Javier Milei, the Argentine leader who has inspired Elon Musk, says he plans to cut how many taxes there are.He said he was planning to "eliminate 90% of taxes not revenue, but the number of taxes."Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, co-heads of DOGE, are looking to radically trim the US federal government.Argentina's President Javier Milei says he will reform the Argentine tax system to have no more than 6 taxes.In a clip from an interview with Forbes Argentina, published on Sunday, Milei said: "We'll advance privatization, deepen labor reforms, and eliminate 90% of taxes not revenue, but the number of taxes moving to a simplified system with no more than six taxes at most."It would be the latest sweeping move by a firebrand president who has inspired members of the incoming Trump administration.Since taking power on December 10, 2023, Milei has presided over sweeping cuts. He fired tens of thousands of public employees, shut down half the country's 18 ministries, and reduced state spending by an estimated 31% in his first 10 months alone making good on his pledge to take a "chainsaw" to the state.Milei's actions caught the attention of Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, the men now charged with a similar task under President-elect Donald Trump.Last month, Musk said Argentina had made "impressive progress,'" while Ramaswamy said that the US needed "Milei-style cuts on steroids."In the interview, Milei said his administration had only accomplished the "first step" of its plan, and that what was coming next was the "deep chainsaw.""It is not only a question of deregulating and removing these obstacles, but it also implies a new reform of the state to make it even smaller," he said.Milei added that his administration has so far only implemented a quarter of the reforms it wants to pursue.Argentina's latest economic figures suggest the country may be turning a corner after struggling economically.Argentina's inflation dropped from25.5%in December 2023 to2.4%in November 2024. However, unemployment rose to 6.9% in Q3, from 5.7% in the same period last year.Economic activity, meanwhile, grew 3.9% in Q3, compared to Q2.According to BBVA projections, Argentina will achieve a fiscal balance in 2024 for the first time in 15 years. It also said that it expects Argentina's GDP to rebound strongly next year, from a 3.8% deficit in 2024 to 5.5% in 2025, driven by investments and private consumption.However, Facundo Nejamkis, director of Opina Argentina, a political consultancy firm, told Reuters this month that Milei's cuts had ignited a "major" recession, and according to Argentina's statistics agency, the country's poverty rate rose to 52.9% in the first half of 2024, the highest rate in 30 years.Speaking at an event at Argentina's Chamber of Commerce and Services last month, Milei said the recession was "over," after the country had gone through "a difficult period of effort and pain."And in an episode of the Lex Fridman podcast last month, Milei advised Musk and Ramaswamy to go "all the way" in cutting US federal spending.Reacting to Milei's latest interview on X, where he talked about eliminating the taxes, Musk wrote one word: "Impressive."

I love the holiday season, but there are some things about it that stress me out.In the past, I've found myself doing too much and saying "yes" to too many things.This year, I'm approaching the season differently so I can enjoy it.I love visiting with family and friends, gift-giving, and all that comes with the holiday season. Most years, though, as this time of year approaches, I'm filled with a sense of contradiction: excitement for what's ahead and an unavoidable subtle sense of dread.As a mom for over 13 years now, I've finally pinpointed exactly the problem. I've been in the habit of saying, "Sure," "Yes," "I'll be there," or "I can help" too many times during the season, even if I didn't have the time or energy. It's left me frustrated, hurried, stressed, and downright exhausted.I started by creating boundaries around travelThe first time I vowed to seek more rest for myself during the holidays was 13 years ago. After several hours of travel and multiple stops to visit family, all with a newborn in tow, I knew the pace could not be kept. I will never forget the trauma of trying to find a quiet place to nurse my baby amid the chaos of family members I barely knew.Little by little, each year, I've pulled back on our Christmas Day travel. This might be the biggest and happiest change I've implemented for myself and my family. I'm saying "no" to hours of travel time this year, and we're staying home for Christmas.Miraculously, grandparents and family members have all been understanding. In fact, many of them lamented the same issues with travel on Christmas Day and are choosing to stay home, too. The good news is my door is open, and if anyone wants to see me or my immediate family on Christmas Day, they'll know exactly where to find us.But still, over the years even as I've created more boundaries around travel I've gotten in the habit of doing too much, and it's affected my ability to enjoy the holiday season.This year, I'm doing less cooking and baking, tooLast year, and for most years in the past, my husband would volunteer to cook the turkey for my side of the family for the Thanksgiving meal. But this year, we said we couldn't. We'd already planned a road trip for my son's birthday, so the time we had to spend on a homemade dish was significantly shorter.We simply didn't have the time to fry a large turkey and encouraged my family to have someone else cook it. My mom ordered one, and it was just as juicy as any home-cooked bird. It lightened the load, and I vowed to keep the momentum going.Leading up to Christmas Day last year, kind neighbors dropped off homemade items on our doorstep. We adore our neighbors, and the homemade goodies were a delight each time we opened the door. But each time I discovered a homebaked treat, I felt pressure to make or bake my own gift to reciprocate the kind gesture.In a panic, I whipped up some last-minute treats and hauled them to each neighbor's home. I love to cook, but there wasn't much joy in the process under the pressure. Looking back, I realize there was a better way, so I'm handling it differently this year. I now see that my neighbors actually don't expect a gift in return, let alone something homemade. So, to split the difference, I'm purchasing my favorite brand of store-bought shortbread cookies, plopping a bow on top, and wishing them all my merriment without baking anything.I'm also pulling back when it comes to volunteering at my sons' schoolsVolunteering at my sons' schools has always been a page from the same story. As with many parents, in years past, there's been the tug for me to attend the holiday sing-along, organize the holiday party snacks, or brainstorm and collect materials for a festive craft.While I do love attending and being involved at my sons' schools, the issue is that with work, appointments, and my own holiday goals of reading more and sitting by a fire more often this year, I'm just not raising my hand first to head it all up. Instead, I've opted to send in supplies or choose the events I truly enjoy being at. My sons are older now, and I'm resting easy knowing they're more concerned with the football game at recess than the reindeer craft they created during the holiday party.While my desire to do it all came from good intentions and expectations from myself and others, I didn't want the stress I had felt in the past by giving too during past holiday seasons. I realize now I do have a choice in the matter.I'm saying "no" more than ever in an effort to protect my time and my family's time, and I'm enjoying more that makes me happy: fireside reading time, a cup of coffee with extra whipped cream, and the twinkle of the lights on my own Christmas tree this year.

