The Social Security Administration which distributes benefits to tens of millions of retired workers, people with disabilities, and their families is in crisis.Since billionaire Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) set its sights on finding fraud in Social Security, the agency has been trying to shed 12 percent of its workforce, or 7,000 workers. Leland Dudek, who took over as acting commissioner of the Social Security Administration in February, has pushed out officials and prompted others to resign in protest of his leadership. He has canceled research contracts with universities, including one that studied demographic trends, and closed six regional offices.Plus, the agency recently announced that it will soon no longer allow claimants to verify their identity on the phone, instead requiring them to go online or to field offices in person, a move that would likely delay peoples benefits from being delivered.As a result, field offices have gotten so understaffed that managers have doubled up as receptionists, answering calls at the front desk because there arent enough people to handle the phones, according to the report in the Washington Post. Phone lines have been jammed, with beneficiaries waiting as long as four or five hours to connect with a customer service representative. Congressional offices and the AARP have noted a spike in calls from constituents concerned about their Social Security benefits. The Social Security Administrations website has also crashed several times.This is all happening because of Trump officials insistence that Social Security is mired in fraud. Trump and Musk have both falsely claimed that a large number of people who have been dead for decades are still receiving social security benefits. Despite those claims, experts say that the Trump administration is vastly overstating the problem. A federal judge who stopped Musks team from gaining access to sensitive personal data said that DOGE has launched a search for the proverbial needle in the haystack, without any concrete knowledge that the needle is actually in the haystack.The current mess was largely anticipated. Martin OMalley, the former Democratic governor of Maryland who served as Social Security commissioner during the Biden administration, has warned that DOGEs actions threaten to collapse the system and interrupt benefits.Trump has claimed that he will not cut Social Security. But his administrations assault on Social Security (all under the guise of going after fraud, waste, and abuse) has critics worried that hes putting Social Security onto a path toward privatization.Trump administration officials have also acknowledged a potential disruption in Social Security payments. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, for example a billionaire and former Wall Street executive claimed that people wouldnt complain if they dont receive their Social Security payments, saying that only those committing fraud would try to raise concerns. Lets say Social Security didnt send out their checks this month. My mother-in-law, whos 94, she wouldnt call and complain, he said in a podcast interview. She just wouldnt. Shed think something got messed up, and shell get it next month. A fraudster always makes the loudest noise, screaming, yelling, and complaining.The reality, however, is that millions of people rely on Social Security to make ends meet. The program lifts more than 20 million people out of poverty each year more than any other federal program. So if the Trump administration doesnt quickly pull Social Security out of this crisis, a whole lot of people will complain. And Lutnick will soon find out that his prediction is likely to be very, very wrong.See More:

EA's Formula 1 series is back for 2025, and while the company has revealed new Ferrari star Lewis Hamilton will grace the cover of the Iconic Edition, it may have also confirmed the release date earlyTech16:46, 25 Mar 2025Lewis Hamilton strikes a slick figure in the cover art(Image: EA)Formula 1 is back, and while Ferrari's new signing Lewis Hamilton may have had a rough time of the China GP with his disqualification, the British star has something to smile about this week.He'll be the cover star of the new F1 25 game (at least with the Iconic Edition), and he certainly looks good in his new red race attire.Article continues belowThe full reveal of the new game isn't planned until March 26, but while the placeholder link is like on YouTube, fans had spotted that the listing originally revealed the game's launch date, too (thanks, Operation Sports).Content cannot be displayed without consentOperation Sports pointed out that an earlier version of the trailer page seemingly revealed that the Iconic Edition will launch on May 27, 2025.That's about in keeping with F1 games from EA, but the date could also be specific to the Iconic Edition EA regularly offers early access to players picking up their more expensive versions, so the actual release date could be a few days later.With the full reveal happening tomorrow, we shouldn't have long to find out either way.Lewis Hamilton has been disqualified from the Chinese Grand PrixEA F1 is part of the publisher's sports portfolio which also includes EA FC, Madden NFL, and UFC. The company acquired developer Codemasters in 2019.Last year's game, F1 24, was well received, despite abandoning the 'Braking Point' storyline mode from F1 21 and F1 23, so there's every chance it'll return here.Hamilton's Sunday Grand Prix failed to emulate Saturday's sprint victoryIn its place, Career Mode saw an overhaul, and an added focus on tyre degradation helped sell the realism of the title.The game launched on current and last-gen consoles, so we're curious to see if EA sticks with the same lineup or moves to current-gen only.There's also the Switch 2, which EA has suggested it would support.Article continues belowFor the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.

