Looking to streamline your morning coffee routine without sacrificing quality? The Keurig Coffee Maker offers a perfect blend of convenience and consistency, delivering your favorite brew at the touch of a button. This popular single-serve coffee maker takes the guesswork out of your morning caffeine fix, making it an ideal choice for busy households or office spaces. Currently marked down to $100 from its original price of $150, this impressive 33% discount saves you $50 – making it an excellent time to upgrade your coffee game or replace an aging machine. This significant price drop brings premium coffee convenience into a more accessible price range. See at Amazon Your morning java, affordable and easy The machine’s standout features focus on user convenience, starting with its generous 48-ounce water reservoir that lets you brew 6+ cups before needing a refill. The removable design makes refilling and cleaning hassle-free. With three brew size options (6, 8, and 10 ounces), you can customize your coffee strength to your preference, with the 6-ounce setting delivering the boldest flavor. Thoughtful engineering extends to the machine’s practical features, including an energy-saving auto-off function that activates after two hours of idle time and a helpful descaling reminder to maintain optimal performance. The straightforward button controls make brewing your perfect cup of coffee a simple, under-one-minute process, while the durable plastic construction ensures longevity. If you don’t like using ground coffee, you have tons of great flavors to choose from. There are plenty of Keurig options on the market, so you can just buy a ton of the flavors you like and use those without ever having to grind any coffee – a task no one really enjoys doing. And when you want to change it, it’s as easy as using a different pod. For anyone seeking to simplify their coffee routine without compromising on taste, this Keurig at its current price point offers an compelling blend of value and functionality. And best of all, it saves you multiple weekly trips to Starbucks when you know you don’t need to be spending all that money. Every day coffee trips add up quick even when you don’t think they do, and you could end up saving hundreds just by avoiding all the extraneous visits. So if you’ve got the extra cash ready, take it from us: this is one deal you want to go ahead and let things rip on, because you’ll want to take advantage of this deal while it exists. See at Amazon

For the better part of the past decade or so, the Doctor Who fandom has been the one I’ve danced around, trying to get into it but never fully committing. What made it so challenging was the staggered release schedule, with the UK getting episodes first while those of us in the U.S. had to wait. Often, to my consternation, I’d end up seeing spoilers on Tumblr months in advance, which was discouraging to say the least. However, when the partnership between the BBC and Disney was announced with the plan that it would air all globally on a regular schedule, I was excited to jump back in. That and I was a huge fan of new Doctor Ncuti Gatwa from his Sex Education days. Sure, it was like make-up homework to watch the five episodic specials, which showed what happened when the 13th Doctor regenerated into the 14th with the visage of David Tennant’s 10th version of the Time Lord. But it was fun to get that refresher through the familiar dynamic between the Doctor and Donna to explain the lore in a short amount of time. And it was nice to give that version of the Doctor a new identity separate from them splitting into Gatwa’s Time Lord. Once he met his first companion Ruby Sunday (Millie Gibson) we were off to the space races. There have been some incredible episodes, including the alien Bridgerton one, which introduced the Rogue (played by Jonathan Groff) as the Doctor’s love interest and expanded on a new lore for this iteration of the character. Sometimes, though, the series gets bogged down with rehashed ideas from other Doctors or threads that aren’t getting paid off and overplayed (Mrs. Flood). Sometimes it seems to hold back on fully committing to Gatwa’s potential as the first Black Time Lord. And as a result some episodes that attempt to address how that does influence how humans tend to see him now feel constrained or as if they are pulling punches. In the wake of Disney suddenly taking steps back in representation seemingly due to the current political climate, for example by removing the trans storyline in Pixar’s show Win or Lose, it’s felt harder to find Doctor Who on Disney+’s landing page, a move that’s a little bit concerning as a regular watcher of the show on the platform. When I go to see if a new episode is dropped, I often have to search for the show and find the lack of advertising disappointing.  It’s a shame because this new era is exciting and captivating because of Gatwa’s magnetism. It drives the show, and every time he meets a new companion or makes friends, it feels as if he could be yours too. So it’s a bummer that Doctor Who isn’t being featured alongside other juggernaut fandoms like Marvel and Star Wars. The most Disney has done? Last year, the TARDIS showed up at Disneyland for photo ops. That made me wonder if Disney Experiences recalled that Doctor Who‘s presence goes back years. In fact, one of my first tries at dipping my feet into the Whovian world was maybe 13 years ago when I was at Disneyland on the Mark Twain river boat, and I saw the strangest sight on Tom Sawyer’s Island. There were men in fez hats and bow-tied suits or cloaked coats running around. People at the park that day were dressed as various Doctors and companions. When I got off the boat, I asked one of the participants what was going on, and it turned out to be the unofficial Doctor Who meet-up coinciding with Gallifrey One, the Whovian convention in LA. This was well before Disney had any inkling of acquiring the show and the friends I made that day inspired me to watch the show. But like I said, back then the internet was filled with spoilers. I’m surprised that Disney hasn’t made moves to connect with the audience that came to them even before the show’s acquisition, especially at the theme parks. Recently, other movie-inspired theme parks have begun hosting their own after-dark fandom events, drawing on all their IP partnerships including major sci-fi properties. I’ve wondered if that could mean Disney might finally see Doctor Who as an asset to include in its own fandom offerings. Imagine if Disney finally featured the Doctor during Halloween’s Oogie Boogie Bash, allowing fans to meet face characters inspired by the Fifteenth Doctor and his companions and potentially re-engaging those hesitant older fans by alternating meet-and-greets with the Fourteenth Doctor and Donna. Hopefully Disney will continue to amplify the show and not miss the opportunity to bring it to life in ways that could bring in more fans and reinvigorate older ones for an era that’s filled with so much potential. I’m frankly tired of the internet’s discourse already fueling rumors of impending cancellation. It’s such a great new chapter that really deserves a chance—the past few episodes with the Doctor’s second companion have been a delightful showcase of Gatwa’s chemistry alongside Andor’s Varada Sethu as Belinda Chandra. Even with a platform as far-reaching as Disney+, it somehow still feels like people are unaware that the show is back and should remain part of the cultural conversation. Gatwa is someone you really can’t take your eyes off as he embodies the magic of the Doctor in ways that allow the glee and joy to shine through during adventures that have served as weekly appointment viewing. If any of the Doctors showed up outside my door, the Fifteenth is who I’d dance with. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.

After it was revealed that the Stranger was Gandalf at the end of season two of Prime Video’s The Rings of Power, fans of the Tolkien universe origin series have anticipated the handling of how the hero will rise. There’s also the matter of what Sauron will do as he gathers his own power. In a conversation with Deadline, Daniel Weyman (Gandalf) and Charlie Vickers (Sauron) discussed how this next season is important character building for the legends they’ll later become. For Gandalf, Weyman teased that it involves a lot of “tears” and continued, “I’m excited for this plethora of possible pitfalls, errors, and failings that young Gandalf can learn from. Literally anything could happen, because the only way we’re going to see a wise being later on is if he does some pretty horrendous accidental things, and puts his foot in the wrong places, and has to pick it up and learn again. So I’m hoping for lots of that kind of action just so that we can see him develop and learn how he gets to be the wizard that we all love.” Vickers jumped in describing how Sauron might not take it lightly that he was rejected by Galadriel, but is ready to go at his quest for power alone. “I’m incredibly lucky that Sauron in this time period is very specific to what he does. We get to go through so many exciting beats that I think fans will be really excited to see. I mean, he has made nearly all the rings now, but there’s one more that he [needs] to finish the collection, which he’s determined and has had in his mind for centuries. So, I’m super excited to see him go on the journey and hopefully take over Middle-earth… I’m sure everything will be great for everyone else.” Rings of Power Season one and two are currently streaming on Prime. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.

Poker Face is back on Peacock, and its season two premiere features a gangbusters guest-star turn by Cynthia Erivo—playing multiple identical siblings caught up in the latest murder puzzle to cross paths with Charlie Cale (Natasha Lyonne). While fans now immediately associate Erivo with her Oscar-nominated turn as Elphaba in Wicked, one of her first big showcases came on another crime-infused TV series: HBO’s The Outsider. The Outsider ran in early 2020, concurrent with Erivo’s first Oscar nomination (for 2019’s Harriet), but its airing on such a popular, mainstream platform meant that it was many viewers’ first time seeing her perform. That it was based on the 2018 Stephen King novel of the same name also helped draw interest, as did the rest of the cast: Jason Bateman, Ben Mendelsohn, Paddy Considine (pre-House of the Dragon), and Yul Vasquez (pre-Severance), among others. But if you watched it—and if you didn’t, now would be a fantastic time to start!—the then-emerging star Erivo left the biggest impression. © HBO Erivo plays a recurring Stephen King character, Holly Gibney. Holly made her debut in 2014’s Mr. Mercedes (in the series adaptation of that tale, she was played by Succession‘s Justine Lupe), and she’s still around—she’s the central character in Never Flinch, King’s latest novel, which releases later this month. In HBO’s The Outsider, Holly’s the co-lead with Mendelsohn’s Ralph Anderson, a Georgia cop grappling with personal demons while facing the most perplexing case of his career. When a boy is found horribly murdered, all the evidence points to a beloved local baseball coach (Bateman), who insists he’s innocent, but is gunned down before his arraignment. The viewer is privy to a strange figure with a malformed face skulking around the show’s early proceedings—and Ralph, a seasoned detective, still can’t shake the idea that the accused was somehow telling the truth. An unusual crime calls for an unusual investigator, so that’s when Erivo’s character enters the story. Holly’s abilities—she’s highly perceptive, to the point of being extra-sensory; she also has creative quirks, like knowing lyrics to songs she’s never heard before—make her an ideal foil for Ralph, a no-nonsense guy suddenly confronted with the notion that a supernatural explanation may be the only explanation. Even beyond the outstanding performances, the 10-episode Outsider is a chilling, rewarding ride. It follows a terrifying thread to some very dark places, with atmosphere to spare and an ending that satisfies—but also makes you wish HBO would’ve signed on for more. Alas, at least we got Erivo bringing the house down in Wicked, and memorably taking over the screen in Poker Face‘s return. The Outsider is streaming on Max. Poker Face is streaming on Peacock. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.