One fall day in 1856, a family of Eastern gray squirrels in rural New York uncurled from a cozy nest in a chestnut tree, looked around, and joined half a billion other squirrels on a multi-state walkabout. Waves of fur, claws, and sharp incisors swarmed like locusts in squirrel armies that could be up to 150 miles long, devouring on their way everything that is suited to their taste, wrote John Bachman, a 19th-century naturalist.Walls of Sciurus carolinensis pulsing across the landscape befuddled naturalists and frustrated farmers, but these movements were a survival strategy, says John Koprowski, the dean of the Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources at the University of Wyoming and a longtime squirrel expert. Squirrels have an amazing sense of smell. They often find fruiting trees, trees with good crops, from miles away, says Koprowski. When you had continuous forests with acorns or chestnuts that are all blooming or fruiting at the same time or producing seed crops, that had to be a pretty powerful smell moving through the forest.The strategy worked. By taking these mass rodent odysseys, squirrels settled new areas, found higher-quality munchies, and, in turn, made more squirrels. At one point, naturalist Ernest Thompson Seton estimates Eastern gray squirrels likely numbered in the billions. This is almost impossible to imagine today. But this emigration wasnt the only odd feat of dispersal by wild animals. The now-extinct Rocky Mountain locusts once migrated across the country in waves. Passenger pigeons, also extinct, moved in flocks so thick they darkened the sky. Jackrabbits still abundant today but more sedentary once moved en masse, ripping through crops so severely during the Dust Bowl that people drove them into pens and killed them by the thousands. Some species, especially birds and some large mammals like deer and elk, still make pilgrimages. But many more, including the Eastern gray squirrel, have lost their ability to move long distances, lacking large connected forests and unable to navigate through industrial parks and parking lots, over six-lane interstates or subdivisions. We dont have millions of animals in those places anymore, Koprowski says. Theyre giving us an early warning that these arent functioning the way they have historically, in the ways that animals have evolved to be using these spaces. And that warning is becoming more dire. A 2024 United Nations Report found that 44 percent of the worlds migratory species are declining, a result of overhunting paired with habitat destruction largely due to agriculture, sprawling housing and commercial development, pollution, and, increasingly, climate change. Yet as wildlife lose the freedom to move, biologists say the ability to shift from one place to another to find food or escape threats will become even more necessary as our planet continues to change. There are still some incredible feats of migration that are hanging on. These epic tours serve as a reminder that not all is lost.Arctic hares that run ultras North of those once-abundant Eastern forests with their once-abundant Eastern squirrels, theres another small mammal with a surprising penchant for long-distance quests: the Arctic hare. Protected by a special adaptation a dazzling coat of thick fur that turns white in the winter and thinner and blue-gray or brownish in spring and summer to camouflage to its surroundings the Arctic hare can survive frigid temperatures. But when the thermometer in the polar desert dips to below negative 40 degrees Fahrenheit, they begin hopping southwest sometimes for nearly 200 miles. This marathon feat was a surprise to scientists who discovered the journeys in 2019. Previously, researchers largely believed Arctic hares were sedentary species with little dispersal capacity. Researchers at the University of Quebec at Rimouski knew hares could travel quickly up to 40 miles per hour but they wanted to see just how far they could go.They were stunned to discover that the creatures regularly traveled hundreds of miles likely headed for warmer pastures with more abundant plants and glacial meltwater, says Ludovic Landry-Ducharme, a PhD student at the University of Quebec at Rimouski who is continuing the research.The Canadian researchers published their work in the journal Nature and underscored that climate change may well disrupt these patterns as snow comes later and spring melts come earlier, shifting where and when and how abundantly important plants grow. The propensity to look for good food and escape bad weather conditions is one of wildlifes oldest adaptations and most often documented in more visible species like mule deer in the American West, wildebeest in Sub-Saharan Africa, and caribou in northern Canada. Indigenous people long knew wildlife moved with the seasons, and many followed those movements, taking advantage of the weather and trailing along with a consistent food source. But it was only more recently that researchers with modern satellite technology began to map exactly where the wildlife moved. Those results made headlines with stories of mule deer faithfully following the same 150- or even 250-mile migrations up and over mountain ranges. Many animals from Arctic hares to mule deer use what researchers call stopover points. These are areas along the way where species can rest, take a breather, and eat. Wyoming migration researcher Hall Sawyer once described stopovers as pit stops on a long interstate road trip. Drivers who stop for gas, a cup of coffee, and a meal make better decisions and arrive better rested than those who power through. For animals, its no different. Their cross-country trips can look meandering and erratic, but according to scientists, they are critical and increasingly threatened by everything from highways and fences to drought, fires, and floods worsened by climate change to energy developments, subdivisions, and agricultural fields.A newts year (or seven) of self-discovery Anyone who has gone for a walk through a pocket of Eastern forest has likely spotted a burnt-orange eastern newt. Next time you see one, thank it not only for its mosquito-killing capabilities but also wish it well on what amphibian researcher JJ Apodaca likens to its Rumspringa. When a newt enters its eft stage, it experiences a fundamental physiological change. The newt starts its life journey in a pond looking like an olive salamander with feathery gills and a narrow tail before it crawls out onto land, turns orange, and swaps out its gills for a set of lungs as an eft. Once on land, the newt sets out for parts unknown, spending two to even seven years meandering sometimes for miles on its tiny legs to what it surely considers faraway lands. After years of roaming, it returns to a pond or wetland, dives back into the water, and looks for a mate. Those eft walkabouts are a critical time to look for the best food while the juvenile newt grows and matures. And the more fragmented their habitat, the less cover they can find on leafy, forested floors and the higher the chance for a run-in with a car tire.Theyre not the only amphibians that require room to roam. Instead of skittering horizontally, the green salamander looks upward for greener pastures. The salamanders climb trees for better food (and also likely to avoid becoming food). But as humans continue to chop down some trees and pests and disease targets other trees fewer and fewer salamanders remain. The ability to seek out new territory isnt just critical for a species overall population, but will become even more important as habitat shrinks and the climate changes. In March 2018, a female Arctic fox wearing a tracking collar traveled from a research site on a Norwegian archipelago to the Canadian Ellesmere Island, paddling more than 2,700 miles from start to finish in the span of just four months. And shes certainly not the only one. According to a study by Eva Fuglei, a Norwegian Polar Institute researcher, Arctic foxes have the ability to bridge continents, have crossed ice sheets, and have connected to distant populations keeping their genetics spanning generations robust. But as sea ice melts, those populations will likely become isolated.The problem with animal islandsEastern gray squirrels continued their periodic decampments, fewer and fewer each year, until naturalists reported some of the last major ones in the 1960s. Humans desire for timber and space for parking lots and shopping centers eventually proved too much for even the most industrious squirrel, and the long emigrations eventually ended. Today, a much smaller relative population of Eastern grays live in piecemeal habitat, islands locked in by roads or development. Wildlife, even those as small as salamanders or as big as wildebeests, dont function as well on islands as they do in connected landscapes. A 1987 paper published in the journal Nature showed that more species went extinct in 14 western American national parks than were naturally reestablished there. The island effect, as its called, shows that even if animals live in protected areas like national parks, those parks are often too small. The effect of habitat loss and fragmentation on populations, going from intact to fragmented, is as close as we have to a golden rule in conservation, says Matthew Kauffman, Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit leader and longtime migration researcher. Populations will be less robust when you go from a large, intact habitat to the same habitat but fragmented, where animals cant move.Fortunately, in recent years, there have been promising moves to reconnect habitat, even within an increasingly fragmented landscape.Across the country, states, nonprofits, and the federal government have worked together to install wildlife crossings over- and underpasses that provide safe passage for everything from salamanders to mountain lions from the forests of Massachusetts to the multi-lane interstates of Southern California.Apodacas organization, the Amphibian and Reptile Conservancy, recently completed work on a culvert under a highway to usher the increasingly endangered bog turtle from one side to another, giving the creature access to varied habitat it would otherwise seek by perilously waddling across the road. States like Wyoming and Colorado are using maps of deer, elk, and pronghorn migrations to tweak locations of oil and gas development or potentially even modify subdivisions. Wildlife managers also now understand the importance of those long-distance pit stops to wildlife abundance. Conservationists also praised efforts like President Bidens plan to conserve 30 percent of the countrys land, freshwater, and ocean by 2030 as a way to maintain critical habitat and migration pathways. The future of those efforts under the incoming Trump administration, however, remains murky.Eastern North America may never again see swarms of half a billion squirrels skittering through forests en route to lush acorn crops, but for other species, researchers say, its not too late.Youve read 1 article in the last monthHere at Vox, we're unwavering in our commitment to covering the issues that matter most to you threats to democracy, immigration, reproductive rights, the environment, and the rising polarization across this country.Our mission is to provide clear, accessible journalism that empowers you to stay informed and engaged in shaping our world. By becoming a Vox Member, you directly strengthen our ability to deliver in-depth, independent reporting that drives meaningful change.We rely on readers like you join us.Swati SharmaVox Editor-in-ChiefSee More:

This story was originally published in The Highlight, Voxs member-exclusive magazine. To get early access to member-exclusive stories every month, join the Vox Membership program today.What does Latino mean? And is there still such a thing as the Latino vote?At first glance, both questions are simple to answer. Latinos are simply any of the 65 million people of any race living in the United States with cultural or ancestral ties to Latin America (and Spain, if you consider the term Hispanic). Overwhelmingly of Mexican descent (about 60 percent), they live primarily in two states, California and Texas, and make up about a fifth of the American population.The Latino vote, meanwhile, could simply be those Latino Americans who vote in elections. More than 30 million of these people living in the US are citizens who can, and more than 16 million turned out in the 2020 election the Latino electorate. These voters have tended to vote for Democrats in national elections, and, since 2004, have given near super-majorities of support to the Democratic presidential candidate.For a time, this vote remained pretty uniform in both its makeup and its support for one party. That stability fueled the idea that there was such a thing as a Latino voting bloc, leading parties to have Latino strategies aimed at winning these voters over. They could be thought of as Black voters tended to be: reached with appeals to racial and ethnic solidarity, reminders of discrimination and inequality, and in turn expected to behave like Black voters who, along with LGBTQ voters, have been Democrats most loyal cohort. By 2024, this assumption has been called into question. To say that Latinos are not a monolith is now a cliche the basic starting point for conversations about how these Americans vote. But now, is even the term Latino itself an oversimplification? Many strategists, academics, and activists agree, saying the category of Latino is too vague and amorphous to capture its diversity of race, language, national origin, and immigrant experience. And when it comes to politics, it can flatten the political ideology, partisan loyalty, and changing vote preferences of millions of people across 50 states.That idea is gaining momentum, but its not universal. There are those who think the term has value, pointing out that its still useful to have a broad and more visible descriptor for these people; its members are stronger together, and despite diversifying political views, still tend to behave in similar patterns. The implications are big: For the last 40 years, political organizing, power building, and business interests have relied on there being such a thing as a Hispanic or Latino community to count, to mobilize, and to market to. In short: This quandary matters for anyone hoping to win the votes of tens of millions of people.The case for specificity and that Latino is too broadThe best political example to stop thinking of Latinos as a bloc or collective is to see what has happened when campaigns have tried to appeal to them as a group. The outreach and persuasion operation that President Joe Bidens 2020 primary and general election campaigns ran is a prime example. In 2020, that was the focal point of criticism of Democrats Latino voter outreach. It was too generic, unsophisticated, and premised on outdated thinking about what matters to these voters: promises of immigration reform and humanitarian border policies for a community that was primarily native-born; reminders of Donald Trumps racism when these voters didnt necessarily think he was talking about them; and Hispandering with flourishes of Spanish and Latin celebrity endorsements when Spanish-language use rates were declining and those celebrities werent necessarily relevant.The most widely referenced example: When Biden campaigned in Florida with the Puerto Rican singer Luis Fonsi, and bopped along to the stars hit song Despacito. It went viral for the wrong reasons: seeming like a cringey last-ditch attempt to get in the good graces of a community he hadnt really been campaigning for.That campaign continued to be a special target of this criticism for beginning outreach too late in the cycle, for not investing enough resources in persuasion and turnout efforts, for leaning too much on immigrant-friendly appeals in that pitch, and for missing just how damaging Republican attacks describing Democrats as socialists actually were. Biden still won a majority of these voters, but his results were a decline from the share of support Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama had gotten in previous presidential cycles. These approaches still fit within the old model of talking to and about a Latino vote: one that assumed it could operate as a voting bloc, and it would remain monolithic. At one point in time, it was. But as rates of college education rise, as incomes grow, as the share of foreign-born Latinos declines, and as they vote differently, perhaps Latino should give way for more specific reference points, like Mexican American, Cuban American, Southwestern voters, or Florida Latinos at least for the purposes of electoral politics.Since 2020, the conventional wisdom has settled on a more tailored, targeted approach what some Democratic Latino strategists and aligned groups call culturally competent campaigning. In 2024, that became the bedrock of Biden and Harriss early and improved Latino outreach what New York Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez called a diaspora strategy.They care about the diasporas and looking at this from a diaspora strategy, as opposed to just an overall, monolithic strategy that we often hear discussed and unfortunately played out in a lot of different areas, Ocasio-Cortez told Politico in September. So I think that as time goes on, were going to see the results of that more refined approach.On the ground, that looked like tailored ads and campaign contact for Puerto Rican and Dominican communities in Pennsylvania and Florida, for Mexican Americans in the Southwest, and for using different surrogates, accents, and vocabulary in different media markets. After all, the thinking goes, what might sound familiar and credible to a first-generation naturalized Mexican American voter in Las Vegas is different from what appeals to the third-generation Puerto Rican voter who did not have to go through the same immigrant experience, even if they both speak Spanish.Republicans performed their own version of this new identity politics between the 2020 and 2024 cycles but it looked very different.Instead of appealing to a broad Latino or Hispanic vote, they doubled down on specific segments of the electorate in an attempt to chip away at Democratic dominance. They played up the specter of socialism, communism, and Marxism in both Trumps and other down-ballot candidates appeals to Cuban and Venezuelan American voters in Florida. Its here where one 2020 jingle that was recycled for the 2024 cycle stands out: A Cuban bands Latinos for Donald Trump salsa song that went viral four years ago was used by Trumps campaign this year to double down on a segment of the Latino electorate they thought was already likely to surge for him at the polls.They paired this with talk of the threat that illegal immigration posed to Mexican Americans and their safety in border communities in the Southwest in order to reach Trump-friendly working-class voters in Arizona, Nevada, and Texas a mirror image of the traditional Democratic appeal to working-class, first- or second-generation Latinos.These varying, hyper-specific approaches all demonstrated two things: Campaigning to Latinos was falling out of vogue the preference now was for direct appeals to subset within the bloc. And the Latino electorate was now large, complex, and varied enough to be examined and treated with the same degree of sophistication as white voters are.The case that Latino still serves a purposeIf Bidens 2020 run suggested it was a mistake to think of Latinos as a broad, workable category, Trumps 2024 victory suggests that maybe you can.Even if the Latino category is too diverse, and doesnt function as a monolithic voting bloc, reality suggests they still behave as a group. Thats the conclusion of early analysis conducted by the Latino research firm Equis, which found that the rightward shifts of these voters in the 2024 cycle cut across geographical location, population size, and country of origin.Broad-based shifts like these challenge the use of provincial theories to explain them, Equis co-founder Carlos Odio wrote in sharing those results.The implication? It might make theoretical and intellectual