Three big name games will be delayed if GTA 6 comes out this autumnMichael BeckwithPublished March 25, 2025 6:10pmUpdated March 25, 2025 6:11pm Launching a new game anywhere near GTA 6 is practically a death sentence (Rockstar Games)Several publishers have had to concoct alternative plans for releasing new games, depending on when exactly GTA 6 is released.The lack of a concrete release date for GTA 6 may be frustrating news for its fans (Take-Two has only ever said autumn 2025), but its even more problematic for other game publishers.Nobody is going to want to release their game anywhere close to GTA 6. Between the popularity of the series and the fact that there hasnt been a wholly new entry since 2013, anticipation is sky high and most people will have zero interest in playing anything else.It was previously reported that other publishers are refraining from committing to autumn release dates for this very reason and now we have confirmation straight from the horses mouths.Speaking with The Game Business, no less than three big name publishers have anonymously admitted they have plans to delay their games in the event GTA 6 meets its autumn release window.Rockstar games always suck a lot of money and, more importantly, time out of the market, said one. While another stresses how its already tough for new games to find an audience: Even without GTA, its immensely difficult to find free time for new games to shine. Time is the real scarcity for us, not money.An unidentified European publisher has gone as far to say that the worst scenario would be GTA 6 launching at the end of October: If it arrives in late October, that means you either have to launch early which a lot of people seem to be doing with the recent glut of summer release dates. Or go later, putting you up against the Black Friday sales.Even studios behind live service games are apparently planning to not release any updates during GTA 6s launch window. Its not just the smaller ones either; The Game Business heard this from developers for two of the top 10 live service games; a list that includes other cultural juggernauts such as Call Of Duty and Fortnite.GTA 6 is basically a huge meteor and we will just stay clear of the blast zone, said one, but the problem with moving its updates a few weeks earlier or later is that everyone else will have the same idea.So three to four weeks before or after GTA 6, youre going to get a load of games dropping content in what they believe will be the safe zone.All of this will be for naught if GTA 6 is delayed which hasnt been completely ruled out but the uncertainty is whats playing havoc with other publishers plans, with one studio boss calling the whole thing stressful.More TrendingYou cant blame these studios for being nervous, when GTA 5 became the fastest selling entertainment product ever and has made over $8.5 billion in its lifetime.Rockstar and Take-Two will want to see GTA 6 perform even better and we may already have an idea of how they plan to achieve that. Theres already rumours of a successor to GTA Online, which is expected to launch this year too.The game will also reportedly support paid user generated content, similar to how Roblox and Fortnite work. Aside from relying on content creators to provide new content and experiences for players, any user generated content sold would net Rockstar and Take-Two some extra cash as well. No matter when it launches, GTA 6 is going to dominate the conversation for a long time (Rockstar)Emailgamecentral@metro.co.uk, leave a comment below,follow us on Twitter, andsign-up to our newsletter.To submit Inbox letters and Readers Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use ourSubmit Stuff page here.For more stories like this,check our Gaming page.GameCentralSign up for exclusive analysis, latest releases, and bonus community content.This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Your information will be used in line with our Privacy Policy