In a rare occurrence, which may only last for a week, Democrats in the Senate showed some spine and voted down an important procedural vote on the GENIUS Act, a bill that would establish a (very weak) regulatory framework for the use of stablecoins. It was expected that the bill would get rubber-stamped, given the number of crypto-curious Dems in the caucus, but it will now have to go back to the drawing board before coming up for a vote again, which could happen as early as next week. The bill ultimately failed a cloture vote Thursday, achieving just 48 of the necessary 60 votes that would have formally ended debate on the bill and allowed it to advance to a full vote. There was expectation in advance of the vote that enough Democrats would cross the aisle and vote in favor of moving the bill forward, according to reporting from The American Prospect. But Democratic Senators who are members of the crypto caucus—Ruben Gallego, Mark Warner, Lisa Blunt Rochester, Andy Kim, Kirsten Gillibrand, and Angela Alsobrooks (a co-sponsor for the bill) all voted no to closing debate. The change of heart from Dems—who, again, could easily change course and pass this thing next Monday—appears to stem in part over concerns regarding Donald Trump’s growing crypto empire, which includes a recently launched stablecoin called $USD1 that the Trump-connected World Liberty Financial announced earlier this year. That stablecoin was recently in the news because an investment firm in Abu Dhabi announced it would use $USD1 to invest $2 billion into cryptocurrency exchange Binance, creating a seemingly endless web of conflicts of interest with the President at the center. Following that announcement, along with some reportedly unexpected changes made to the bill by Republicans without including Democrats in the conversation, led to Thursday’s failure. Decrypt reported that both parties met repeatedly in the 24 hours leading up to the vote in hopes of settling their differences, but couldn’t reach an agreement in time. Once an expected “yes” vote, Arizona Republican Ruben Gallego explained, “The Republicans killed it, because my colleagues don’t have enough time to read the changes that we have been proposing.” Senator Warner clearly signaled that the plan is still to pass this thing, just with some changes. In a statement, he said, “Stablecoins are undeniably a part of the future of finance, and the United States should set the standard for responsible innovation in the digital financial space.” He also said that he remains “fully committed” to passing it once he and his colleagues are able to “strengthen this legislation.” Should the bill pass, it’ll establish some very light regulations for the issuance of stablecoins, which are supposed to be pegged to fiat currency and used to facilitate transactions. The bill would set standards for capital and liquidity requirements, establish mandatory audits, and make stablecoin issuers subject to complying with the anti-money laundering requirements of the Bank Secrecy Act. And while that might be better than nothing, it also is basically exactly what crypto operators have lobbied for. The bill also takes zero steps toward barring public officials from profiting off stablecoins, which has suddenly become a pressing issue because the President is monetizing the office. Trump and his family have reportedly made $2.9 billion off their crypto ventures thus far, and there is currently nothing standing in the way of his continued profiting off a mostly unregulated industry that his administration currently sets the standard for. Dems will reportedly push for protections to restrict Trump and other elected office holders from cashing in on stablecoins, per Axios, but it’s unclear if that will prove to be a true breaking point or if Dems will fold. We’ll find out next week if this newfound spine will hold up over the weekend.

By Kyle Barr Published May 8, 2025 | Comments (0) | The Backbone Pro makes a great device for playing on a foldable, but it's still not big enough for an iPad mini. © Raymond Wong / Gizmodo In an effort to expand beyond smartphones, Backbone is now selling an everything controller. Just like the Backbone One, the new $170 Backbone Pro turns a phone into a quick and dirty gaming handheld, but with added Bluetooth connectivity, it also connects to a PC or smart TV. If you’re the traveling kind, it promises to be the only quality (albeit expensive) controller you need to take with you. Or it would be a solid 2-in-1 gamepad if—unlike me—you apparently have enormous hands. There has to be something exemplary about a “Pro” device, especially to justify the $170 price compared to the $100 you pay for the Backbone One. If you judge it merely by its on-paper feature set, there’s not so much that stands out. The new mobile controller has a pair of back buttons on both the left and right grips. Not exciting enough? The Backbone Pro also houses a special pairing button for connecting to external devices—mainly PC, Mac, or TV—over Bluetooth. You can combine it with the Backbone+ app for button mapping and easy swapping between connected devices with the new “FlowState” feature. Backbone Pro It feels good in hand, but there are missing features that make it less 'pro' than it could be. Pros Cons That easy swapping is especially nice for gaming on multiple devices, but is it the controller you honestly want to use for both PC and mobile? Controllers live and die by how they feel in your hands. If you’ve ever held a Backbone One, you have a good idea of the general feel for the “Pro” controller, even though there are subtle improvements. The high point of the Backbone One is the D-pad and face buttons, which aren’t overly loud even though they have the sort of clicky feeling I enjoy most on low-profile controls. This pricier Backbone includes Hall effect triggers, but even if the new full-size thumbsticks are responsive, they are still the traditional ALPS-type sensor. These use potentiometers to calculate the orientation of the stick, and that can lead to wear and stick drift, whereas Hall effect sticks normally last longer. Hall effect sticks would be more welcome on a gamepad whose full-sized sticks could get knocked around in your backpack when traveling. © Raymond Wong / Gizmodo The Backbone Pro’s satin-textured grips have the feel I normally only get from premium devices, but is it $170 premium? If I had to judge, it wasn’t quite on par with high-end “Pro” level devices from the likes of SCUF, Razer, or even an Xbox Elite wireless controller. These devices normally cost closer to $200 or more, so the Backbone Pro needs to be pitch-perfect. Using the controller, I found my hands were big enough that I needed to adjust my grip ever-so-slightly if I wanted to access the face buttons or D-pad while maintaining quick access to the thumbsticks. It’s not a problem when playing some mobile titles or emulating retro titles. When playing a more modern game such as The Elder Scrolls V: Oblivion remake through Xbox Game Pass, I had to adjust my grip more than I was used to. © Raymond Wong / Gizmodo © Raymond Wong / Gizmodo © Raymond Wong / Gizmodo A larger device like a Gamesir G8+ fits my hands better, but its controls don’t feel nearly as polished as the Backbone Pro. There are other trade-offs to consider. Unlike the Backbone One, there is no version of the Pro that supports Apple’s Lightning connection. The Razer Kishi Ultra at $150 extends far enough to fit a tiny tablet, but the Backbone Pro doesn’t even stretch to allow for the most recent iPad mini’s 8.3-inch screen. That’s where Bluetooth could come in handy, if only I could cover or remove the USB-C dongle to fit my non-standard device inside. Combined with a foldable phone like the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold, the Backbone Pro became a kind of pseudo gaming handheld that was especially handy for playing games that fit its wonky 20:9 aspect ratio, specifically Diablo Immortal. Add on the ease of the Backbone+ app, and the Backbone Pro makes streaming games through Nvidia GeForce Now or Xbox Game Pass far more of a console-like experience. The app promotes its “dual screen” experience when playing on PC or TV. However, it’s only useful for checking the charge on both the controller and the phone. © Raymond Wong / Gizmodo © Raymond Wong / Gizmodo © Raymond Wong / Gizmodo © Raymond Wong / Gizmodo The battery life is perhaps the Backbone Pro’s best feature. I could go for around three hours without seeing the device dipping into the 20% mark. The gamepad also includes smart passthrough charging that tops off both the phone and built-in battery at once. I can’t knock the build quality on the Backbone Pro. It has controls I’d be happy to use on practically any other gaming device, though only if I didn’t have any of my other preferred controls around. The Backbone Pro is the wireless controller I would slip into my backpack if that space already wasn’t occupied with my Steam Deck. As for a mobile controller that would actually fit in my pocket, I’ll just keep waiting for MCon to slip into my life. Daily Newsletter You May Also Like By Kyle Barr Published May 8, 2025 By Kyle Barr Published May 7, 2025 Kyle Barr and Raymond Wong Published May 6, 2025 By Kyle Barr Published May 5, 2025 By Sherri L Smith Published March 28, 2025 By Sherri L Smith Published March 17, 2025

Upgrading your TV doesn’t always mean spending over a thousand dollars or chasing the latest flagship specs. Sometimes, all you need is a solid big screen that gives you great picture quality, decent smart features, and fits easily into your everyday viewing habits. That can mean watching YouTube all night, checking out movies, or watching your favorite show for the 80th time. That’s exactly the kind of balance the 65-inch LG UR9000 Class 4K Smart TV will strike in your living room. And right now, you can get it for a great price. See at Amazon Head to Amazon to get the 65-inch LG UR9000 Class 4K Smart TV for just $497, down from its usual price of $630. That’s $133 off and a 21% discount. A new living room centerpiece This mid-range LG TV should be at the “just right” level for most. It’s not really trying to compete with OLEDs or ultra-premium TVs, but what it does offer is a well-rounded set of features that covers most people’s needs. The screen uses a 4K LED panel with support for HDR10 and HLG, and while it tops out at a 60Hz refresh rate, it handles standard TV content, streaming, and casual gaming just fine. So if you want to get your game on (and you probably will with the new Switch 2 coming out), you can. Of course, you’ll want to know what’s going on under the hood before you buy: the TV runs on LG’s latest webOS platform and includes their α5 AI Processor Gen6, which helps with upscaling and picture optimization. It also includes a special “Filmmaker Mode” for more accurate movie playback, and LG’s usual set of smart integrations like Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple AirPlay are all supported. That’s just in case you’re lazy like some of us and don’t want to get up to change the channel or find the remote. Design-wise, the TV is clean and modern too, with slim bezels and a minimalist look that won’t distract from the screen itself. Whether you decide to mount it or set it up on an entertainment center, it’ll look good as the center of your room. And that’s probably where you should put it, because its size will draw attention, and rightly so. Tick all the right boxes when it comes to entertainment with this TV, which is just $497 (-21%). You’ll be glad you brought it home and added it to your living room. See at Amazon