sense to think of and appeal to these voters with specificity and fragmentation. But as a whole, a broader category of people united by similar experiences as a minority in the US, primarily nonwhite, and which continues to assimilate, still exists on the ground.Those similar experiences, some shared language, and growth across the country do make this cohort of people distinct from non-Hispanic white, Asian, and Black people and therefore it makes sense to organize, mobilize, and campaign for the votes of these communities. Thats the premise that led to the formation of specific Hispanic- and Latino-focused advocacy groups and political organizations, and which continues to warrant specific data collection, policy work, fundraising, investment, and political outreach from institutions, businesses, politicians, and campaigns.In practice, across race, age, and gender, this group is still also mostly motivated by a similar set of priorities and concerns. When asked about issues that might affect their vote in 2024, the overwhelming majority of these voters described economic anxiety. Immigration tended to follow and for similar reasons: They were upset by the status quo of the post-pandemic migrant crisis. Though they may be becoming more of a swing voter group, by most metrics they are still siding with Democrats at higher rates than white voters. And above all, a majority of these people still conceive of themselves as distinctly either Hispanic or Latino.In other words, were overcomplicating this question. Whether Latino is still useful in the political realm reminds me of something the sociologist G. Cristina Mora, who has traced the history of the Hispanic and Latino labels, told me back in 2021.Sometimes people want to [say] that somehow Latinos are so different, like, Oh my god, theyre too diverse! Like, Latinos are not a thing. How is white a thing? How is Black a thing? How is Asian a thing? Somehow people think that theres something really uniquely diverse and special and in many ways were the same as others, she told me then. Weve never just had one term that everyone was into, weve never had one term that everyones happy with.For the never-Trump strategist Mike Madrid, the ambiguity is the point. Latino as a multiracial category distinct from the binary white and Black challenges both the nations political class and the greater American public to realize just how quickly the US is moving into a primarily multiracial, Latino-driven future. It might not be a label that is useful forever, but its useful now for carving out a distinct category of people who deserve attention.To talk about us as Mestizo [someone of Spanish and indigenous ancestry in Latin America] is more appropriate maybe than Latino, but we are multiracial and there has to be a new language for that that doesnt necessarily fit in this black and white paradigm, Madrid told me.How we should think of Latino in the futureFor now, the Latino label doesnt face the prospect of sliding out of relevance or usage soon, even if talk about the Latino vote seems to be on the decline.Sure, as this category of voters continues to assimilate, enmesh itself into the fabric of the nation, and change the nation just as we are being changed, Hispanic and Latino identity itself will change. Labels dont stick around forever. And thats where the challenge of defining Latino and Latino voters suggests something more uncomfortable too: The idea of Hispanic-ness, Latinidad, is likely to change quickly in the next two decades. Rates of interracial marriage continue to remain high; the role of Spanish continues to decline; US-born Latinos are driving the growth of this part of the population; and ideological sorting within this part of the electorate appears to be increasing. That suggests to political parties, and those seeking power, that they cant rest easy thinking alignments or realignments will stick around forever. But it also means Latinoness stands to lose its distinctiveness in the near future.Youve read 1 article in the last monthHere at Vox, we're unwavering in our commitment to covering the issues that matter most to you threats to democracy, immigration, reproductive rights, the environment, and the rising polarization across this country.Our mission is to provide clear, accessible journalism that empowers you to stay informed and engaged in shaping our world. By becoming a Vox Member, you directly strengthen our ability to deliver in-depth, independent reporting that drives meaningful change.We rely on readers like you join us.Swati SharmaVox Editor-in-ChiefSee More:

When you see a movie or read a book that you cant get out of your head, theres nothing better than sharing that experience with other people. But in a fractured media landscape with countless new releases a year and a significant portion of the entire history of human culture at our fingertips it can be hard to find someone else obsessed with the same thing you are. We asked our newsroom: What captured your attention this year? Weve pulled together our colleagues obsessions, from buzzy new movies and music, to older TV shows and books that feel as relevant as ever. Weve rounded up the best stuff on our radars during a long, jam-packed year. Heres everything we couldnt stop thinking about.LostLost, the 2000s mystery drama serial, always seemed like a fools errand to me. I knew it was long-winded, sometimes unsettling, and would probably exhaust me with its circularity. When I saw it was on streaming, I tuned in out of curiosity, thinking an episode or two would be an amusing way to spend a weeknight. But I havent grown tired of it yet. In fact, I havent been so gripped by a television show in a while; one evening has turned into months of obsessive viewing.Watching the castaway characters navigate the unknown, despite its violence and ridiculousness, has been a soothing reprieve from the casual chaos of my own everyday life. On Lost, nothing makes sense, but everything kind of turns out okay even when it doesnt (unless it really doesnt? Im just starting season five, dont tell me!). (Streaming on Netflix.) Melinda Fakuade, culture editorThe Double Netflix promptly snapped up the hit Chinese drama The Double for a week-by-week release before it was even done with its original run this spring. I know because I was glued to every episode as they released on Chinese streaming platform IQIYI, which I woke up early to stream before work. This fun, fierce palace revenge drama stars the fabulous Wu Jinyan, who broke through in 2018 with the wildly popular, Vox-approved Story of Yanxi Palace. After a murder attempt at the hands of her husband, Wu Jinyans character adopts the identity of a friend who suffered a similarly tragic betrayal. The mysterious Jiang Li returns to court to enact revenge not just for herself but for her friend, piquing the interest of the incredibly suave Duke Su (newcomer Wang Xingyue in a charming, star-making turn). The Double is pulpy, addictive binge material, with a delightful slow-burn romance between the two leads. Its also firmly feminist, forever dangling the possibility of sympathy toward its nice-guy husband turned villain, then yanking it back and redoubling its critique of toxic masculinity. (Streaming on Netflix.) Aja Romano, senior culture writerAll things Top Dawg EntertainmentIf VH1 still did its Best Year Ever television specials, my vote would be for Top Dawg Entertainment. The rap label has been absolutely dominating the music conversation and the charts this year. From ScHoolboy Qs Blue Lips to Doechiis Alligator Bites Never Heal, the labels signees have garnered plenty of critical acclaim. And no one can deny their marquee artist Kendrick Lamars influence and commercial success this year. He arguably took down hip-hops golden boy with diss track after diss track, topped it all off with a surprise album, and announced a stadium tour for this coming summer with his label-mate SZA. Theyll even be playing next years Super Bowl halftime show. Top Dawg, indeed. (Kendrick Lamar, ScHoolboy Q, Doechii, and SZA are all streaming on Spotify and Apple Music.) Jonquilyn Hill, host of Explain It To MeSZA performs at the United Center in Chicago. Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty ImagesCastaway Diva A teenager runs away from an abusive home to pursue her dream of becoming a pop star in Seoul but ends up stranded on an island for over a decade before being found and then fights ageism in the music industry to become a star anyway. Castaway Diva provides lots of glorious musical numbers and soap opera-esque side plots. The premise is totally wild, but lead actor Park Eun-bin (of Extraordinary Attorney Woo) is a joy to watch, making it easy for viewers to suspend their disbelief while rooting for her character, Mok-ha. As K-dramas do, it smacks you with some serious childhood trauma up front, and it doesnt shy away from gut-wrenching moments; at one point I realized I was crying at every episode! But amid all the pain, the show tilts toward optimism and hope, which is something I needed in 2024, and maybe you do, too. (Streaming on Netflix.)Kim Eggleston, copy editorEverything Laurie Colwin wroteThis year, I wanted an escape from the now, which manifested as reading many books fiction and nonfiction alike about an older, though not terribly distant, New York City. A big part of this was making my way through Laurie Colwins bibliography. Colwins career spanned from the mid-70s to the early 90s; she experienced a mini-revival a few years ago when her novels and collections of short stories and essays were reissued. I got lost in whats been referred to as her sneakily deep romcomedies of manners and her utterly delightful version of the city Ive lived in and loved for so long. Start with Family Happiness, and go from there. (Available on Bookshop.org.) Julia Rubin, senior editorial director, culture and featuresHard TruthsMike Leighs film Hard Truths is maybe the most radical (and funniest) depiction of female and working-class rage Ive seen in a long time. Its like if Nightbitch didnt try to convince you that motherhood is an innately