Fans are due an update on Samus next adventure (Nintendo)A week after it was claimed Metroid Prime 4 will definitely be at the Nintendo Switch 2 showcase, another rumour says the exact opposite.While there are plenty of theories on what could be shown during next weeks Nintendo Direct for the Nintendo Switch 2, its unlikely any concrete info will leak ahead of schedule.That hasnt stopped the rumour mill, though. Just last week, YouTuber Kiwi Talkz boldly claimed that Metroid Prime 4: Beyond will have a big presence at the Switch 2 Direct, despite it so far only being confirmed for the original Switch console.This did always seem like a safe bet though, with last years trailer sparking theories of Metroid Prime 4 receiving a dedicated Switch 2 version. However, another insider is suggesting that wont be the case.In a new video by eXtas1s (who has typically shared mostly Xbox related rumours), he claims to have heard from his sources that Metroid Prime 4 will be absent from the Switch 2 Direct although hes unable to offer any explanation for why that might be.On the face of it, it seems very unlikely, but there are also current rumours of a separate showcase for the original Switch happening this week.If this is the case then its possible Metroid Prime 4 will be shown off there and not in the Switch 2 Direct next week. The game is supposed to be out this year, so if its not at next weeks event its overdue another showcase.More TrendingA new preview this week would also help to explain why theres a second Direct at all, since the other games that are expected for the original Switch are smaller titles, such as a long rumoured Kirby: Planet Robobot remaster. Maybe Nintendo will want to focus on wholly new games for its Switch 2 showcase? (YouTube)Which Nintendo first party games are confirmed for Switch?Metroid Prime 4 and Pokmon Legends Z-A are the only two first party games (that we currently know of) Nintendo has planned for the original Switch this year, but while its widely speculated theyll both receive separate Switch 2 versions, thats never been outright confirmed.In fact, Giant Bombs Jeff Grubb previously suggested no Pokmon games will be launching for Switch 2 this year, ruling out Legends Z-A as a cross gen title.The most recent trailer for Metroid Prime 4 looked so good some suspected it of being Switch 2 footage. But as much as Mario Kart 9 and Metroid Prime 4 seems a logical launch line-up for the new console, it may be that the latter is only playable on the Switch 2 via backwards compatibility, albeit with some graphical and/or performance boosts. Do you think Metroid Prime 4 will have its own Switch 2 version? (Nintendo)Emailgamecentral@metro.co.uk, leave a comment below,follow us on Twitter, andsign-up to our newsletter.To submit Inbox letters and Readers Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use ourSubmit Stuff page here.For more stories like this,check our Gaming page.GameCentralSign up for exclusive analysis, latest releases, and bonus community content.This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Your information will be used in line with our Privacy Policy

Hollywood loves a possession storygoing back to The Exorcist, of course, the grandaddy of them all and still the gold standard among all demon-infested cinematic tales. In the 50-plus years since Captain Howdys arrival, there have been many imitators of varying degrees of quality. At first glance, The Ritual looks pretty standard (its based on true events and features the old priest/young priest combo, with a side of dark past and faith crisis to boot), but then you see whos starring in it: Dan Stevens and Al Pacino. The first teaser is here and it features Pacino doing a gruff accent while taking about being part of the Lords army, and Stevens big-eyed and freaked out while also somehow making a priest collar look kind of dapper. Less inspiring are the expected shots of a woman contorting herself while in the grip of evil, and those exaggerated bone-popping sound effects that always seem to accompany someone whos in demonic mode. According to a press release, The Ritual is based on the most thoroughly documented and widely publicized exorcism in American history, occurring in a small Iowa town in 1928. The afflicted was 46-year-old Emma Schmidt, whod been troubled for years; whether or not that was due to medical science not understanding mental health issues at the time, or if something genuinely sinister was afoot, we may never knowbut the Catholic Church really did sanction the ceremony, and it grabbed sensational newspaper headlines at the time In addition to Stevens and Pacino, the cast includes Ashley Greene, Abigail Cowen, Maria Camila Giraldo, Meadow Williams, Patrick Fabian, and Patricia Heaton. The Ritual is directed and co-written by David Midell, and you can learn more about the historical story behind the film at its official website.The Ritual hits theaters June 6. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, whats next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.