By AJ Dellinger Published May 7, 2025 | Comments (17) | President Trump shakes Elon Musk's hand at a rally © Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images The Trump administration’s tariff regime has squeezed most Americans, causing new financial pressures as the cost of goods goes up, but at least one person seems to be making out pretty well from the situation: Elon Musk. According to a report from the Washington Post, Musk’s satellite internet company Starlink has attracted new interest from nations that are looking to wiggle their way out of Trump’s tariff crunch. The Post highlights the small nation of Lesotho, which was inexplicably subjected to a 50% tax when Trump first announced his so-called “reciprocal” penalties (which turned out to be the result of some sort of very strange, nonsensical formula that may or may not have come from a chatbot). Two weeks after the tariffs were announced, Lesotho leadership met with representatives of Starlink, which had been trying to get a foothold in the country for some time prior, and signed a deal to make the company Lesotho’s first-ever satellite internet service. Coincidences happen, of course. It’s just that, according to the Post, they’re happening pretty regularly right now with Starlink. Around the same time as the tariffs were being discussed and implemented, Starlink also struck deals to provide service in parts of Bangladesh, the Democratic Republic of Congo, India, Pakistan, Somalia, and Vietnam. In the case of Lesotho, a memo obtained by the Post makes it clear that there’s an attempt to curry favor happening: “As the government of Lesotho negotiates a trade deal with the United States, it hopes that licensing Starlink demonstrates goodwill and intent to welcome U.S. businesses,” the internal State Department communication read. It’s hard to imagine that other nations haven’t had similar thoughts of strategically aligning themselves with a company run by a Trump White House employee in order to get some relief. The Trump administration has not been explicitly pushing Starlink on these companies, according to the report, but it has been encouraging countries to do business with US-based satellite internet firms, and there happens to be one very big, prominent one that comes to mind. And it certainly seems like countries are treating Starlink favorably. India, for example, reportedly sped up the approvals process for the company in an effort to grease the wheels for trade deals, per the Post. Lining Musk’s pockets may not be the primary purpose of the Trump admin pushing satellite internet on countries (though it surely doesn’t hurt, either). Chinese companies are quickly ramping up to offer an alternative to Starlink, and the US would prefer to capture those markets before its competitors can. So it’s using the leverage to push American products. It is funny how it seems to always benefit Trump’s backers, though, right? Coincidences happen all the time. Daily Newsletter You May Also Like By Matt Novak Published May 7, 2025 Laura Newcombe Published May 7, 2025 Mario Ariza, ProPublica Published May 7, 2025 By AJ Dellinger Published May 6, 2025 By Ed Cara Published May 6, 2025 Laura Newcombe Published May 6, 2025

Cooking at home is rewarding and cheap, but it can take time. You don’t always have loads of time to do it, either. You’ve got to prep ingredients, wait for meals to cook, and then clean it all up. That’s hard to accomplish, especially on busy weeknights. That’s exactly why the Instant Pot became such a hit. It makes cooking and prepping much easier because it acts as multiple appliances at once. And the Instant Pot Duo Plus is an option you’ll be thrilled to have because it can do so much. And it’s on sale right now! See at Amazon Head to Amazon, where the Instant Pot Duo Plus is just $90, down from its usual price of $130. That’s $50 off and a discount of 31%. The Duo Plus is a 9-in-1 multi-cooker that combines a pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, steamer, sauté pan, yogurt maker, food warmer, sterilizer, and egg cooker all in one machine. That means fewer appliances cluttering your cabinets, and fewer dishes to wash when dinner’s done. And if you happen to meal prep each week, you know it’s great for that, too. Make cooking every night fast, easy, and fun It has a 6-quart capacity, which is plenty for most families or for making multiple meals ahead of time. You can just freeze those or toss them in the fridge so you can have food to eat later. The pressure cooking function is probably the biggest time-saver, though. It can make tender meats, rich stews, and succulent veggies in a fraction of the time it would take using a stove or oven. And if you don’t know how to use it, you can just let the Duo Plus do it all for you. It comes with 15 smart programs that let you push a button and it’ll get to work cooking. That’s less work for you. Of course, there are safety features built into the Duo Plus as well, including a function that can just shut the whole thing off if you forget to leave it on. That way you don’t have to worry about it getting too hot and starting a fire. You don’t ned to be an expert cook to enjoy the Instant Pot Duo Plus. You just need to want to cook a lot (or a little!)and space for another appliance. Make an excuse if you have to, because just $90 for an Instant Pot Duo Plus is a fantastic deal. See at Amazon

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge is flying into the limelight on Gossamer-thin wings on May 12. Samsung’s hosting an “Unpacked” event—fully virtual this time—to share details on the super-thin smartphone that’s barely thicker than a USB-C charging port. The virtual event will take place on May 12 at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT. You’ll be able to watch the livestream on Samsung’s website or its official YouTube channel. Don’t expect new versions of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 and Galaxy Z Fold 6, though—those will likely come at a separate event this summer. © Samsung Samsung first showed off the Galaxy S25 Edge at its January Unpacked event. The company burped out the news for the phone as the “one more thing” for the event, but it didn’t offer many details other than highlighting its thin frame. The anticipated April launch date didn’t pan out, and Samsung still hasn’t gone into details about the device. In a release, Samsung said the S25 Edge is “more than a slim smartphone” that “unlocks a new era of growth for the mobile industry.” What can we expect other than executives boasting about the phone’s thinness? Boasting about the camera, perhaps. The company confirmed its slim device houses a 200-megapixel camera that may be based on the main sensor found on the Galaxy S25 Ultra, but we’ll need to see if it has the same levels of zoom. Images show the phone has two lenses compared to three or five found on Samsung’s other Android phones. Samsung has previously said the S25 Edge cameras have “pro-grade capabilities,” which implies they will have access to Samsung’s suite of photo editing tools. The phone will also likely be engineered with AI in mind, with at least some of the generative AI editing and creation tools available on current Galaxy phones. © Florence Ion / GizmodoA look at how Samsung displayed the Galaxy S25 Edge at Galaxy Unpacked. The Galaxy maker will need to convince us why we should want a super-slim phone. Rumors suggest Apple is set to launch its own skinny phone, the iPhone 17 Air, and might bring back an external battery case to make up for what sources have described as more limited battery compared to regular and pro iPhones. Ultimately, Samsung needs to prove users won’t sacrifice too much for the sake of a slightly thinner, slightly lighter device.

One of the most important moments Andor fans have waiting for happened in this week’s episode drop of the hit Star Wars series. On the last episode, following the conflict on Ghorman, Mon Mothma took to the Senate floor to deliver a damning indictment of Emperor Palpatine’s true reign of tyranny. It solidified Mon Mothma as a leader of the Rebellion in the public sphere in an preamble expansion of the moment seen on Star Wars Rebels. The new scene serves as a sort of companion speech to the one she delivers while en route to Yavin with the Gold Squadron, and it’s aimed directly at Palpatine and those working to keep his favor out of fear. Actress Genevieve O’Reilly and show creator Tony Gilroy talked to Entertainment Weekly about the moment Mon’s life trajectory changed forever. “The monster who will come for us all soon enough is Emperor Palpatine,” the character declares in the speech. “[Mon] knows that now is the time to use her one weapon, which is her voice, and she must use it and be as impactful as possible,” O’Reilly said. “She is ruthless in that moment, in the name of the Rebellion.” O’Reilly continued to explain how it was something she wanted to make sure to do in full. “It was everything I was hoping for,” she told EW. “That’s like the best gift you can get as an actor. She speaks to how important the Senate is to her. You can see that it’s like her church. She reveals so much and then she calls out some really brutal truths.” “I knew that that would be important to fans. I knew it was also really important to me for her. That’s the fulcrum of who Mon Mothma is right there. And so I got to stand up for her in that moment. That was really important to me, and I hope it means something to people because it felt really great to be able to give her that voice.” And yes, it diverges from what was in the animated canon before. Gilroy admitted, “In a really sneaky way, we’re minimizing what they did in Star Wars Rebels, but we’re keeping it consistent. We’re just saying you don’t really know the whole story of what happened.” O’Reilly asked Gilroy to expand on what was originally cut up between other moments of the episode’s final act, because she knew it was essential to Mon’s character to give her that full moment. “Within a day or two, he came with that whole speech,” she explained. “He gave it to me, the idea being that I would learn it and then they would just do those moments. Then, I went to the director, and the director was like, ‘Yeah, let’s film the whole speech.’ It was such a huge thing to me to give that whole speech. It feels really special.” Andor airs weekly on Disney+. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.

Samsung’s latest true wireless earbuds are the Galaxy Buds3 Pro, and they are the brand’s most feature-complete and powerful audio accessory yet. Today, they take on the AirPods Pro and set a new benchmark for premium wireless sound (and a Gizmodo Editor’s Choice). If you were considering buying these flagship earbuds, they are hitting an all-time low price on Amazon at just $189, down from $249 and $10 below even Samsung’s own official store where they’re on sale right now at $199. This is the best deal you’ll find on the Galaxy Buds3 Pro and it is the perfect moment to upgrade your audio experience. See at Amazon Why Are They Different? The Galaxy Buds3 Pro are designed for those who look for the best in sound quality and intelligent features. Samsung has completely redesigned them and gives them a more streamlined and ergonomic shape that will provide long-lasting comfort even after hours of listening. The silver colorway and unique Blade Lights give these earbuds a futuristic aesthetic, and they also provide an element of character. Inside, the Buds3 Pro are powered by Samsung’s most advanced audio hardware yet: They use a dual amplifier system (a woofer and tweeter that can be controlled independently) which offers a detailed soundstage with deep bass and clear highs. The enhanced two-way speaker system features a planar tweeter (a Galaxy Buds first) which picks up on every detail in your music for a high-resolution audio experience that’s among the best in the business. What truly sets these earbuds apart is how they use Galaxy AI: Adaptive Equalizer uses artificial intelligence to measure the fit and position of both earbuds in real time and adjusts sound output according to your unique ear shape and listening habits. That guarantees you get the best audio however you wear them. Adaptive Active Noise Cancellation is fueled by Galaxy AI and intelligently eliminates background noise and lets in helpful sounds (like voices or sirens) when you need to hear them. It’s also intelligent communication: The Buds3 Pro provide real-time translation for face-to-face conversation and calls when paired with compatible Samsung devices using Galaxy AI. That renders them a godsend for travelers and for anybody who works in multilingual environments. Controls are intuitive and can be personalized with pinch and swipe gestures allowing you to adjust volume, play or pause music and launch your favorite applications-all without needing to touch your phone. The earbuds are made to be tough with an IP57 rating for dust and water resistance, and the charging case provides both USB-C and wireless charging. Battery life is strong with a charge lasting up to 7 hours of playback (and 26 hours autonomy including the charging case) and additional hours tacked on by the case. In short, the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro are the contender for the best wireless earbuds of 2025. Coming with an all-time low price at Amazon and some really innovative AI-powered features (not to mention incredible sound quality), you shouldn’t miss this chance since the prices and the stock may not be at this point for too long. See at Amazon