satisfying experience at the end. Leigh boldly commits to the grouchiness of its lead, played by an excellent Marianne Jean-Baptiste, granting her enough dimension that she never feels like a cartoon. He doesnt offer an easy answer as to why she cant enjoy life, or at least pretend to, like her even-keeled relatives. While were often fed stories of women overcoming things and finding themselves, its surprisingly moving to watch a woman live in her miserable truth. (Now playing in select theaters.) Kyndall Cunningham, culture writerMarianne Jean-Baptiste stars in Mike Leighs film Hard Truths. IMDbThe God of the Woods by Liz MooreApproximately 300 pages into The God of the Woods, a propulsive literary mystery centered on a teenager who goes missing from her summer camp, I texted the friend who had recommended it in all-caps: NOVELS ARE SO GOOD, MAN. Liz Moores latest had successfully reminded me that one of the greatest pleasures of a truly well-done piece of long-form textual fiction is that it can feel like magic, in the literal, I-have-had-a-spell-cast-upon-me type of way. Moore demonstrates a mastery of conjuring whole worlds and lives inside your head, and then shifting the perspective just slightly to let you see what was always there but hidden from view. The power and misery of wealth, the awe and darkness of the forest, the strictures and potential of being a woman, the anxiety and thrill of growing up and coming into your own; I dont want to give anything away, I just want you to read it, and text your friends. (Available on Bookshop.org.) Meredith Haggerty, senior culture editorOnly ConnectAs Connections became the hottest new puzzle on the New York Times game app, I soaked myself in luxurious superiority, for I knew a secret. Connections is nothing but a flimsy simulacrum of the cult British quiz show Only Connect, a game so fiendishly complicated that it makes New York Timess Connections look as easy as Strands (iykyk). To work out the average Only Connect category, you have to possess an esoteric combination of knowledge of advanced high mathematics, the topography of South American mountain ranges, and snooker balls, not to mention a high tolerance for truly terrible puns. Watching the contestants make their way through the categories each week under the ironical eye of host Victoria Corin is like watching Olympic athletes attempting death-defying feats only instead of winning international fame and medals, victors walk away with nothing more than a warm congratulations from Corin. This show is as absurdly, smugly difficult as Jeopardy! on Mensa mode, and I love it with my whole heart. (Available on BBC Two in the UK, and some episodes are on YouTube.) Constance Grady, senior correspondentBratIt was late July when Jake Tapper inquired, Is the idea that were all kind of brat? live on a CNN panel. That was just after Kamala HQ went neon green, and well after a million memes threatened overexposure. But Brat has staying power. It didnt hurt that Charli xcx later dropped a remix album that adds even bigger beats and deeper meaning to already pitch-perfect source material. She didnt have the biggest tour, and she certainly didnt have the most streams, but I bet Brat is the album well still be talking about in 10 years, because behind the sunglasses and the club classics is a vulnerable ode to stumbling through life while falling in love again and again.(Streaming on Spotify and Apple Music.) Sean Rameswaram, host of Today, ExplainedBull Believer by Wednesday In November 2023, I Shazamd a song I heard playing on the speakers of my local coffee shop. A year and many streams later, I still find myself obsessed with this 2022 alt-rock single. Bull Believer by Wednesday is moody and gritty, soft and hard, full of distorted guitar and a vibe I can only describe as a little delirious. And at 8 minutes and 30 seconds, it feels like a journey with a beginning, middle, and an absolutely explosive and wailing end. The song has stuck to me because its unabashedly full of rage and despair emotions that we tend to avoid, even at a time when theres a lot of reasons to feel them. We all need an outlet for these feelings, and if youre searching for a raw musical catharsis, this is just the thing. (Streaming on Spotify and Apple Music.) Sam Delgado, Future Perfect fellowSami Blood A look into the lives of the Smi, the Indigenous peoples in Scandinavia, Sami Blood follows a 14-year-old girl struggling with an identity crisis as she faces Swedens racist attitudes toward native people. The movie stuck with me because of how little I knew about the Smi going into it, and still how familiar the story was. It helped me better understand the universality of anti-Indigenous racism in the West and the similar oppressive tactics deployed in country after country, from discriminatory boarding schools to segregation to plain-old mocking and shaming. Its also a really well-made and compelling film, with powerful characters that are hard to forget. (Streaming on Peacock.) Abdallah Fayyad, policy correspondentRachel Bloom: Death, Let Me Do My Special I first saw Rachel Bloom perform Death, Let Me Do My Special live back in 2023. I loved it then, but something about watching the show again when it was released on Netflix this October gave me new appreciation for its jokes and themes. Its tempting to wish for an escape to a time before Covid as Bloom tries desperately to do over and over again in the show, only to be pulled back to the present by her grief. But something about the way she decides to disarm Death with a few jokes before confronting him head-on feels really cathartic, like a good cry or a big laugh. Fair warning: Its highly likely youll do a fair amount of both as you watch. (Streaming on Netflix.) Carla Javier, supervising producer, Explain It to MeHacksThere are few shows I love more these days than Hacks. Its hilarious, heartwarming, fresh. I love that it focuses on the intergenerational relationship between two women, and once you get hooked on Hannah Einbinder, you can go watch her also great comedy special on HBO. I cant wait for season four. (Streaming on Max.) Rachel Cohen, policy correspondentJean Smart and Hannah Einbinder star in Hacks. IMDbMy Brilliant Friend The Story of the Lost DaughterThe final season of this Italian series, like the three seasons before it, is a marvel on every level. Based on the novels by Elena Ferrante, this whole series is stunning; the filmmaking, acting, storytelling, all of it is extraordinary. At the center are two complicated, angry, unpredictable women who are so marvelously depicted youll feel like you know them. Plus, youll learn a lot about 20th-century Italian politics, and this season features some spectacular 80s fashions. (Streaming on Max.) Ellen Ioanes, reporterManning Fireworks by MJ LendermanAmericas pantheon of sad cowboy poet crooners a list that includes Bill Callahan, David Berman, Stephin Merritt got a new member this year. And somehow, hes only 25. MJ Lenderman announced himself as one of the greats with an album in September, Manning Fireworks, a collection of catchy, heart-achingly good songs with sometimes poignant, often tragicomic lyrics. I listened to Wristwatch and You dont know the shape Im in an embarrassing number of times already. (Streaming on Apple Music and Spotify.) Marin Cogan, senior correspondentRebel Ridge Writer-director Jeremy Saulnier is a pro at luring opposing parties into cage matches one will escape and the other wont. In Saulniers suffocatingly tense Green Room, that entrapment is literal; its legal in this years Netflix thriller Rebel Ridge. The film opens with Terry, a Black ex-marine played with simmering intensity by Aaron Pierre, pedaling into a small Alabama town with a backpack full of cash to post bail for a wayward cousin. Hes sent flying off his bicycle by a cop, part of the predictably crooked department that stymies Terrys attempts to work within the towns labyrinthine legal system. What choice does he have but to respond like John Rambos harassed veteran before him? The police chief (a terrifically tyrannical Don Johnson) and Terrys verbal sparring escalates into a brutally elegant showdown, concluding a film as taut and satisfying as the First Blood it echoes. (Streaming on Netflix.) Caity PenzeyMoog, senior copy editorAaron Pierre stars in Rebel Ridge. IMDbRejection by Tony Tulathimutte If youve ever felt angry or lonely or resentful or like the worlds hugest loser, take solace in the world of Rejection, where everyone is constantly getting fucked (except, of course, when they cant). Incels, porn addicts, Twitter freaks, hustle bros, and desperate romantics populate Tony Tulathimuttes sad, hilarious world in this short story collection where all the characters connect in the cringiest ways possible. Reading this book made me want to physically crawl out of my skin (complimentary). Consider it a refreshingly bleak antidote to the upcoming deluge of try-hard New Years resolution content. (Available on Bookshop.org.) Rebecca Jennings, senior correspondentShgunMy husband and I traveled to Japan in February, and afterward immersed ourselves in Shgun. I found it to be not only culturally competent but also a faithful depiction of James Clavells 1975 novel. (Im actually re-reading that now because I cant get enough of this story!)After so much crappy TV for so long, FXs remake was refreshing, with excellent acting and casting, pacing, and dialogue. It all hit. (Streaming on Hulu.) Paige Vega, climate editorMovies of Hollywoods pre-Code era In 1930, sound films became widespread in Hollywood; in 1934, Hollywood studios agreed to heavily censor their films under the Hays Code. The brief window in between is the Pre-Code Talkies Era, a rich and inventive period in which the idea of just what a movie could and should be was in flux. Unfolding during the Great Depression, movies got far bolder in what they dared to say and show, defying what we think of as Old Hollywoods clichs. My favorites of the period include classy auteur films (Trouble in Paradise, Shanghai Express), fun trashy romps (Baby Face, Night Nurse), social