By Matt Novak Published March 25, 2025 | Comments (0) | Donald Trump throws a pen to the audience after signing a proclamation during a Greek Independence Day celebration at the White House on March 24, 2025 in Washington, DC. Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images The editor-in-chief of The Atlantic was accidentally included in a group chat with some of the most powerful people in the U.S. government and received classified information about the bombing campaign against the Houthis in Yemen. Its an explosive scandal involving U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Vice President JD Vance, along with a host of other top defense and intelligence officials, that should force a reckoning as the dumbest people to ever run the United States endanger national security. But its also absolutely hilarious. At least, the good folks of social media think so.Sure, as a journalist, Jeffrey Goldberg should never have been on those chats. Sure, it raises serious questions about whether top U.S. defense officials should literally be thrown in prison over the breach. But those concerns melt away when you remember how breathtakingly ridiculous it all is.These guys invited the editor of an incredibly popular magazine into a group chat to discuss secret war plans. They openly discussed ways to not impact Saudi Arabian oil interests in the region, according to Goldberg. And it says it all that Goldberg himself didnt think it was real when he was first added to the group chat. Its just too dumb to be real.And yet, its our reality. So the internet is going to laugh, if only because theres virtually no chance that powerful people are going to be held to account in the Trump administration. And the memes that we share to deal with that reality a small light in this trying time. Below, a handful of the funniest memes we saw floating around social media.[image or embed] Kampf mit Kette (@kampfmitkette.bsky.social) March 24, 2025 at 12:29 PM[image or embed] singletrack (@singletrack.bsky.social) March 24, 2025 at 4:56 PMme reading national security secrets bc ive been accidentally added to a group chat[image or embed] derek guy (@dieworkwear.bsky.social) March 24, 2025 at 12:26 PMTxt STOP to opt out of updates on war plans Leta McCollough Seletzky (@laseletzky.bsky.social) March 24, 2025 at 1:39 PM@ditzkoff.bsky.socialFrom now on in every White House Chat:[image or embed] Dr Grant (@semicharmedquark.bsky.social) March 24, 2025 at 10:33 AM[image or embed] Adam Kinzinger (@adamkinzinger.bsky.social) March 24, 2025 at 2:42 PMMe in the National Security team group chat[image or embed] Dan Hassler-Forest (@danhf.bsky.social) March 24, 2025 at 3:18 PMWhen youre accidentally added to the NatSec group chat.[image or embed] FOHF (@fohf.bsky.social) March 24, 2025 at 2:56 PMevery group chat has: the secretary of defense the high ranking military official carrying out kinetic operations in a country were not officially at war with the editor in chief of the Atlantic (@janus.bsky.social) March 24, 2025 at 7:50 PMUh oh the Trump administration accidentally added us to their group chat[image or embed] The Daily Show (@thedailyshow.com) March 24, 2025 at 1:31 PMJD VANCE: 45 told me he was thinking about nuking Iran. what do u guys think?PETE HEGSETH: who is bonerdudeJD VANCE: thats the homie we play counter strike sometimes farner (@farnerb0cken.bsky.social) March 24, 2025 at 4:40 PMWait guys, P. Hegseth is typing[image or embed] News Eye (@newseye.bsky.social) March 24, 2025 at 12:15 PMJeffrey Goldberg ending up in that group chat:[image or embed] Parker Molloy (@parkermolloy.com) March 24, 2025 at 12:46 PM @mrs.frazzledLets review how we want our military planning to look, sound, and feel.#greenscreen original sound frazz Daily NewsletterYou May Also Like By AJ Dellinger Published March 25, 2025 By Matt Novak Published March 25, 2025 By Lucas Ropek Published March 24, 2025 By Matt Novak Published March 24, 2025 By Matthew Gault Published March 21, 2025 By Matt Novak Published March 21, 2025