Planes are becoming a defining part of Donald Trump’s second term. From close misses to actual collisions, air traffic has been a mess. But it looks like that chaos isn’t limited to land. On Tuesday, the United States Navy lost a second fighter jet in the ocean. Although the two crewmen aboard only sustained minor injuries, it’s still not a good look for the Trump administration. Five people familiar with the matter told CNN that the lost plane was an F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jet. Per CNN, the jet was attempting to land on the USS Harry S. Truman when it fell into the Red Sea. If that sounds familiar, it’s because the Navy lost the same type of jet on the exact same aircraft carrier last week. Last time, the Navy said in a press release that the jet fell off after the USS Harry S. Truman came under fire from Houthi rebels. The most recent loss is still under investigation, but CNN reported that it was due to an issue with the arrestment system that helps military aircraft stop on a runway. Per NBC News, the tail hook didn’t hook the wires to slow down the jet, so it continued accelerating into the water. Luckily, the pilot and weapons systems officer ejected themselves and were rescued by a helicopter. Still, that’s a pretty damn expensive plane to lose. Per Navy documents, an F/A-18 Super Hornet starts at $67.4 million. That doesn’t include any extras like adding weapons-related equipment. The Truman has had issues outside of planes falling into the water. In December, the USS Gettysburg accidentally shot down another F/A-18 fighter jet that was flying from the Truman. Although there were no casualties, the Washington Post reported that the incident raised concerns about communication amongst ships and jets in the area. Since taking office, Trump has been plagued by plane issues, including when an army helicopter crashed into a passenger plane at Reagan airport. Over sixty people died in that incident. The accumulation of collision or near misses comes amidst the Department of Government Efficiency firing hundreds of Federal Aviation Administration employees, including air traffic control support. The incidents with the Truman fall more under the Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s jurisdiction. (Coincidentally, Hegseth has extended the Truman’s deployment twice now.) However, Hegseth hasn’t really been a stellar example of a government official with the Signalgate controversy, in which he shared details about the Yemeni campaign in an unsecured chat, taking up much of his time. He also reportedly had a makeup studio installed at the Pentagon so people could pretty themselves up for television appearances. But hey, that studio may come in handy if the Navy drops a third plane in the ocean.

Netflix needs to stop you from canceling your subscription every time you finish the few shows you care about. Soon, your TV and streaming app will sport a whole new look with redesigned menus, but behind the UI overhaul is a revamped algorithm that will know much more about your watching habits and show you more content Netflix thinks you want to see. In other words, the TikTok-ification of Netflix is coming, and there’s no escaping it. Last year, Netflix offered Gizmodo an early peek into the coming redesign. Subscribers will finally get to experience the full overhaul in the “coming weeks and months.” The change you’ll notice right away is that the main menu has moved to a long bar along the top of the app. This is where you’ll be searching for your next binge session. It’s also where you can quickly select shows, movies, and playable games between mobile and TV. You can access this new menu or search any time by hitting the back button on your remote. The most important tweak to the Netflix app’s UI might be a new use of the “Home” tab versus the “My Netflix” tab. The latter is where you’ll find content added to your “My List,” reminders for upcoming content, and your “Continue Watching” carousel. The “Home” tab is where you’ll find all the content Netflix wants you to watch, whether it’s upcoming live content like last year’s Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul fight or other upcoming shows the streamer thinks you’ll care about. © Netflix The end goal of the new Netflix UI is to enhance personalized recommendations—really keep you glued to Netflix content. Netflix CTO Elizabeth Stone said the new algorithm will adapt to you even as you browse for something else to watch, as opposed to basing recommendations on your profile or past viewing habits. For example, if you just finished the final season of You and searched for more serial killer content, Netflix will try to surface more similar content. This could appear as categories you’ll see when browsing with names as esoteric as “love, lust, and lies.” Netflix calls these “responsive recommendations.” Essentially, it collates information it knows about you and your environment to keep you watching past the point you would normally grow bored. There’s an aspect that makes sense to Netflix’s revitalized algorithm. We’ve all been in the situation where Netflix could no longer show any interesting content on its front page. At the same time, the more personalized algorithm could create a feedback loop where watching a few episodes of You inundates you with more serial killer content you weren’t looking for. Recommendations may also take into account the time of day, so a late-night Netflix and chill may offer different content than when you search for a dumb movie to distract from midday chores. This deeper personalization may eventually include ads. Eunice Kim, Netflix’s chief product officer, didn’t make any concrete statements about future plans but said the new look offers “flexibility to evolve the home page in the future” and “we believe the improvement will drive outcomes for advertisers as well.” © Netflix The new look is meant to keep you hooked, and part of that is by labeling more content with easy-to-digest factoids. For instance, users will now see more “callouts” for content that’s popular or is an “Emmy Award winner.” The mobile app is also receiving a few additions. The first is a vertical, TikTok-like feed that will show you short clips of content that Netflix believes you may want to watch or share with friends. Netflix is also using AI models from OpenAI in its search tab, which will let users enter a vague prompt like “Um, I don’t know, something dark and funny but not too funny.” Both features are rolling out as “tests,” and the AI search will be opt-in (starting on iPhones first). Netflix, like all streaming services, is concerned about churn. In streaming circles, it’s described as the rate subscribers leave their memberships behind. Business Insider reported, based on data from analytics company Antenna, that Netflix’s churn rate is usually lower than other services. The streaming giant has been doing well financially, reporting in April its subscription revenue was up year-over-year. Still, Netflix needs to keep it that way so it doesn’t suffer another 2022 subscriber loss snafu. Oftentimes, users sign up for one season of a show they care about, then cancel their subscription once it’s finished. More personalized recommendations, where the service starts to learn an uncomfortable amount about your viewing habits, is the main way Netflix intends to keep users from dropping their sub. Like TikTok and Instagram, the algorithmic feed is king. Will it work for Netflix, too?

Kosmos 482 has been trapped in Earth’s orbit for 53 years but its wandering journey is coming to an end. The failed Venus mission is expected to reenter through the atmosphere in a dramatic fall toward its home planet, where it may remain intact or scatter its bits across a still unknown location on either side of the equator. The Soviet-era spacecraft will plunge through Earth’s atmosphere sometime between May 8 to 12. As of now, the exact location of where Kosmos 482 will crash-land on Earth is still unknown, with a preliminary estimate that stretches across large parts of the world on either side of the equator. It’s also unclear whether the spacecraft will remain in one piece or if it will break apart during reentry, raining down bits of debris. The Kosmos 482 spacecraft, as imaged from Earth. © Ralf Vandebergh Kosmos 482 launched on March 31, 1972 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome spaceport in what is know Kazakhstan. The mission was an attempt by the Soviet space program to reach Venus, but it failed to gain enough velocity to enter a transfer trajectory toward the scorching hot planet. A malfunction resulted in an engine burn that wasn’t sufficient to reach Venus’ orbit, according to NASA. Since then, the spacecraft has been stuck in an elliptical orbit around Earth. The spacecraft entered a higher orbit measuring 130 by 6,089 miles (210 by 9,800 kilometers). Astrophotographer Ralf Vandebergh recently captured images of Kosmos 482 in space ahead of its projected descent, and made a note of what appeared to be a parachute deployed from the spacecraft. “At this point nothing is sure,” Vandebergh told Gizmodo in an email. “In 2014 I had a first sign of this in my images but I didn’t think seriously about this possibility. But when I processed the 2024 images taken 10 years later and saw the same thing, I thought I needed to report this possibility.” Even if the spacecraft’s exposed parachute is hanging out in space, it’s unlikely that it would still do its job of slowing down Kosmos’ descent toward Earth. After failing to reach Venus, the spacecraft broke apart into four different pieces, with two of the smaller fragments reentering over Ashburton, New Zealand, two days after its launch. The two remaining pieces are a carrier bus and a lander probe, which together form a spherical pressure vessel weighing more than 1,000 pounds (495 kilograms). Today, it’s hard to determine where the remainder of the heat-resistant spacecraft will reenter Earth’s atmosphere. Its current orbit indicates it should be anywhere between latitude 52 degrees north and 52 degrees south, according to Marco Langbroek, a satellite tracker based in Leiden, the Netherlands. That barely narrows it down as this area includes the United States, South America, Africa and Australia, and most of Europe and Asia south of the Arctic Circle. The spacecraft’s landing zone will become more clear as it approaches its doomed reentry. Another question is how much of it will survive the heat of atmospheric reentry. “As this is a lander that was designed to survive passage through the Venus atmosphere, it is possible that it will survive reentry through the Earth atmosphere intact, and impact intact,” Langbroek wrote in a blog update. Langbroek suggests an impact speed of around 150 miles per hour (242 kilometers per hour) if the lander does not break apart or largely burn up during reentry. The kinetic energy at impact is similar to that of a 15- to 21-inch-long (40- to 55-centimeter) meteorite fragment, according to Langbroek. Since our planet is mostly made up of water, the spacecraft will likely end up at the bottom of an ocean floor. The chances of it impacting an inhabited area, however, are not zero so it does pose some form of risk especially as its reentry date and location remain uncertain.

