Predator-style jungle where they accidentally

Culture

Stardew Valley creator still feels 'like an amateur'

Reporting by Gamesradar notes that after 15 years of development, 10 years of post-launch support, and an adoring fanbase in the millions, Stardew Valley creator Eric "ConcernedApe" Barone still feels like an amateur and hopes that sentiment will help Haunted Chocolatier keep its indie soul. Barone tells IGN:

World

U.S.C. Names Beong-Soo Kim Its 13th President

Nytimes reports that Beong-Soo Kim, who has led the University of Southern California on an interim basis since July, was named the university’s 13th president on Wednesday. The U.S.C. board of trustees voted unanimously, and board chair Suzanne Nora Johnson said the vote reflected “widespread confidence in

Sports

Olympic skater cleared to use Minions song at 2026 Games

Coverage from Kotaku notes that Spanish figure skater Tomàs-Llorenç Guarino Sabaté faced losing the right to perform his Minions routine at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy after Universal Pictures initially refused to clear the song "Papaya" for the televised event. Guarino Sabaté, 26, said he had submitted

Culture

The Best Directors of the 21st Century (So Far)

Reporting by Movieweb surveys filmmakers credited with redefining cinema in the 21st century, noting the challenge of a market driven by sequels, remakes, reboots and adaptations while highlighting directors who produced compelling, thought‑provoking and visually striking films. Edgar Wright is noted for the Cornetto Trilogy and films such as

Sports

34 Sets of Brothers Who Made the NFL Together

According to People, 34 sets of brothers have reached the NFL together, with some even sharing rosters or facing one another in major games. The feature profiles siblings who played and coached across eras and positions. Examples include twins Shaquill and Shaquem Griffin, who played together on the Seattle Seahawks

Crypto

Bitcoin Mining Enters the Zetahash Era as Profitability Tightens

Reporting by Beincrypto says Bitcoin mining crossed 1 zetahash per second in late 2025, a structural shift as the network sustained over 1 ZH/s on a seven-day average and mining became more industrial, according to a GoMining report. While hashrate reached record highs, revenue per unit of compute fell

Politics

EU deal on Ukraine loan could boost UK if it agrees to help pay costs

A report from Theguardian says senior EU diplomats approved a €90bn loan for Ukraine that could benefit the UK if it agrees to help pay borrowing costs. British firms could have greater opportunities to supply defence equipment funded by the loan if the government agrees a 'fair' contribution

AI

Introducing Prism

Openai says it is introducing Prism, a free, AI-native workspace for scientists to write and collaborate on research, powered by GPT-5.2. Prism offers unlimited projects and collaborators and is available today to anyone with a ChatGPT personal account, and will be available soon to organizations using ChatGPT Business, Enterprise,

Sports

Arsenal make the Carabao Cup final. Is the quadruple on? | Football Weekly

Theguardian's Football Weekly podcast, with Max Rushden joined by Barry Glendenning, Lucy Ward and Jordan Jarrett-Bryan, covers Arsenal beating Chelsea 4-2 over two legs to reach the Carabao Cup final, their first final since 2020. A goal down going into the second leg, Liam Rosenior had a plan:

Politics

Dutch Queen Joins the Military

Nytimes reports that Queen Máxima of the Netherlands has enlisted in the Dutch Army as a reservist, the Royal House said, saying 'our security can no longer be taken for granted.' She was appointed to the rank of soldier and began training on Wednesday. Pictures released by the

Culture

Rukmini Iyer recipe: mushroom and artichoke puff-pastry quiche

According to Theguardian, Rukmini Iyer offers a quick mushroom and artichoke puff-pastry quiche that uses ready-rolled puff pastry as a 30-minute alternative to making shortcrust. Prep 15 min, Cook 25 min, Serves 4. Key ingredients listed are ready-rolled puff pastry, chestnut mushrooms, jarred artichoke pieces, creme fraiche, eggs, a goat’

Tech

You can snag this Insignia Fire TV for under $200 at Amazon

According to Zdnet, the Insignia F50 smart TV is available at Amazon for $180, representing a nearly 50% discount. The TV runs the Fire TV platform, providing access to the Prime Video catalogue and apps like Netflix, Hulu, and HBO Max, and it includes integrated Alexa voice controls for searching

Culture

With nine films on the go, can Charli xcx act?

According to Theguardian, Charli xcx is increasingly visible in film, with The Moment being positioned as a pivot from pop to the screen after a buzzy Sundance premiere and, the piece notes, roles in nine feature films and counting, including I Want Your Sex, The Gallerist, Erupcja and 100 Nights

Science

Correction to Science Activation Program Table of Work Effort

According to Science, the Science Mission Directorate Science Activation Program encourages all people to actively participate in science through activities and resources developed by a collaborative network of project teams drawing on NASA SMD assets. The Science Activation program element (F.6 SciAct) of ROSES-25 solicits a portfolio of projects

Crypto

$2.9B Bitcoin ETF Outflow, Bearish Futures Data Project More BTC Downside

According to Cointelegraph.com, Bitcoin slid below $73,000 after briefly retesting $79,500, a downturn that mirrored a decline in the tech-heavy Nasdaq tied to a weak sales outlook from AMD and disappointing U.S. employment data, while spot ETFs recorded over $2.9 billion in outflows across twelve

Culture

The Devil Wears Prada 2 - Trailer Promises a Nostalgia Trip

When the first trailer for the sequel to the 2006 film dropped online this week, it was described as a cozy sweater for fans. The core cast is back: Meryl Streep as Miranda Priestly, Anne Hathaway as Andy Sachs, Stanley Tucci as Nigel and Emily Blunt as Emily. The trailer

Culture

Penny the Doberman Wins Best in Show at Westminster

Penny, a sleek and easygoing Doberman pinscher, won the 150th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, becoming the fifth member of her breed to take best in show. Her handler, Andy Linton, who won the title in 1989 with another Doberman, said, “I had some goals, and this was one of

Culture

Netflix’s Alan Ritchson Sci‑Fi Thriller Will Appeal to Reacher Fans

Netflix dropped the first trailer for War Machine, a new sci‑fi thriller starring Alan Ritchson and directed by Patrick Hughes. The film is scheduled to arrive on the streamer on March 6, 2026. Ritchson plays a trainee named 81 who, during a grueling military boot camp, stumbles into a

Science

Crew Studies Health, Earth Photography, and Works Dragon Preps - NASA

Biomedical research to promote astronaut health and Earth observations topped the science schedule aboard the International Space Station on Wednesday. The Expedition 74 trio is also gearing up for the arrival of the SpaceX Crew-12 mission while continuing lab maintenance for the upkeep of the orbiting lab. A second day

Sports

Super Bowl LX kickoff time: When to tune in on NBC and Peacock

NBC and Peacock will carry Super Bowl LX. Extensive pregame coverage begins Sunday, February 8, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. ET, with interviews, analysis and updates on the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots. The game will officially begin on Sunday, February 8, 2026, at approximately 6:30