Cosmic Coffee & Beer / Clayton KorteSave this picture! Clay GrierAustin, United StatesArchitects: Clayton KorteAreaArea of this architecture projectArea:6531 ftYearCompletion year of this architecture project Year: 2023 PhotographsPhotographs:Clay Grier More SpecsLess SpecsSave this picture!Text description provided by the architects. Located in a highly developed part of East Austin, two warehouse buildings long abandoned are now a thriving morning-to-night restaurant and bar. The buildings were constructed in the early 1900s and used by Texas Company, or Texaco, to hold petroleum products delivered by railcars and dispensed in trucks throughout Austin. Today, they are the second location of a city favorite: Cosmic Coffee & Beer. As a rare remnant of the industrial past of the area, it is a spot full of history and graffiti added over the course of the last century.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!Cosmic is a landscape-focused hospitality space where city-dwellers and visitors alike can connect with friends and community in a laid-back atmosphere surrounded by nature and art. Following its ethos of sustainability, the project breathes new life into the two front-gabled warehouses and activates the spaces in between as seating areas and gardens. Upon entering the complex, signatures of the Cosmic brand come into focus: water features, fig ivy climbing steel trellises, and custom signage. The two buildings required stabilization prior to the renovation and have been entirely transformed.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!The west building houses a coffee and spirit bar with a lounge area, while the east building introduces a new taqueria. Nestled between the buildings is the garden; it is the heart of the property with a covered deck and open patio with ample seating, as well as a koi pond immersed in dense vegetation. At night, the curved form of the deck and string lighting evoke starry elements of Cosmic brand. A stairway at the entry leads to a second-level bar for private events and a more intimate setting.Save this picture!Save this picture!The historic warehouse buildings retain their corrugated steel siding, wood-framed windows, and metal roofing. Additional materials throughout the site are durable and honest, meant to weather and patina with time. A feature architectural element of the complex is a new 30-foot tower providing access to the second-level balcony. Surrounded by steel mesh, the tower is activated in the evening and nighttime hours, showcasing a custom mural.Save this picture!Save this picture!To blend the historic and new fabric more seamlessly, our design team collaborated with local graffiti artist Miles Starkey, who introduced new graffiti and murals on strategic building elements, including an awning, the tower, and a new wall marking the edge of the outdoor patio. In 2023, Cosmic invited numerous artists to celebrate the life of local artist Daniel Jonston by painting the street-facing fences along the entire property. This colorful, organic, and gritty character carries through the entire property. Save this picture!Project gallerySee allShow lessAbout this officeClayton KorteOfficeMaterialSteelMaterials and TagsPublished on March 25, 2025Cite: "Cosmic Coffee & Beer / Clayton Korte" 25 Mar 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1028253/cosmic-coffee-and-beer-clayton-korte&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save!ArchDaily?You've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream

I can never have enough power tools. Im not particularly good at using them, but I love having them and attempting DIY projects. As a result, I track prices pretty carefully. Right now, Amazon has DeWalt tools cheaper than I have ever seen them during the Big Spring Sale. These arent watered down models, either. These are the powerful 20V Max models, which are worthy of a full-on construction site, but are great for around the home. The sale technically lasts all week, but DeWalt deals tend to go out of stock quickly, so jump on whatever you want while its still cheap.DEWALT 20V MAX Cordless Drill and Impact Driver, Power Tool Combo Kit with 2 Batteries and Charger $124 (was $239)DeWalt These are two power tools everyone should have. I just used this exact kit over the weekend to remove and reinstall my doorframe to fit a new couch into my living room. The driver has a few very handy extra features, including LEDs on the front to make it easy to line up the screws and one-handed bit loading for when youre in the middle of a project. The power drill puts out 300 UWO (that stands for Unit Watts Out and 300 of them is plenty for even tough jobs).The kit comes with a pair of 20V batteries, a charger, and a carry bag to lug it all around in. Even if you dont count the charger and the bag, thats like paying $30 each for the tools and the batteries. Thats a screaming deal. DEWALT 20V MAX Power Tool Combo Kit, 5-Tool Cordless Power Tool Set with Battery and Charger $433 (was $639)DeWalt If youre looking to start a burlier tool collection, step up to this five-tool kit. It gets you the drill and driver from the deal above, as well as the included charger. You also get a circular saw, a reciprocating saw, and an oscillating multitool. The kit includes two batteries, but one of them is a larger capacity cell, which will come in handy for larger tools like the saws. With this kit, some YouTube videos, and a box of drywall screws, you can basically build anything.DEWALT 20V MAX Power Tool Combo Kit, 9-Tool Cordless Power Tool Set with 2 Batteries and Charger $599 (was $949)DeWalt This kit is so burly you need two included contractor bags to carry it. It offers a drill, an impact driver, a circular saw, a reciprocating saw, an oscillating multitool, a Bluetooth jobsite speaker, a 4.5-inch grinder, an LED work light, and a right angle drill. Plus, of course, you get a pair of batteries and a charger. This is like Christmas in a box for an enthusiast or even serious DIYer.DEWALT TSTAK Tool Storage Organizer with Double Drawers, Holds Up to 16.5 lbs $32 (was $39)DEWALT Leather Pouch W/Belt $35 (was $59)DeWalt bit set deals

Nature, Published online: 25 March 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-00928-0Lessons from Portugal on effects of cutting research funding

Nature, Published online: 25 March 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-00939-xWorking with multi-dimensional entities could make calculations more efficient and reduce errors.