Ever since it was first teased that Andor‘s second season was preparing to show the tragedy that set the stage for the formal formation of the Rebel Alliance, there’s similarly been discussion of the fact that there are two Ghorman Massacres. The one we are about to learn much more about in this week’s batch of episodes, and the very different version of events that took place in Star Wars‘ old Expanded Universe. Would we be getting something new, or something inspired by the story that had come before? Andor simply responded: why not both? Although this week’s episodes are primed to ignite the simmering tensions for what will become the Ghorman Massacre—the one that sparks Mon Mothma to publicly rail against Palpatine’s authoritarianism, flee the Senate, and call for the Alliance to Restore the Republic—last week’s act of Andor season two took us to Ghorman early to explore the planet’s resistance to the Empire. We learn pretty quickly during that exploration that while tensions between the Ghor and the Empire are at an all time high at the moment (thanks to a campaign the Empire’s enacting to fulfill its secret desire to mine the world for resources it needs to build the Death Star), disdain for the regime is not just contemporary feeling on the world. There has already been a massacre on Ghorman once. The Tarkin one. This Tarkin massacre matches many of the details of what was the primary Ghorman Massacre in Star Wars‘ old EU: it took place relatively early on in reign of the Empire, it involved a young Tarkin slaughtering hundreds of unarmed Ghorman protestors by landing a cruiser on them, it sparked wider public blowback to the Imperial regime. It is, for all intents and purpose, the EU’s Ghorman Massacre reconstituted into current Star Wars continuity. But crucially, it is no longer the incident that takes that name. The new story doesn’t erase the EU one, it weaves it into history, and creates thematic and narrative depth by choosing to say that it was not one or the other, but both. Now, Ghorman’s history of resistance holds up a mirror to the cyclical conflict echoed throughout the wider Star Wars saga—and crucially, the Empire’s cruelty, the Tarkin Doctrine of fear crushing dissent, is given a fatal flaw. Ghorman didn’t break in the wake of this first Imperial atrocity, it remembered its past and fought regardless, and although we’re only on the cusp of learning the full details of this latest one, we know the planet’s resistance will inspire greater pushback against the Empire in the wake of it, laying the groundwork for open galactic civil war and the Empire’s fall in its wake. It’s a brilliant parallel to the first season’s lessons with Nemik, the idea that fascist control through power can be broken if only people try, and keep trying, to not bend in the face of it. And most importantly, it’s texture that matters more than just checking off a known name or event. Andor doesn’t nudge and point when it makes note of the Tarkin massacre; if you weren’t already familiar that this was a known thing from the EU it might as well just have been an organic piece of background information. It’s woven into the narrative in the moment, not to disrupt the current story, but further enrich it. It’s something the series has done a surprising amount of, from offhand mentions of the Rakatans to the oodles of Easter eggs in Luthen’s antiques collections: it treats Star Wars‘ “legends” as history, something to provide color and context but not to necessarily dictate the story it’s telling in the here and now. The point of evoking the Tarkin massacre is not simply to say “here is that thing from that other time” and call it a day, but to recognize the storytelling potential of recognizing these twinned versions of this same event, and realizing it’s more interesting to have both co-exist rather than cancel out one or the other. After all, there should always be a little truth in legends. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.

By AJ Dellinger Published May 6, 2025 | Comments (11) | Truth Social logo appears on a smartphone in front of Donald Trump © rafapress (Shutterstock) No one would fault you for not knowing that Donald Trump’s “technology” company, Trump Media and Technology Group, has a streaming service. But now that you do know that, aren’t you curious what is on it? Lucky for you, a recent report from Talking Points Memo dug into the content over on Truth+ and it is every bit as batshit as you were probably imaging. Truth+ appears to be big on two things: religion and conspiracy theories. That seems like it is right in line with the MAGA crowd’s hobbies, but these conspiracies seem to be less of the “Trump had the election stolen from him” variety and more of the “Jesus Christ was a secret alien” kind. No, really. Per TPM, one of the films on the platform is called “Conspiracy Chronicles,” and it throws some incredible claims out there, including the possibility that Jesus, Buddha, and Krishna were all from a different planet. It also apparently claims that the Moon is “hollowed out” and serves as a base for aliens. Are they the same aliens sending us our most revered religious figures? Hard to say. What is clear, per the film, is that the US government has been covering all of this up. Luckily, the guy who runs the streaming service spewing these theories now has the power to debrief all that information! Surely he will, right? It’s only one of many films on the platform that are all in on out-there claims. Another, titled “Lizard People: Rulers of Time and Space,” claims that there is a race of lizard-like aliens who created humans and developed religious systems to control them. Frankly, it’s kinda wild how close these things get to acknowledging some form of reality (organized religion being used as a means of control, for instance) only to swerve and blame it on aliens instead of like, people who desire power and wealth. There are actual explanations for these things, but the only way for them to be digestible to a certain crowd is for those explanations to have some sort of otherworldiness sprinkled on top. Now, it would be fair to say that every streaming service has its fair share of bonkers titles that end up available through wide-reaching rights deals, and no one is actually watching them. And there are likely very few people watching Truth+ in general. But those who do are apparently eating up these conspiracies. TPM reported that the “Lizard People” movie was in the top 10 on the platform this week. That programming doesn’t exactly seem in line with the “news, Christian content, and family-friendly programming that is uncancellable by Big Tech” that Trump’s company promised when it launched the streaming platform last year. But maybe the Bible had more to say about serpents than just that snake in the Garden of Eden. Daily Newsletter You May Also Like By Ed Cara Published May 6, 2025 By Rhett Jones Published May 6, 2025 By AJ Dellinger Published May 6, 2025 Laura Newcombe Published May 6, 2025 By Matt Novak Published May 6, 2025 By Sabina Graves Published May 5, 2025

Kudos to you if you’ve already bought a gift for the mom in your life and just need to wrap it ahead of Mother’s Day this Sunday, May 11. But if you’re still looking for gift ideas and don’t want to wait until the very last minute and be forced to grab something from the gas station, we’ve got you covered with gifts that’ll fit any budget under $100, under $300, and over $300 (for you really generous folks). Table of Contents Gifts Under $100 Roku Streaming Stick 2025 ($30) The latest Roku streaming sticks, whether you opt for the lower-cost HD or one that supports 4K TVs, are great small gifts to turn any television into a smart TV. It also lets mom project Roku content onto other screens in the house over Wi-Fi. Buy at Amazon Frameo Digital Picture Frame ($50) No mom has time to scroll through hundreds or thousands of photos scattered in Apple Photos or Google Photos. A Frameo digital picture frame is easy to set up, and once loaded with photos sent from your phone over Wi-Fi, the 10-inch screen will uplift the mood in any room. Buy at Amazon Lego Botanical Collection Flower Bouquet ($48) Real flowers will wilt and die within a few days. But a bouquet of Lego flowers? They’ll get dusty like all completed Lego sets inevitably do, but they’ll last forever. For an added touch: get her favorite scent and give the plastic bouquet a light spritz. Buy at Amazon Harmonies ($35) Harmonies, with its evocative art style, is the kind of game that builds relationships rather than tearing them down. It’s simple to teach, but it maintains a surprising depth as each player tries to build a habitat for a number of cutesy animals. You’ll never end up in a situation where players rage against each other, as you’ll be working on your own board to make the most out of your habitats. Buy at Amazon Split Fiction ($47) While It Takes Two, Hazelight Studios’ other co-op adventure game, is still a great gift for couples, Split Fiction offers a similarly zany and imaginative adventure for two players. It’s the kind of game where sitting side by side with your mom might bring you a little closer. Buy at Amazon Super Mario Jamboree ($52) Mario Party games are the perfect after-dinner romp (yes, you should be cooking dinner for a mom on this special day). Super Mario Party Jamboree has just the right amount of backstabbing to make sure the mother in your life will still want to talk to you the next morning. Buy at Amazon Logitech Lift It takes a few days to adjust to using a vertical mouse like the Logitech Lift—you grip it like you’re shaking someone’s hand—but once you do, your wrist will be in heaven. If mom is spending all day at the computer, this could help alleviate some wrist pain. Buy at Amazon Ridge Magnetic Power Bank ($70) Magnetic iPhone battery cases are a dime a dozen. The 10,000mAh Ridge Magnetic Power Bank stands out with two built-in cables (USB-C and Lightning), an Apple Watch charger, and a kickstand. It’s truly a versatile all-in-one battery pack. Buy at Ridge Anbernic RG35XXSP ($80) If the mother you’re celebrating grew up with a Game Boy in her pocket, this gift will pack plenty of nostalgia. Modern retro handhelds like the Anbernic RG35XXSP offer the right amount of portability and excellent controls. Just be sure to fill it with her favorite old games first. Buy at Amazon Satechi OntheGo 3-in-1 Charger ($90) For moms who travel often, Satechi’s OntheGo 3-in-1 Charger can charge up an iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods all at once. When not needed, the whole thing folds up for easy storage. Buy at Amazon Gifts Under $300 AirPods 4 ($100) If mom is still using wired earbuds or headphones, it’s time to go wireless. Apple’s AirPods 4 come in two models: with and without active noise cancellation. There’s no going wrong with either, unless mom prefers wireless earbuds with in-ear tips; in which case, consider the AirPods Pro 2. Buy at Amazon Slay the Spire ($102) Moms who game may already be very familiar with the Slay the Spire video game. But whereas that single-player title isn’t a great option to spend quality time together, Slay the Spire in board game form is perfect for a lengthy co-op session with players trying to build decks to defeat a number of wacky and weird beasties. Buy at Amazon Fujifilm Instax Mini 41 ($120) Sure, mom can snap photos with a smartphone, but can she hang them on the fridge or stash them in a wallet to show friends and family? Fujifilm’s Instax Mini 41 prints business card-sized photos, and mom will look rad with the vintage-looking camera slung around her chest. Buy at Amazon Keychron K4 HE ($145) Besides helping to stave off carpal tunnel syndrome, a mechanical keyboard is just a damn more enjoyable typing experience. With rosewood accents and quiet switches, Keychron’s wireless K4 HE is a computer upgrade plenty of moms will appreciate. Buy at Amazon JBL Flip 7 ($150) Whatever mom’s music tastes are, the JBL Flip 7 will deliver. This compact Bluetooth speaker cranks out big sound, can survive a tumble, and has long-lasting battery life. It’s great for parties indoors and outside. Buy at Amazon Nintendo Switch Lite ($200) If you weren’t able to snag a Switch 2 for mom (and it’ll arrive late, starting on June 5), the Switch Lite is still a great device to play the handheld’s massive library of games. Everything from Super Mario Wonder to Animal Crossing: New Horizon to The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom will run great. The Lite also comes in more fun colors and fits better in purses or smaller bags. Buy at Amazon Kindle Colorsoft ($225) It only took 17 years for Amazon to release a Kindle e-reader with a color E Ink display, but the Colorsoft is here, and it’s glorious, especially if mom is into reading comics. Black and white is fine, but color ebooks just have an extra pop. Buy at Amazon Gifts $300+ Ninja Swirl by CREAMi ($348) The Ninja Swirl by CREAMi is the perfect way to make sure there’s always a special treat handy. The device can make several different kinds of soft serve or frozen yogurt with any ingredients you have on hand. Plus, its main controls look like a face that’s just as surprised as you will be when mom tries to make peanut butter mint-flavored ice cream. Buy at Amazon Dyson Airwrap i.d. Multi Styler ($600) Dyson’s Airwrap is one of the most popular products of its kind, for a good reason. It’s a multi-tool for curling hair, but unlike other similar products that use heat to do the job, the Airwrap uses powerful airflow to help create a variety of styles. It also comes with a fanless hairdryer attachment. Buy at Amazon Roborock S8+ ($760) A robovac is the kind of gift that just keeps on giving. Not only does the Roborock S8+ vacuum and mop floors for you, it even self-empties up to 7 weeks’ worth of debris into a dust bag. This little bot is basically a Rosey the Robot you can own today. Buy at Amazon