critiques (Heroes for Sale, Wild Boys of the Road), and dazzling extravaganzas (42nd Street, Gold Diggers of 1933). If youre interested in challenging your preconceptions for what old movies are like, this is the era to look at. (A list for your perusal here.) Andrew Prokop, senior correspondentMessy Star by chokecherryI miss being a teenager just before streaming services were a thing, when that visceral, desperate pull to scavenge for illegal downloads formed my identity. With their debut EP Messy Star, Bay Area-grown band chokecherry gives me that feeling again. Their siren-esque vocals, fearlessly heavy guitars, and pop-grunge hypnosis are exactly what our inner teens need. Especially in the deflated liminal space between the election and the next administration, where it feels like all efforts to scream and fight for change amount to nothing, we need women riling up mosh pits. Chokecherry is going to take over the world. (Streaming on Apple Music and Spotify.) Celia Ford, Future Perfect fellowIndustryFew things captured my attention this year more than Industry. Living under the shadow of Succession for its first two seasons, HBOs hot business-drama delivered a landslide season three. The copious sex, drugs, and wealth hooked me, but it was the exploration of nepotism, aristocracy, and relationships that kept me coming back. Each character is deeply flawed and equally cunning. I am still trying to understand the individual jobs within the firm, and the esoteric language they speak may require homework. But hate to watch, love to hate watch: you simply must watch Industry. (Streaming on Max) Claire White, senior manager of network developmentKit Harington and Harry Lawtey star in the latest season of Industry. IMDbStar Wars: AndorAndor came out in 2022 but I rewatched it this year with joy and awe. I think a lot of people who would love this show have stayed away because its Star Wars, even though it also never really caught on with Star Wars fans because its not really Star Wars. You could barely call it sci-fi; its basically a show about how political movements form and how ones politics can change, from the director of Michael Clayton. Fine, if that still sounds bad to you, I get it. (Streaming on Disney+.) Adam Freelander, supervising story editor, videoCaravan by Van Marrison with The BandI found myself retreating into the music of the past this year, particularly live instrumental performances and none transfixed me the way Van the Mans appearance with The Band during Martin Scorseses concert documentary The Last Waltz did. Writer Nick Hornby once described Morrisons live performances of Caravan like this: In the long, vamped passage right before the climax Morrisons band seems to isolate a moment somewhere between life and its aftermath, a big, baroque entrance hall of a place where you can stop and think about everything that has gone before. He was referring to the showstopper on Morrisons own live album, Its Too Late To Stop Now, but I think it applies just as aptly to his rendition with The Band, a fusion of their Celtic and Ozark blues. Something about the connectivity and immediacy of these old live performances resonates with me in our disconnected age. I crave it. (Streaming on Spotify.) Dylan Scott, senior correspondent1000-lb SistersI am not a complicated woman: I enjoy television that is charming and makes me laugh. Amy and Tammy Slaton of TLCs 1000-lb Sisters check both of those boxes. Earlier this year, a friend introduced me to the show, which chronicles the sisters incredible weight loss journeys. But Amy and Tammy are more than their struggles. Frankly, theyre hilarious. Viewers are invited into their small Kentucky hometown and are eventually introduced to their three older siblings, who join Amy and Tammy in transforming their health. This season, the shows sixth, Amy gets adventurous with cooking, adding white chocolate to her alfredo sauce; Tammy experiments with fashion and burlesque dancing. In a culture where reality TV seems less and less real, Amy, Tammy, and their entire family feel like a relic from the genres glory days: Theyre loud, they fart on-camera, and theyre not at all concerned with personal branding. (Streaming on Max and TLC GO.) Allie Volpe, senior reporterDropoutDropout is a comedy channel offering a wide mix of content some D&D/roleplaying stuff, but also a lot of Whose Line Is It Anyway-style improv. I got into their stuff this year after seeing some clips on TikTok and enjoyed the rapport between the recurring comedians. There are episodes where the players improvise a whole musical based on a few wacky prompts, and its pretty jaw-dropping to watch people so witty and quick on their feet. The channel is also a lesson on how smaller media companies can survive the era of Big Streaming. It charges $6 per month for a big collection of high-quality, regularly updated content, and as far as I know, the business is thriving. (Available on YouTube.) Whizy Kim, senior reporterMy Old AssI went into the theater thinking My Old Ass would be a lighthearted, quirky comedy. I left determined to double down on my gratitude for the most important people in my life. Actors Aubrey Plaza and Maisy Stella do a fantastic job of invoking a bittersweet nostalgia while reminding us just how precious the present moment is. (Available on Amazon Prime.) Lauren Katz, senior newsroom project managerAubrey Plaza and Maisy Stella star in My Old Ass (2024) IMDbThe Later DatersThe world fell in love with The Golden Bachelor, and rightfully so watching seasoned singles find their mate was the feel-good content we didnt know we needed, especially for those of us who might feel already disillusioned by the dating pool in our 20s and 30s. Later Daters is another take on dating for golden singles, but with, in my opinion, more nuance, heart, and personality than The Golden Bachelor. It employs more of a polished docuseries tone, chronicling the lives of several older men and women looking for love the second (or third or fourth!) time around. Michelle Obama is a producer on this show, which makes sense; it presents a poignant mix of humor and heartfelt charm that made it hard for me to turn off. (Streaming on Netflix.) Elizabeth Price, director of grants & foundation developmentThe joys of PinterestIn a world full of cursed algorithms, my tried-and-true social platform is Pinterest. For the past 11 years, Ive built my homepage brick by brick. From the board cool pools of you guessed it cool pools I created in high school, to a board of dinner recipes I share with my partner so we can take the guesswork out of what to make for dinner, Pinterest is both the perfect place to ignite inspiration and a hilarious time capsule. Whatever the opposite of doomscrolling is, Ive found it on this social platform. (Located at Pinterest.com.) Gabby Fernandez, associate director of audienceEvan Baggs Live @ Watergate BerlinThis year, when Spotify Wrapped came out, my listening minutes were a fraction of previous years; I had moved to the long-forgotten SoundCloud, where my playlists have been replaced with roving DJ mixes.What I like so much about the DJ mix format is that they remind me of the mixtapes and CDs of my youth. My most-streamed mix was made in 2011 by New York/Berlin DJ and producer Evan Baggs. The synthesizers are sparse, the bass lines are minimal, the drums are somehow loose and sturdy at once, while the energy shifts from melancholic to serious to hypnotic to playful in the span of an hour. Even though its a decade old, it remains a great introduction to, for lack of a better phrase, what the modern underground house music scene has to offer. (Streaming on SoundCloud.) Kenny Torella, Future Perfect staff writerImmortal John Triptych gamesAttempts to describe Joe Richardsons indie video games often invoke Monty Python. One look at them, and its easy to see why: The three games included in his Immortal John Triptych the last of which, The Death of the Reprobate, he released on Steam in November are intricate pastiches of Renaissance art and classical music, but they are also wildly irreverent and very funny. Nothing in these point-and-click worlds is sacred, even if their soundtracks are, and Richardsons bonkers collages make magnificent backdrops for solving satisfyingly complex puzzles. Fans of stunning visuals (did you ever imagine youd see a masterwork move?) and self-aware humor will find each of these a high-low delight to the end. (Available on Steam.) Keren Landman, senior health reporterAll of Us Strangers (2023)This British fantasy movie set in the peripheries of London tells a story of modern loneliness that has haunted me since the frigid January night I went to see it in theaters. Andrew Scott, playing a gay screenwriter entering early middle age, channels angst in a tenor that will resonate with anyone who has ever confronted the fear of dying alone. And yet, this movie offers so much hope. It set me on an existential spiral for the following days that culminated with a reinvigorated appreciation and special gratitude for chosen family. Think of it this way: This movie can be a tear-wrenching, cathartic experience, a comforting companion to get you through at least one cold winter night.-(Streaming on Hulu.) Christian Paz, senior politics reporterAndrew Scott and Paul Mescal star in All of Us Strangers. IMDbRobert Caros LBJ biographiesI know I am not the first person to say, Hey, did you know that Robert Caro is really good at what he does? But Robert Caro is really, really good at what he does. I did not come into his four-part series on Lyndon B. Johnson with any interest in the subject matter. I didnt even come into it with a particular interest in biographies. But these books read like novels and made me care deeply about LBJ and his myriad machinations. Each book is full of mini-dramas with clear stakes that all layer together to create a full and fascinating picture of how power works in politics. I found myself rooting for LBJ sometimes, rooting against him at other times, and thoroughly disgusted with him much of the time (Justice for Lady Bird!), but I was never, never bored. (Available on Bookshop.org.) Byrd Pinkerton, senior producerYouve read 1 article in the last monthHere at Vox, we're unwavering in our commitment to covering the issues that matter most to you threats to democracy, immigration, reproductive rights, the environment, and the rising polarization across this country.Our mission is to provide clear, accessible journalism that empowers you to stay informed and engaged in shaping our world. By becoming a Vox Member, you directly strengthen our ability to deliver in-depth, independent reporting that drives meaningful change.We rely on readers like you join us.Swati SharmaVox Editor-in-ChiefSee More:

The PlayStation Plus Essential games for January 2025 are likely to roll in a little later due to the way the dates line up meaning you'll have to wait a whole week more to find out what's newTech11:21, 23 Dec 2024PlayStation Plus is bringing more new games to Sony console owners(Image: Sony )The PS Plus Essential games for December 2024 are fantastic - and it's just as well since we likely won't be getting fresh ones for a little longer.Games are traditionally revealed towards the end of the month but with the way the dates in December are lining up (plus the added wrinkle of the Christmas festivities) we're expecting January's games to not be revealed until the month has already begun.In fact, we're expecting the games to be revealed on January 1, 2025, but with it being New Year's Day it could be delayed even further. Still, there are a host of titles including a Star Wars adventure, a PS5 exclusive and Sonic Frontiers included at the Extra and Premium tiers if you wanted to upgrade.It Takes Two is a Game of the Year winnerThe good news for subscribers is that it'll still be only a week before you can redeem the games and play them, whatever they may be.With that in mind, you'll be able to download the titles around January 7 and if the reveal is delayed further, there will be even less of a gap between the games being shown and you being able to download them.The other good news is you have a little longer to redeem the games currently available for Essential subscribers.These are It Takes Two, Aliens: Dark Descent and Temtem. Dark Descent is a challenging strategy title that pits marines against Xenomorphs with the prospect of permadeath, while Temtem is as close as you can get to Pokemon without upsetting Nintendo's lawyers.Article continues belowThe headline inclusion is undoubtedly It Takes Two, which focuses on a separated couple shrunk down and forced to work together through a fantastic and varied co-op adventure with new twists in each level.It Takes Two currently has a Metacritic score of 88 out of 100, and the extra week to download it might mean you or a loved one can snag it to play on a new PS5 console over the Holidays.For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.RECOMMENDED

GTA 6's second trailer remains a huge mystery, but fans are hoping Rockstar might throw them something new this month in the festive spirit with a new theory making a lot of senseTech10:37, 23 Dec 2024Will GTA 6 make 2025 after all?GTA 6's new trailer is still nowhere to be seen more than a year on from the first one and fans are starting to get restless and maybe a little more resourceful.Last week saw the return of the "moon theory" which suggests we've still got to wait a little longer, which is proving particularly difficult after Rockstar Games' parent company Take-Two's CEO described the upcoming game as 'extraordinary'.This time around, it's all based around a number: 27. Is this finally the GTA theory that works and suggests when Trailer 2 will arrive?Content cannot be displayed without consentX (formerly Twitter) account GTA 6 Alert is pretty adamant that the new trailer is arriving on December 27, and they've put together four suggestions as to why.Rockstar Games itself was founded on December 27, 1998, while the company's Instagram account has 27 posts (I know, but bear with me here).At the 27 second mark on Trailer 1, you can see a purple car with the number 27 in its rear window, while a recent link published by the company on X has the number 27 in it.I admit, it's pretty tenuous, but it's an amazing coincidence if these kind of things have just happened to line up.Even the GTA 6 Alert account might be spinning into delirium, however, jokingly pointing to 227 million trailer views on the first reveal. Another user joked that the likelihood of this being correct is 27%, too.A new trademark in Brazil last week added to speculation a fresh trailer is coming, while a longtime Rockstar collaborator acknowledged he's working on something with the company for 2025.Fans are going spare for fresh information about the title, and while some are undoubtedly happy to wait it out, some can't understand why Rockstar won't throw them a bone with a screenshot or two.Article continues belowOne former developer recently explained that the Rockstar team would be "geeking out" watching fan theories unfold, but we're still no sooner to catching another glimpse of a Vice City return.For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.RECOMMENDED

Xbox handheld wont necessarily be made by Microsoft claims new rumourAdam StarkeyPublished December 23, 2024 11:25amUpdated December 23, 2024 11:25am Is the future of Xbox outside of Microsoft? (Microsoft)The future of Xbox might be a wider partnership with third party companies, as rumours circulate about Microsofts plans at CES.One of the big questions hanging over the next console generation is Microsofts plans for Xbox, in light of the failure of the Xbox Series X/S.Over this generation, weve seen the company deprioritise the console in favour of pushing its subscription service, Xbox Game Pass, on other devices. This has coincided with Microsofts pivot towards putting Xbox exclusive games on other consoles.While this might suggest Microsoft is aiming beyond the console race, the company has already said it is working on a next gen system which will apparently see the biggest technological leap ever in a generation. Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer has also confirmed development on a handheld device, but this will be a few years out.Its unclear how these systems are connected whether there is a next gen home console or if the portable is the only model but ahead of CES 2025, a rumour has re-emerged to suggest future Xbox consoles might not be made by Microsoft itself.According to a report on Windows Central, Microsoft is exploring options around letting third parties build Xbox-branded devices, which could extend as far as letting them directly use the Xbox operating system.This rumour has circulated before but not necessarily in conjunction with a portable. Its reappeared ahead of an event at CES 2025, on January 7,when Lenovo is holding a future of gaming handhelds event which will feature a couple of onstage special guests.According to an email seen by The Verge, these guests include Steam Deck co-designer Pierre-Loup Griffais and Microsoft vice president of gaming devices and ecosystem Jason Ronald (here billed as as Microsofts VP of next generation).While its unclear exactly what will be announced at the event, Valves presence could be tied to a leaked SteamOS handheld from Lenovo.As for Microsofts involvement, Phil Spencer has previously said the company is looking to make the Xbox app function better on existing portable devices, so this could be related to improvements in running Windows, and by extension PC Game Pass, on devices like Lenovo Legion Go.Of course, theres a chance this could be related to an XboxOS handheld,but this is perhaps slightly premature considering Spencer was only talking about analysing the handheld market a month ago. As a future strategy for Xbox though, it certainly feels like a possibility.Its unclear when Microsoft might be intending to launch its next gen hardware, but dates from 2026 to 2028 have already been rumoured.More TrendingMicrosoft execs purposefully chose to announce their next gen plans though, and heavily hint at a portable, so theyre keen for everyone to know theyre working on new hardware, even if theyve so far not provided any other details. Avowed is Xboxs next big game (Xbox Game Studios)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.GameCentralExclusive 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

By Passant Rabie Published December 23, 2024 | Comments (0) | An artist's impression of the Parker Solar Probe approaching the Sun. Illustration: NASA The Sun is getting a surprise visitor for Christmas: NASAs Parker Solar Probe, which is going to get uncomfortably close to the star. The tiny probe is gearing up for its closest approach to the Sun this week, when it will endure temperatures up to 1,800 degrees Fahrenheit (982.2 degrees Celsius). The Parker Solar Probe launched in August 2018 on a mission to touch the Sun, inching closer to the star with each orbit. On December 24, the spacecraft will be within 3.8 million miles (6.1 million kilometers) from the Suns surface, making it the closest solar approach in history. At that distance, the mission has the potential to revolutionize our understanding of the Sun, withstanding the brutal radiation emanating from the star to collect data on the origin and evolution of solar wind. This close encounter has been a long time in the making. In 2021, the probe became the first mission to fly through the Suns corona, or the stars upper atmosphere. Parker Solar Probe travelled dramatically through a coronal mass ejection (CME), an explosive outburst of high energy radiation from the Sun, in the historic flyby. In September 2022, the mission repeated the maneuver and captured data to help scientists understand how the Suns plasma interacts with the interplanetary dust around it. As of this September, the Parker probe has carried out 21 close approaches of the Sun, coming within about 4.51 million miles (7.26 million km) of the solar surface. In November, Parker Solar Probe carried out its seventh and final flyby of Venus, using the planets gravitational pull to