As the roll out for Thunderbolts has revealed that the rag-tag team of mercenaries are now your New Avengers (or Avengerz, as Red Guardian put it), more is coming to light about how the film was assembled. Co-screenwriter and story writer Eric Pearson has given post-release interviews talking about Taskmaster‘s original role in the film, as well as the decision not to include Baron Zemo. Another major change just came to light—this time, regarding Wyatt Russell’s character, John Walker/U.S. Agent. Speaking to the Wrap. Pearson said the film’s line-up before Sentry’s inclusion rested on a reveal that Walker was going to turn into a Red Hulk as the film’s big bad as a fail-safe put in by Valentina. Pearson shared, “Part of Valentina’s manipulation was that she had tricked him into thinking he needed constant medication but what she was really doing was planting a time bomb in him if she needed to set him off.” That was intended to break the would-be team apart but instead would serve as another team-building challenge, he said. “Taking Walker, the most antagonistic member of the team, the most abrasive, and then turning him into something that they choose not to kill, but to try and save.” He continued that the idea “did not feel right” and Walker as the second Red Hulk right after Harrison Ford in Captain America: Brave New World was scrapped. This line of thinking led to including a new character and Pearson suggested Sentry, a character he’d learned about during his time in the Marvel Writers Program. “I always remember loving the kind of idea of, what if Superman had a version of himself with that was as bad as it was good?” Pearson said of the role Lewis Pullman ended up taking over; it has a similar heel turn that mirrors the inner conflict all the anti-heroes grapple with—”heroic ambition versus self-loathing”—but without a repeat character. Thunderbolts is now in theaters. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.

A special brood of cicadas—an ancient lineage of the periodical insects—is set to burst from the soil this May and June, covering more of the United States than any other 17-year brood. These bugs—collectively known as Brood XIV—have been biding their time underground since the last Bush administration, biding their time and counting the years go by. Now they’re back with two goals: Get loud and get laid. This isn’t just any swarm. Brood XIV is considered the original brood, from which all other 17-year cicada broods split off, according to YaleEnvironment360. This is the motherlode of massive, crunchy, droning insects. For a few wild weeks to come, the skies will fill with their raspy mating calls, as the insects rise up simultaneously. The synchronized emergence isn’t just for flair. It’s a numbers game: By surfacing in the billions, cicadas overwhelm their predators—birds, squirrels, snakes, you name it—who are so sated by the plenty that the cicadas’ arrival sends waves through the food chain. When cicadas emerge, populations of cuckoos, blue jays, and some woodpecker species swell. But not all the effects are good: Because the birds are busy eating cicadas, caterpillar populations can go unchecked, allowing those bugs to damage oak trees to a greater degree. Most of the insects will get eaten, but enough will survive to keep the brood going. Once the survivors lay their eggs—their purpose fulfilled—they die. The brood’s tiny offspring disappear underground for another 17 years, from which they will rise again in 2041. The cicadas are expected to appear as far west as Kansas, as far north as Wisconsin and Michigan, down through the Mississippi Delta to New Orleans, and along much of the East Coast from Georgia and South Carolina up to Connecticut. You can review a detailed map of broods, including where they historically have emerged and are expected to emerge again, at this University of Connecticut site. And as with everything else these days, climate change could be messing with the cicada clock. A Japanese study found that warming temperatures are pushing some cicadas to emerge earlier in the year. Over time, hotter conditions might even shrink their 17-year underground snooze. But those are longer term forecasts, and Brood XIV’s timing is imminent. In the next weeks, if you hear droning and you’re not near a construction site, there’s no need to panic: It’s just billions of bugs on a once-in-a-generation bender.

By Ed Cara Published May 6, 2025 | Comments (0) | Trump has already overseen the loss of some 10,000 jobs at the Department of Health and Human Services since retaking office this year. © noamgalai via Shuttersrock The federal government is continuing to hollow out its research centers. The National Institutes of Health has carried out a second, unexpected round of layoffs across its various departments, including staff at the National Cancer Institute (NCI). The layoffs were first reported late Monday evening by CBS News, based on interviews with current and recently fired employees. Around 200 people have or are soon expected to be fired, including 50 at the NCI. The cuts were made despite previous assurances about no further layoffs, according to CBS News. “We thought the worst was behind us, and we were transitioning into this new phase, and the rug was just pulled out from underneath us,” a laid-off employee told CBS. The White House has implemented a cataclysmic fire sale of its federal research institutes in the wake of Donald Trump’s return to the presidency. Guided by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and overseen by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has hemorrhaged some 10,000 jobs in the past few months, including 1,200 jobs at the NIH. Trump has also dictated sweeping budget cuts and he’s tried to revoke billions in federal research and public health funding promised by the previous administration, though these attempts are being legally challenged by affected states and organizations. This tightening of the belt has gone about as smoothly as you might expect, with senior officials like RFK Jr. seemingly not even being aware of major funding cuts. In some cases, the administration has also backtracked and tried to rehire staff who weren’t supposed to be fired or whose jobs are simply too important to easily terminate. These rehires are reportedly one of the reasons behind the latest round of layoffs. Two people told CBS News that the firings are intended to balance out the people who were brought back, in order to make sure that the NIH still meets its expected layoff targets. The new layoffs at the NCI largely involved staff who work at the NIH’s Office of Communications and Public Liaison. But these employees play a vital role in corresponding with the public and other doctors about relevant NIH programs; they also maintain the NCI’s Cancer Information Service, which helps answer the public’s cancer-related questions. The NCI has already previously lost 150 employees in other departments, including those involved in outside contracting and human resources. All of this chaos might only be a prelude to the true disaster looming ahead. In its proposed budget, the White House has called for Congress to cut NIH funding by 40%, while it also plans to eliminate or collapse most of the NIH’s divisions as part of a grand restructuring. In addition to the widespread harm these cuts are causing to public health, they could soon trigger a major exodus of scientists from the U.S. Just this week, the European Union announced a $555 million initiative aimed at luring U.S.-based scientists overseas, with the plan’s architects subtly citing Trump’s attacks on government-led science as a key motivator. Given enough time and damage, Trump could very well oversee the U.S. losing its status as one of the world’s leaders in scientific research. Daily Newsletter You May Also Like Laura Newcombe Published May 6, 2025 By Matt Novak Published May 6, 2025 By Sabina Graves Published May 5, 2025 By Matt Novak Published May 5, 2025 By AJ Dellinger Published May 5, 2025 By James Whitbrook Updated May 5, 2025

Heads up, folks. This 10,000mAh Anker power bank is down 50% for a limited time. That brings the price to under a hundred dollars at just $13. It’s equipped with two two-way USB-C ports, one of which already has the built-in cable. This means you can charge up two devices at once. Plug in your laptop while your phone is recharging as well. And it’s is compact so it can store easily in a backpack or messenger bag. The main USB-C cable can actually click back into the power bank creating a loop. Now it acts as a braided lanyard to hold onto or clip to your bag. 10,000mAh is the total energy this power bank holds. To put that in more grounded terms, It can charge an iPhone 15 twice from zero percent to a hundred before running out. Similarly, it’s got just shy of two charges of a Galaxy S24 in it. It’s fast too. You can charge an iPhone 16 Pro Max to 50% with the Anker portable charger in just 27 minutes. Compare that to your traditional power bank which will take about an hour. See at Amazon The portable charger features an interactive digital display so you can see just how much juice it has left while charging your phone, laptop, or earbuds. And your devices are protected in real time with ActiveShield 2.0. It monitors the temperature over three million times per day to ensure your stuff isn’t overheating. The Main Use Case for a Power Bank Don’t be like me. Recently I went on a trip to Spain. I was coming from New York and the flight was about seven hours or so, plus an hour connecting flight to our final destination. I used to have a good power bank, but I lent it to a friend and never got it back. I considered picking up a new one before the trip, but figured, “Ahh, I probably don’t need it. All planes these day have outlets and charging ports at your seat.” Well, when I got there, the only port was a USB A. I went to pull out a charging cable and low and behold, it was USB C-to-C. All of my devices I had with me were USB C or my iPhone which again, the only cable I had was USB C-to-Lightning. Stranded in my aisle seat with a Nintendo Switch I forgot to charge and a laptop loaded with movies and shows with only about a half hour of use left. This flight sucked. Don’t do what I did. Grab this Anker power bank on sale for $13 and save 50%. See at Amazon

By Ed Cara Published May 5, 2025 | Comments (20) | An example of a shingles rash. © Suriyawut Suriya via Shutterstock The benefits of avoiding shingles through vaccinations are piling up. New research out this week has found a link between getting vaccinated for shingles and a reduced risk of heart attacks and strokes. Researchers from Kyung Hee University in South Korea led the study, published Monday in the European Heart Journal. They studied the medical records of over a million South Korean residents, finding that shingles-vaccinated people were noticeably less likely to develop cardiovascular disease than unvaccinated people. The findings are the latest to indicate that shingles is even worse for our health than currently thought. “This suggests that the vaccine may provide not only protection against shingles itself but also potential benefits for heart health,” study researcher Sooji Lee told Gizmodo in an email. Shingles is caused by the varicella zoster virus, the same germ that causes chickenpox in children. Though chickenpox is usually short-lasting, if unpleasant, the virus can survive the initial immune response and lie dormant in our bodies for decades. When our immune system gets weaker, usually due to age, the virus can reactivate and trigger a new infection that we call shingles. This second bout is typically worse, causing symptoms like excruciating pain and rashes that last for several weeks. Sometimes, shingles can even leave behind lingering, potentially lifelong nerve pain. As bad as shingles is, ongoing research suggests it may also increase the risk of future health problems. Multiple studies have linked shingles to a greater risk of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, for instance—and conversely, a lower risk of dementia has been linked to shingles vaccination. Some studies have also suggested that shingles can cause heart complications after infection. But according to the researchers, there hasn’t been extensive research looking into whether vaccination can prevent these problems from arising. In South Korea, healthcare is largely covered through a single-payer, publicly funded system. This system means that scientists can more easily study the health of South Korea’s population using de-identified (anonymous) data. The researchers cross-referenced different sources of data to track the shingles vaccination status and cardiovascular health of South Korean residents aged 50 and above starting in 2012, when the vaccine first became available in the country. They ultimately found that shingles vaccination was associated with a 23% lower risk of any new cardiovascular condition, along with a 26% lower risk of major cardiovascular events (heart attacks and strokes) and a 26% lower risk of heart failure. The associated reduction in cardiovascular disease was strongest in the first two to three years following vaccination, but could still be seen up to eight years later. The protection from vaccination also appeared to be stronger in men, people in poorer pre-existing health, and people living in rural or low-income neighborhoods. “Because our study was conducted in a large general population, these findings may be broadly applicable,” Lee said. These sorts of studies are observational, meaning that they can’t definitively prove a causative link between two factors, only show a correlation (in this case, between shingles vaccination and reduced heart disease). But the authors note that shingles can cause inflammation, clots, and general blood vessel damage—all known risk factors for cardiovascular disease. They also speculate that the nerve damage caused by shingles could possibly disturb our heart rhythm, which can trigger problems like cardiac arrest. Another consideration is that the researchers only studied the potential effects of an older shingles vaccine, Zostavax, one that uses a weakened version of the virus to generate immunity. That vaccine has largely been replaced by a different type of shingles vaccine named Shingrix that only uses a protein from the virus. This newer vaccine is more effective at preventing shingles, and some research has suggested that it might offer greater protection from dementia as well. Lee says that her team is now planning to study whether Shingrix can potentially offer the same level of protection against cardiovascular disease as the older vaccine—or even better. All that said, shingles can be extremely unpleasant, so getting vaccinated against it is already worthwhile. If we’re lucky, the vaccine might boost our brain and heart health, too. Daily Newsletter You May Also Like By Matt Novak Published April 24, 2025 By Ed Cara Published April 23, 2025 By Ed Cara Published April 21, 2025 By Ed Cara Published April 4, 2025 By Ed Cara Published April 3, 2025 By Ed Cara Published April 2, 2025

A gadget’s price for its size matters now more than ever. It seems more companies—including Microsoft—are starting to identify with the need for more capable laptops at prices people can actually afford. The Windows maker just dropped details on its new 12-inch Surface Pro and thinner 13-inch Surface Laptop that seem to fit the bill, at least on paper. With prices starting at under $1,000 (not including the Surface Pro’s Flex Keyboard), Microsoft’s own brand of computers could hit the sweet spot in the Venn diagram on looks, price, and performance. The 2025 Surface family includes two very familiar devices. The $900 Surface Laptop with its 13-inch touchscreen (1,920 x 1,280) has a traditional clamshell design, while the $800 Surface Pro 12 is Microsoft’s headline-grabbing Windows tablet that converts into a laptop-like device thanks to a detachable keyboard. The new Surface Pro is $200 cheaper than last year’s $1,000 11th-gen Surface Pro, but—and here comes the eye roll—you still have to buy a keyboard separately. The screen is also smaller at 12 inches (2,196 x 1,464) compared to the 13-inch display on last year’s tablet. The more compact tablet does have a perk: it weighs 1.5 pounds compared to the Pro 11’s two pounds. © Microsoft © Microsoft © Microsoft Both the new Surface Pro and Surface Laptop 13 run on the Snapdragon X Plus chip, Qualcomm’s eight-core, ARM-based CPU variant introduced in the middle of 2024. Last year’s Surface Pro renditions, alongside the 2024 Surface Laptop, included up to the Snapdragon X Elite chip, which is still Qualcomm’s most powerful ARM-based processor. Otherwise, both the new Surface Pro and Surface Laptop come packed with 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage at base. Microsoft says this CPU is supposed to offer a better starting price point and an upgrade path for those on earlier devices like the 2022 Surface Laptop. According to the company, the Snapdragon X Plus chip in the new Surface Laptop is 30% faster than the Intel Core i5-1235U in the 2022 Surface Laptop. Microsoft further claims this CPU can beat the M3 MacBook Air in some benchmarks, but it stopped short of making the same claims about the $1,000 MacBook Air M4. It’s more evidence these big tech firms are willing to start competing on pricing that more people can entertain. The new Surface Pro and Surface Laptop aren’t launching with any x86-based Intel chips, though they could arrive later, like with last year’s Surface Pro, which received an Intel Lunar Lake version earlier this year. Either way, Microsoft is sticking with Qualcomm’s ARM chips that offer better battery life on average, though you’ll eventually hit a wall with software compatibility, especially with games or even aging drivers. © Microsoft The 12-inch Surface Pro will look very familiar if you’ve used any older version of the hybrid tablet-laptop design. It still includes a built-in kickstand that opens up to sit almost flat on a surface. Other than the shrunken size, the big change this go-around is that the Slim Pen no longer slots into the keyboard (again, sold separately). Instead, the Surface Pro tablet includes an indent in the back for you to slot the stylus. It makes sense, especially for creators who want to use the Surface as a Windows tablet more than a pint-sized PC. However, you may need to find some dry earth to dig a shallow grave to bury your hoard of Surface Connect power cables. The other big change is the loss of the age-old Surface Connect port. Now, the Surface Pro relies only on USB-C with support for 45W fast charging. The Surface Pro’s battery should last around 12 hours based on Microsoft’s tests with active web browsing. The Surface Laptop should get closer to 16 hours before requiring a charge. Just like last year’s Surface Pro, the new model paints a pretty picture. The brilliantly blue sapphire color of the 2024 Surface Pro is replaced with a violet color that seems spot-on for spring. Both new Surface Pro and Surface Laptop devices also come in platinum or “ocean” colors. The latter is a blue-ish silver that reminds me way too much of Apple’s “Sky Blue” on the MacBook Air M4. The changes made to the Surface lineup are minimal, but there are some modifications that make sense. If you loathe the idea of losing Surface Connect, Microsoft confirmed it will continue selling last year’s Surface models, at least for the near future. The next big question is whether these prices will hold with the overriding threat of Trump tariffs. Microsoft reps told us that “tariffs are a moving target for us” and declined to say more about whether we could see Surface price hikes in the near future.

By Cheryl Eddy Published May 5, 2025 | Comments (5) | Daniel Brühl as Baron Zemo in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. © Marvel Studios After memorable turns in Captain America: Civil War and Disney+ series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Daniel Brühl’s Baron Zemo almost got the call for Marvel’s Thunderbolts. But it wasn’t meant to be for the character, who started out as a big bad but became more sympathetic the longer he hung around the MCU—which does sound kind of perfect for the misfit team-up movie. He also has quite a few ties to the Thunderbolts in the comics. Speaking to Screenrant, one of Thunderbolts‘ writers explained Baron Zemo was actually part of an early draft of the film, back to his villainous ways. “I think there was a version of a tag written a long time ago [where] it was revealed that Baron Zemo was pulling some strings from prison or whatever,” Eric Pearson explained, though he wasn’t 100% certain of the details. “I feel like there might’ve been a version where a tag where Zemo had broken out and swapped places with someone … [but] I think those ideas lived for one iteration and then died. Sometimes people think that we’re zagging on purpose, and it’s like, ‘No, we know that Zemo is very integral to a different story version of them.’ He’s part of putting [the Thunderbolts] together, and we negated the need for that with our very premise.” Pearson pointed out that with Yelena being the center of the story, and the introduction of the Bob character, Zemo “just didn’t fit,” as much as Thunderbolts did keep its source material in mind. “There’s always the discussion of, ‘Well, if there’s a way to cleverly include Baron Zemo in this, he absolutely should be there,'” he said. In the end, however, the stories didn’t quite fit together, and Zemo was left out. What do you make of this potential plot change? Would you like to see Baron Zemo back in action? Thunderbolts is in theaters now. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who. Daily Newsletter You May Also Like By Germain Lussier Published May 5, 2025 By Justin Carter Published May 5, 2025 By Germain Lussier Published May 5, 2025 By Justin Carter Published May 4, 2025 By Justin Carter Published May 4, 2025 By Germain Lussier Published May 2, 2025

How is it going to end? Well, with the first teaser for Squid Game 3, we finally have our first look. The third and final season of the runaway Netflix smash is coming on June 27 and, in the teaser, we get to see all our favorite surviving characters get ready for one last game. Here’s the first trailer for Squid Game 3. What was up with that baby cry at the end there? And what game could possibly be coming with everyone getting their team out of a giant gumball machine? We don’t know and that’s just the tip of the iceberg for all these questions. We love to see how 456 (Lee Jung-jae) is brought back into the game and that the story from the boat, and of the Front Man, will continue. In fact, everything has to wrap up here because the show’s creator, Hwang Dong-hyuk, has said this is the end. Here’s the final season synopsis from Netflix. Any clues in there? The third and final season of Squid Game follows Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae) after losing his best friend in the game and being driven to utter despair by The Front Man (Lee Byung-hun), who was hiding his true identity to infiltrate the game. Gi-hun persists with his goal to put an end to the game, while the Front Man continues onto his next move and the surviving players’ choices will lead to graver consequences with each round. The world eagerly awaits to see the grand finale written and directed by Director Hwang Dong-hyuk, who has vowed to bring the epic story to its deserved closure. Can we hope for humanity in the cruelest of realities? Fans all over the world are counting the days until the final answer is revealed. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.