fling itself toward a closer orbit around the Sun. The flyby was the final step in a mission designed to swing the probe to its closest approach of our host star.The Parker Solar Probe is already the fastest human-made object in history, but during its closest approach, the spacecraft will zip past the Sun at a record-breaking 430,000 miles per hour, according to NASA. The Parker Solar Probe needs that speed to overcome the gravitational pull of the Sun. At such a pace, the spacecraft can travel from Washington, D.C., to Philadelphia in one second. The spacecraft also needs to survive extreme heat from the Sun. Its heat shield will reach temperatures up to 1,800 degrees Fahrenheit (982.2 degrees Celsius), while keeping the body of the spacecraft at a balmy 85 degrees Fahrenheit (29.4 degrees Celsius). Parker Solar Probes heat shield is 8 feet (2.4 meters) in diameter and 4.5 inches (about 115 mm) thick. The shield is composed of a carbon composite foam sandwiched between two carbon plates, with a coat of white ceramic paint on the Sun-facing plate to reflect as much heat from the star as possible.As it makes its record proximity swoop near the Sun, the spacecraft will trace the flow of energy across the surface of the star, study the heating of the solar corona, and investigate what accelerates the solar wind, according to NASA. With this data, scientists are hoping to get some answers regarding the Suns most persistent mysteries. One of the most befuddling aspects of the Sun is that its corona, or upper atmosphere, is about 200 times hotter than its surface. Other heliophysical quandaries Parker may address are the main driver of solar wind and the source of high-energy solar particles. Data from the probe can also help scientists better predict space weather, which can impact Earth through beautiful aurora and damaging surges to the globes electrical infrastructure.The Christmas Eve flyby is the first of three at the same distance from the Sun, taking full advantage of the spacecrafts daredevil capacities.Daily NewsletterYou May Also Like By Passant Rabie Published December 21, 2024 By Passant Rabie Published December 20, 2024 By Passant Rabie Published December 20, 2024 By AJ Dellinger Published December 19, 2024 By Passant Rabie Published December 18, 2024 By Passant Rabie Published December 18, 2024

The Origin PC Neuron 3500X looks the part of an expensive gaming PC. The designers, in all their wisdom, ships their Origin PCs in huge wooden crates you need to burst open yourself. Snuggled in that crate is a box, and like a vaudeville act, inside that box is another box covered with a foam crown and foam shoes. If youre like me, you rush your PC to your desk as excited as a kid on Christmas. You shouldnt be like me because this is the case where, if you open it the wrong way, you may accidentally send one of the panels tumbling toward the ground. Origin PC Neuron 3500X The Origin PC Neuron 3500X looks primo sitting on your desk, but there are some issues with the 3500X case design. Pros Cons This is the kind of PC that looks far more structurally sound than it is in person. At least it keeps cool and looks cool. The air comes from underneath, and the side flows out to the back and top. Its an effective, well-proven layout that will keep things cool and quiet. The RGB lights offer a glow that fills my little gamers heart with a subtle joy. The aquarium tank case design has caught on for a good reason. Now, you can see your expensive gamer goodies from more angles. Unfortunately, I have issues with the craftsmanship of the Corsair 3500X mid-tower case. It looks good, but you must avoid laying anything heavy on top to prevent your square case from turning into a toaster oven. My config of the Origin Neuron 3500X would cost about $3,387 MSRP, but Origins knocked it down to $2,888 as of the time of this review. At least it comes with free shipping at this price, though youll need to break up the crate for firewood. Its a fair price for what you get, but a part of me knows you can demand better from your desktop towers. If looks were everything, the PC in its aquarium tank case would be picture-perfect. Several details detract from the overall solid production.Origin PC Neuron 3500X Review: Build Quality Photo: Kyle Barr / Gizmodo The three Corsair-brand intake fans are especially pleasing and eye-catching, and the iCUE software installed by default makes it easy to change the fan color and pattern on everything at once. The Vengeance RGB DDR5 RAM sticks and the Capellix XT cooling unit fit the aesthetic. From every angle, it simply looks good. But I have other problems with the Corsair 3500 mid-sized tower. The Y-shaped grating looks clean but also makes the top sheet bend toward the center. You shouldnt be plopping any books or other knickknacks on the PCs main heating vent anyway, but its slight concave shape makes it look less appealing. The top of the box comes with a single USB-C, two USB type-A ports, and a 3.6mm headphone jack. There are two extra USB-C on the MSI Z890-P rear I/O panel if you need to plug in some extra dongles or cables. Photo: Kyle Barr / Gizmodo Photo: Kyle Barr / Gizmodo Photo: Kyle Barr / Gizmodo Photo: Kyle Barr / Gizmodo All the panels are pressure-fitted with ball and socket joints. These managed to hold tight in the short trip from the box to my desk, but as soon as I opened up the main panel to remove that obtrusive packing phone, I accidentally nudged the front panel and nearly sent it tumbling to the floor. Both the main and rear panels sit behind the front glass . Youre better off removing the font panel before removing the sides, even though theres no cutout in the frame that makes that easy. If youre considering this chassis, you may need to be extra careful when diving into your fishbowl for regular maintenance. Unlike some other pre-built desktops you can buy, like the Alienware Aurora R16, theres no special bracket for the GPU. Instead, it relies merely on the rear bracket and the PCIe Express slot to keep it balanced. This is really only an issue when youre moving the PC, but the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Super is a large and in-charge card. It will wiggle if you apply some force to the end thats free-floating beyond the motherboard.At least the PC is quiet. The low hum of the fans when idling offers soothing white noise, and even under stress, the tower never picks up enough to be distracting. The inside of the PC offers a spacious interior where you still have two RAM slots and a single PCIe Gen 5 slot to play with if you opt for the larger Nvidia cards. When you open up the rear portion, youll find the cables are neatly organized, that is, until you see the jumble of cables going every which way into the PSU. But if youre buying this PC to have a great-looking PC to bathe you in cooling RGB glow, the Origin 3500X does the job admirably. Origins engineers did a fair job putting it all together, but I find there are too many design details for the Corsair case, which hurt its overall rating.Origin PC Neuron 3500X Review: Performance Photo: Kyle Barr / Gizmodo The config the company sent me included 32GB of DDR5, 6400 MT/s RAM, the RTX 4080 Super, and the most recent top-end Intel Arrow Lake CPU, the Core Ultra 9 285K. That CPI normally hits 3.7 GHz clock speeds, but TurboBoost should overclock that up to 5.7 GHz, at least according to the designers. Until I met the Origin, I had yet to dive into Intels latest desktop-level CPU fully. I still dont understand why the chipmaker would abandon the past generation naming conventions in favor of more Ultra monikers like its most recent laptop chips.Whatever the case, I also heard some murmurings about the chips performance compared to the last gens top-of-the-line desktop chips like the Intel Core i9-14900K. In my own benchmarking, I found the newer Intel chip couldnt keep up as well as the 14900Kthe Maingear MG-1 with the same GPU but Intels 14th-gen gaming CPU. The Ultra 9 scored about 200 points less in Geekbench 6 single-core and more than 1,500 points less in multi-core tests. The Ultra 9 does perform better in Cinebench multi-core rendering tasks by about 65 points. None of my CPU benchmarking did anything to defeat chip aficionados claims that Arrow Lake is better at productivity but worse for gaming. In 3D Mark tests, going head to head with an RTX 4080 Super, Maingears PC scored better in 3D Mark Time Spy and Steel Nomad benchmarks. Its not like you wont get excellent game performance from this Origin PC. I put the machine through its paces in multiple games at different resolutions.InCyberpunk 2077 non-benchmark gameplay at 3440 by 1440 ultrawide resolution, I could hit around 50 FPS at the highest settings, with ray tracing enabled and without DLSS.With Nvidias upscaling, you can get up to around 90 FPS in frenetic scenes. At 4K, Cyberpunk starts to dip into 30 FPS.You really cant expect more from a PC at this price. Baldurs Gate III was buttery smooth, doing 105 FPS outdoors in Act 1 and around 87 FPS in the city of Act III, I played Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 I was seeing around 90 FPS in chaotic scenes. You can expect to max out the most demanding titles. On average, I was doing 70 FPS with DLSS in Horizon Forbidden West and around 90 FPS in God of War: Ragnark. The system benchmarks games well and plays them well, too. The only issue is that its not as clean an experience as you would get with the 14th-gen Intel gaming-centric CPU. The Neuron model has options for up to an AMD Ryzen 9 9950x. To be extra safeyou could wait for next years drop of the expected AMD 9950x3d Origin Neuron 3500X Review: Verdict The Origin Neuron is a solid PC that looks especially good sitting on your bedroom desk, and it can bathe your entire bedroom in RGB glow. Remember to think carefully about your CPU choice if you opt for the PC. Its a beginner-friendly type of desktop, though you cant simply rip it from its wooden house and cardboard bed and get to gaming without some forethought. As sturdy as it looks, it has a few poor design choices that require you to baby it.