After delivering his solution to bring more jobs back to the film industry stateside by implementing tariffs on international film production, President Trump attempted to clarify his intentions at a White House briefing. CNBC reports that Trump will talk to the studios about his idea to impose 100% tariffs on films made outside the United States with the aim to make sure “they’re happy” with the haphazardly conceived and confused notions about how the film industry could align with his presidential plans. “I’m not looking to hurt the industry, I want to help the industry,” he told reporters. Incidentally plans for keeping the film industry at large here were already in the works. Post Los Angeles wildfires, which halted the film industry for the first quarter of the year, California Governor Gavin Newsom and organizations like Stay in LA were already proposing solutions to keep productions in America—particularly the state of California, the home of Hollywood movie making, in response to relief efforts and to keep people able to live in the state. In Trump’s clarified statements reported by CNBC, he attempted to call out Newsom with the claims that the industry “has been decimated by other countries taking them out, and also by incompetence, like in Los Angeles, the governor [Gavin Newsom] is a grossly incompetent man, he’s just allowed it to be taken away from.” The politician’s representation re-iterated Newsom’s already in the works plans and how Trump’s sudden support could be reigned in for the industry that kept Trump relevant beyond what anyone could imagine. “[Newsom’s] plan to more than double the state’s film and television tax credit reflects a commitment to keeping production here at home, supporting workers and maintaining California’s global leadership in entertainment,” the spokesperson added that. “If the President announces a proposal with more details, we will review it.” Currently organizations such as Stay in LA are rallying support for streamlining film permits and expanding CA Film and TV tax credits through California legislation. Big films could benefit from shooting in Los Angeles as well as other productions that also tend to shoot in Atlanta, among other metropolitan cities where the film industry aims to thrive. The significance of this fast-track to install these tariffs has Hollywood’s SAG-AFTRA representative Duncan Crabtree-Ireland ready to work with the administration to make sure that American film industry folks can immediately benefit from this. “SAG-AFTRA supports efforts to increase movie, television and streaming production in the United States. We will continue to advocate for policies that strengthen our competitive position, accelerate economic growth and create good middle class jobs for American workers,” he said in a statement shared by Variety. “We look forward to learning more about the specifics of the plan announced by the President and to advancing a dialogue to achieve our common goals.” The President’s representatives followed up the veracity of Trump’s claims by confirming, as reported by CNBC, that they’re “exploring all options,” but of course despite the strongly worded tirade, to tariff as much as the President thinks he can will be subject to examination. “Although no final decisions on foreign film tariffs have been made, the Administration is exploring all options to deliver on President Trump’s directive to safeguard our country’s national and economic security while Making Hollywood Great Again,” spokesman Kush Desai shared on behalf of the White House, according to CNBC. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.

When writer Eric Pearson sat down to watch Thunderbolts, something shocked him. Which was unexpected, considering Pearson is not just credited with creating the film’s story but co-writing its screenplay with Joanna Calo. And yet, as the film unfolded, Pearson was surprised to see a character he had written a full and complete arc for, no longer make it to the end of the film. Pearson, who wrote Black Widow and helped write Fantastic Four: First Steps and Thor: Ragnarok, was surprised to see that Taskmaster, the Black Widow villain played by Olga Kurylenko, died in the film’s first act. “When I sat down to watch the first cut, one thing was totally different and shocked the hell out of me, and it was that,” Pearson told Polygon. “Everything else, I was like, ‘Yeah, that’s the movie that I wrote!’ But that decision … it was decided after my work.” In Pearson’s version of the film, Taskmaster not only survives to the end, but she also plays an integral role in the team. For example, her inclusion gave Ava (Hannah John-Kamen), who was similarly given powers in a lab, someone to relate to. “Ava, having won her autonomy earlier in the chronology than Taskmaster, was kind of big-sistering her a little bit, in a way of ‘how to break free and be your own person,’” Pearson says. In addition, because Taskmaster had memory issues, there was a running gag where she would forget everything that the group had been through and would keep trying to complete her task of killing John Walker (Wyatt Russell). “On the comedy side, she was struggling with her own memory-loss stuff, and there was a gag where she just kept restarting the fight and forgetting that they had made up and become friends,” Pearson said. “They would be discussing the plan of how to get out [of the vault], and she’d just go after him again, and they’d all have to pig-pile on each other, and pull her off, and be like, ‘No, we know each other! We’ve had this conversation before!’” Pearson isn’t sure exactly why the character was cut, but he thinks her death certainly raised the stakes and that the memory plot line may have run up against a bigger throughline that was similar. “[The memory storyline] could contribute as another reason why they chose to bring her out of the movie,” he said. “Bob was obviously having memory issues as a big part of his character.” And, of course, you couldn’t cut Bob. Were you surprised, like one of the film’s writers, that Taskmaster died? Do you think her survival would’ve helped the movie at all? Let us know below. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.

The Name of the Rose meets The Book of the Dead in a new prestige zombie drama. The Eternaut gets a second season at Netflix. Plus, what’s to come on the next episodes of The Last of Us and Doctor Who. Spoilers, away! Rapture Relatedly, Deadline reports Will Poulter, Kit Connor and Manu Rios will star in Rapture, a Medieval zombie film marking the feature debut of playwright Jordan Tannahil. Set in Medieval England in the year 1348, the story “alights on Lansley Abbey, a remote stone monastery in Yorkshire, which houses ten monks bound by a life of strict routine and devotion. Their fragile peace is disrupted by the arrival of a messenger – a man with haunting news from the outside world who rapidly shows symptoms of a mystery illness. A virulent plague is spreading through the land: marked initially by a hemorrhagic fever, it turns its victims into ‘revenants’ — restless, undead beings. As the contagion closes in, Lansley Abbey becomes a battleground: desperate outsiders beg for refuge while the infected threaten to overrun its walls. The monks are torn apart by a moral rift — between those who believe they must care for the sick and those who want to protect the centuries of knowledge safe-guarded by the monastery. As death is fully unleashed, so too is the brothers’ capacity for extraordinary acts of altruism and ruthless betrayal, forcing them to confront the ultimate question: what does it mean to be human?” Hot Ted Variety also reports Ella Purnell, Ariana Greenblatt and Billy Magnussen will star in Hot Ted, a summer camp-set slasher directed by SNL’s Hannah Levy. The story concerns “true-crime podcast enthusiast Zoe (Greenblatt), who is unwillingly sent to Shady Pines Camp for the summer by her parents. When camp counsellor Liz doesn’t arrive for breakfast one day, counsellor Amy (Purnell) tells everyone she’s had to leave for a ‘family emergency.’ But Zoe doesn’t buy it, and is convinced fellow counsellor Ted (Magnussen) is behind Liz’s disappearance. Ted’s got all the hallmarks of a classic serial killer: he’s not on social media, and he owns a van. The only trouble is, he’s too hot to be a murderer. It’s up to Zoe and her friends to investigate the truth: is Hot Ted really a serial killer or is he just, like…the perfect guy?” Alita: Battle Angel 2 During his recent appearance on the Joe Rogan Experience (via Collider), Robert Rodriguez confirmed he still “wants to do” a sequel to Alita: Battle Angel. Yeah, we want to do another one for sure. That whole city is still in my parking lot. 20-foot ceilings, seven streets. It’s like the largest standing set in the country, if not the world. Avatar: Fire and Ash Empire has a new image from Avatar: Fire and Ash. © 20th Century Studios Omukade A giant, monstrous centipede from a cursed mine attacks Japanese soldiers occupying Thailand during WWII in the trailer for Omukade. The Eternaut Deadline confirms The Eternaut has been renewed for a second season at Netflix. The Last of Us The spores go airborne in the trailer for “Wolves,” next week’s episode of The Last Of Us. Doctor Who Finally, Anansi the Spider demands new stories at a Nigerian barbershop in the trailer for this week’s episode of Doctor Who. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.

If you’ve found yourself thinking about Fullmetal Alchemist lately and considering a re-read, WebToon’s got you covered. The updated take of Hiromu Arakawa’s shonen classic will come to the digital comics platform, fully colored and formatted for vertical scrolling. The aim is to make it more accessible and expand its reach, and joins other notable IP like DC Comics and Dropout’s Dimension 20 in coming to WebToon in recent years. Yongsoo Kim, WebToon’s global head, called Fullmetal ” the kind of story that stays with you for life. Bringing this iconic series to audiences gives both longtime fans and first-timers a new way to enjoy this story. Seeing it in full color, reformatted for a digital reading experience will make the iconic story more accessible and immersive than ever.” Fullmetal Alchemist is no stranger to re-releases: along with republished editions in the past few years, it was retold as a more faithful anime in 2009’s Brotherhood, and its saga was covered across a live-action film trilogy released in 2017 and 2022. This year marks the 15th anniversary since the end of the original manga (on June 11, 2010) and Brotherhood (July 4, 2010), so the WebToon version’s coming out at an appropriate time. For those curious to see how it turns out, Fullmetal Alchemist will hit WebToon starting Tuesday, May 7. If you want more of Arakawa’s work, she’s currently writing and drawing the manga Daemons of the Shadow Realm and did character design for Netflix’s Moonrise anime. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.